A. A. Milne (1882–1956) was born in London in 1882. He was educated at Westminster School and studied mathematics at Trinity College, Cambridge. He was a regular contributor to Punch, and later assistant editor, before the interruption of active service in the First World War. A remarkably versatile writer, Milne went on to become a hugely successful and widely known playwright, both in the West End and on Broadway, as well as an essayist, poet, novelist and—most famously—children’s author, as the creator of Winnie-the-Pooh. He died in 1956 following a long illness.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce is a children’s novelist who won the Carnegie Medal for his first book Millions in 2004 and the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize for The Unforgotten Coat in 2013. Millions was made into a film by Danny Boyle, for whom Frank went on to work as the writer on the London Olympics Opening Ceremony, 2012. His other books include Framed (filmed by the BBC), Cosmic, The Astounding Broccoli Boy and Runaway Robot. His films include 24 Hour Party People, God on Trial, Hilary and Jackie, and Goodbye Christopher Robin (2017), about the lives of A. A. Milne and his family.