The wonderful actress Gemma Arterton has brought the Worst Witch books by Jill Murphy to life with the new audiobooks!
So do you want to hear how she got into character and why she loves the Worst Witch?
We interviewed her down in the Puffin recording studio fresh from her adventures at Miss Cackles Academy for Witches – and it seems Mildred may have met her match. Gemma exclusively revealed that there are a few uncanny similarities between herself and Mildred (even her cat is just like Tabby!) and the comparisons get even spookier as Gemma reveals her teacher was also a lot like Miss Hardbroom…
Read our exclusive interview to find out more…
Did you know the books?
I did know the books because I read all of them at school and I loved them. I was a real bookworm when I was at school and I identified with Mildred and some of the teachers at school.
Why did you identify with Mildred?
She is the original underdog and at school I was quite similar…not the most popular. I even thought I looked like her when I was little because I had the freckles and the scruffy hair and always had my shoelaces untied. I just felt a bit like her I guess.
Did that stay with you, I know you have cat?
I don’t know if it was a subconscious thing but my cat Spike is exactly the same as Tabby. He is a black and white cat, the same as Tabby. He is a very lazy, cuddly cat – and when I was rereading the books I remembered and thought ‘Oh yeah! He is just like Tabby!’. I think in my mind when I was a kid that was the perfect cat so maybe that’s why I got him.

Did you find comfort in the books?
I think why we love Jill Murphy and these books so much is because there is bullying and the teachers are harsh and horrible but we know that Mildred is the heroine. No matter what she does, she always has a good reason for doing it and she is always trying her best. She is so misunderstood but she always wins in the end.
How was it like to perform them?
It was quite a challenge to perform them, this is the first audiobook that I’ve done and you want to do it justice and make sure every word is perfect and all the characters are clear. But it was great to revisit them. I remembered fragments from each book and even the drawings and illustrations. When I was a child I really loved the girls and the mischief they got up. It was wonderful getting back into it as an adult and understanding the other characters, the teachers – Miss Hardbroom. I loved the journey Miss Hardbroom goes on but when I was a child I thought she was horrible. I didn’t really understand the sarcasm and underlying tones.
Miss Hardbroom has her roots in reality and when you were voicing it did it have a reality for you?
Miss Hardbroom is a bit lonely and has been neglected in her childhood. I had a teacher like that at school. She was very very scary and she seemingly enjoyed the power of children being frightened of her but was actually a kind person outside of school.

So you’re Mildred and this teacher is Miss Hardbroom, did you find any other characters from people you knew?
My granddad who voices the tortoise; who is very old, cheeky, charming and a bit cockney. Also Maud she reminds me of my best friend who is really sweet and lovely and kind.
So onto some quick fire round questions; if you could have a magical power what would it be?
It would be the power of flight. I always envy birds when I see them and I think, freedom!
What was your favourite subject at school?
Art – like Mildred! Surprisingly I didn’t really like Drama, but I just adored Art, ever since I was five up until I left school. The teachers were really supportive of me and the art department was very good.
What would you be if you weren’t an actress?
I would be an opera singer which isn’t that far away from an actor or I would be a café owner or a land lady. I have always wanted my own little café in the community maybe I will do that one da