Roald Dahl classics get woke reimagining’s including gender neutral Oompa Loompas
LEGENDARY children’s author Roald Dahl’s books are being re-edited to include politically correct changes to mentions of weight, mental health, gender and race.
Publisher Puffin and the Roald Dahl Story Company, which manages the writer’s stories, worked with a collective of inclusion, diversity and equality champions.
Changes to the words “fat” and “ugly” are among “hundreds” of others.
Dahl died in 1990 and his books, including Matilda, James And The Giant Peach, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory – which features Willy Wonka – and The BFG have sold more than 250million copies.
The Roald Dahl Story Company said last night: “We want to ensure the wonderful stories and characters continue to be enjoyed by all children.
“When publishing new print runs of books written years ago it is not unusual to review the language used.”
Here are some of the woke changes . . .
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
Old version: “I tried it on an Oompa Loompa yesterday in the Testing Room.”
New version: “I tried it myself yesterday in the Testing Room.”
Old version: “So I shipped them all over here – every man, woman and child in the Oompa Loompa tribe!”
New version: “So, they all agreed to come over – each and every Oompa Loompa.”
Matilda
Old version: Miss Trunchbull: “I am fed up with you useless bunch of midgets!”
New version: “I am fed up with you useless bunch of squirts.”
Old version: “I wish I was a grown-up,” Nigel said. “I’d knock her flat.”
New version: “I wish I was a grown-up,” Nigel said. “I’d give her a right talking to.”
The Witches
Old version: Narrator: “Even if she is working as a cashier in a supermarket or typing letters for a businessman . . .”
New version: “Even if she is working as a top scientist or running a business . . .”
The BFG
Old version: “Mary! You’ve gone white as a sheet! Are you feeling ill?”
New version: “Mary! You’ve gone still as a statue! Are you feeling ill?”
Esio Trot
Old version: A few weeks later, Mrs Silver became Mrs Hoppy and the two of them lived very happily ever after.
New version: A few weeks later, they got married and the two of them lived very happily ever after.
Fantastic Mr Fox
Old version: “Ah-h-h-h-h!” Gasped the Smallest Fox. “This is some cider.”
New version: “Ah-h-h-h-h!” Gasped the Smallest Fox, about to take a sip. “This is some cider.”
Old version: Bunce, the little pot-bellied dwarf
New version: Bunce.
James And The Giant Peach
Old version: Aunt Sponge, the fat one, tripped over a box.
New version: Aunt Sponge tripped over a box.
Old version: Cloud-Men
New version: Cloud-People