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Passionate Walkers: David Nicholls

Clare Balding meets novelist and screewriter David Nicholls in Thursley, Surrey, to walk to The Devil's Punchbowl. They talk about how walking helped him write One Day.

In this new series of Ramblings, Clare Balding talks to those for whom walking is more than a leisure activity but a passion that's vital to their lives. In this first programme she goes to Thursley in Surrey to meet the novelist and screenwriter, David Nicholls. His first novel, 'Starter for Ten' was followed by the much acclaimed 'One Day', and as David admits to Clare. its success took him a little by surprise.
They take an eight mile circular route around The Devils Punchbowl. David explains how important walking is to his creative process, although he always worries its a bit of a skive ! However, he finds it the ideal way to listen to and absorb a novel when he's adapting one of the classics for TV, as he did with 'Far From the Madding Crowd'. He talks to Clare about how he loves exploring new cities by foot and the techniques he uses to encourage his children to walk.
The walk Clare and David took can be found on OS Explorer map OL33 & 145 or Landranger 186, the map reference is SU 955 414, the walk starts in the village of Thursley about 3 km south-west of Godalming. Thursley GU8 6QD
Producer: Lucy Lunt.

Available now

23 minutes

Last on

Sat 17 Sep 2016 06:07

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Clare Balding
Interviewed Guest David Nicholls
Producer Lucy Lunt

Broadcasts

  • Thu 15 Sep 2016 15:00
  • Sat 17 Sep 2016 06:07

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