Thursday 06 Sep 00:30AM–01:00AM

The weird and wonderful (Disc)world of legendary author Terry Pratchett is opened up in this extremely singular and revealing interview. Ever wondered where the idea for a world carried by four elephants standing on the back of a giant turtle floating through space came from? Maybe hints and clues can be found in the mis-en-scene as the viewer is invited into the previously reclusive author’s home. Amongst a wealth of other topics, Pratchett shares his thoughts on the Sky One dramatization of Hogfather, discusses possible new novels and the explores the direction his writing is taking.

Starting as a parody of the fantasy genre, the Discworld series has evolved into a satire on everything from religion to the opera, Christmas to the police in an evocative and wonderfully well crafted style that garners fans from all ages and backgrounds, creating annual UK sales of 2.5 million. From humble beginnings (writing a manuscript for first novel Carpet People whilst working as a journalist in 1971), Pratchett’s massive back catalogue includes 35 Discworld novels (with a few more in the planning and pipeline stages) and 10 non-Discworld works, including 3 for younger readers. Some might say this is a cynical way to ensure future sales, but Artswom reckons it is a canny and gentle way of introducing youngsters to his literary voice.

And what a voice it is! The beautifully crafted town of Ankh-Morpork is so vivid the reader can almost catch the whiff of the streets as they are whisked through them (often at breakneck speeds) by a panoply of wonderfully diverse characters (zombies for Town Guards, anyone?) As the reader is taken on a tour of this ‘flat earth’, on hair-raising tales of derring-do, Pratchett never misses an opportunity for a sly jibe or full on side swipe at something that has obviously narked him. Think thinly veiled commentary on the futility of religion, or the stone-aged pace of officialdom and the establishment with wit so sharp it hurts.

Regarded as one of the most significant contemporary authors, Mariella Frostrup delves into the mind of Pratchett to discover the influences (listed variously as Kenneth Grahame, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke. P.G. Wodehouse, Tom Sharpe, Jerome K. Jerome, and Mark Twain) and the genius behind the ever-popular novels, and is not to be missed by the devoted fan or curious viewer alike (Sky Arts Thurs 06 Sep 00:30)