David Walliams has opened up about his decision to keep his young son out of the spotlight, saying he wants his child to grow up just like other kids.
The comedian-and-author shares Alfred, nine, with his supermodel ex-wife Lara Stone. He was born in 2013, though his parents sadly separated two years later after drifting apart.
Although Alfred's parents both have very high-profile careers, they both agreed they wanted their son to have a normal life. The couple have even gone as far as concealing their son's face on pictures of him shared on social media.
"I knew what I was getting into, this is what I signed up to.
"Making a television programme, being in the spotlight is unavoidable and if you're a kid, it must be quite hard," David told Hello! magazine.
He added: "You don't know what they're going to want to do with their lives. What's the point of them being on display, I don't understand it.
"They might choose to do something completely private with their lives in which case there doesn't seem to be any advantage to it."
David said people should be able to make their own choices about whether or not to be in the public eye.
The Britain's Got Talent judge previously he often tests his new books on Alfred, but said his son isn't really interested in his material.
Speaking on Lorraine in 2020, David said he asked Alfred whether he’d like to read his books at night time and is greeted with: "No! No," from his son.
David sweetly revealed that they do like to read other books together and they take turns with the chapters.
He said: "But we like to read together, he reads a chapter and I read a chapter.
"I don't want him to be in therapy for years to come going: 'My dad made me read all of his books and wouldn't let me read anyone else's'."
Despite the fact he’s not that interested in reading his dad’s books, Alfred does help his old man’s creative process.
Chatting to This Morning hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, David confessed that he has his son to thank for his huge success in the world of children's fiction.
"Yes, Alfred, he has lots of brilliant ideas," he said when Holly quizzed him on how Alfred contributes to his creativity.
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