Cressida Cowell: It wasn’t cool to be enthusiastic about books!

Cressida Cowell: It wasn’t cool to be enthusiastic about books!

Author: Global June 19, 2026 Duration: 1:06:08

Cressida Cowell is on of the most beloved children's authors, selling millions and millions of books worldwide, including 'How to train your dragon' which is now a global film franchise too.

In this episode of Full Disclosure with James O'Brien, Cressida tells us about her loving childhood with summers spent on Little Colonsay in the Inner Hebridies - a small, inhabited island that her environmentalist dad bought. From boarding school to sixth form, she charts back through her love or reading and illustrating to the struggles, and sometimes lack of, that she faced to become a successful author.

A self-proclaimed misfit at school who struggle with concentration and organisation, Cressida tells james how she felt powerless as a child and loved reading stories with strong female heroes - something she strives for in her writing.

But school never held her back, and with some good fortune of meeting the right people at the right time, Cressida discusses how she got her big break, 'How To Train Your Dragon' didn't become an instant hit, but a cult one and how Hiccup came to be.

Find out more about Cressida Cowell and her new book How To Train Your Dragon School: Fight of the Flamestrike here.

Full Disclosure is a Global Production

Listen or watch every Friday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.


You know that feeling when a conversation goes deeper than you expected, moving past the headlines and soundbites into something more real? That’s the space where Full Disclosure with James O'Brien lives. Hosted by the award-winning LBC presenter and author, this podcast is built on a simple but powerful premise: a genuinely curious interviewer meeting fascinating people from politics, news, and entertainment. James O’Brien brings his thoughtful perspective to each discussion, not to debate, but to understand. The result is a series of compelling dialogues that feel more like eavesdropping on a great chat between insightful minds than a formal interview. You’ll hear guests reveal layers of their experiences and opinions in a way that only happens when the questions are interested, not just interesting. It’s a refreshing take in a crowded field, focusing on the substance and the story behind the public persona. For anyone interested in the forces shaping our society, arts, and culture, this podcast offers a nuanced and engaging listen. Each episode is a chance to step away from the noise and into a conversation that prioritizes depth and disclosure, all delivered with the intelligence and clarity listeners have come to expect from James O’Brien.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Full Disclosure with James O'Brien
Podcast Episodes
Full Disclosure: back soon! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:55
Full Disclosure is taking a short break over the Easter holidays, but we’ll be back very soon with a brand new episodes!Until then, why not dip back into the archive and catch up on some of this year’s standout episodes,…
Natalie Cassidy: I grew up on EastEnders before I knew what fame was [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:55
From a childhood in Islington to more than three decades on one of Britain’s biggest television shows, Natalie Cassidy’s life has unfolded in public for almost as long as she can remember.In this episode of Full Disclosu…
Billy Idol: The Punk Rock Icon who "Should Be Dead" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:39
From suburban England to the front lines of the punk revolution and the stadium stages of MTV era rock, Billy Idol has spent a lifetime reinventing what rebellion looks like.In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Br…
Gary Lineker | Live Q&A: Politics, World Cups and the Changing Game [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:14
Gary Lineker took questions from the live Full Disclosure audience and nothing was off the table. He discusses the scrutiny that follows every World Cup, including the tournament in the United States, and considers wheth…
Gary Lineker LIVE! “It’s Hard Not to Get Involved” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:35
Gary Lineker has scored in World Cups, fronted the nation’s biggest football programme, and weathered a political firestorm that nearly ended it all. But at the height of his success, turning to a teammate after scoring…