This drawing in pen, ink and watercolour is one of a series of five that Quentin Blake made to accompany the book “Thanks to Jennings” that was narrated by Ronnie Corbett on Jackanory in 1969. The illustration is of a large scale as it was made to be shown on television. In this illustration Darbyshire, Jennings’ best friend, is shown talking to the house master, Mr Carter, who is sat in an armchair, writing in an exercise book. A bespectacled man with a briefcase enters through the open door behind Darbyshire. Blake has captured Darbyshire’s awkwardness at interrupting Carter by showing him resting his weight on his right foot and holding his arms at his sides. This contrasts with the patience of Carter who pauses and looks calmly at Darbyshire.

“Thanks to Jennings” comes from a series of 25 Jennings books which Anthony Buckeridge (1912-2004) wrote between 1950 and 1994. These humorous children’s books were set in a boy’s boarding school during the years after World War Two. The humour of the books draws on the combination of this setting with the misunderstandings resulting in the actions of by the impulsive Jennings his more cautious best friend, Darbyshire. This illustration explores the contrasting characters of Darbyshire and the older house master to convey the suspense of the arrival of the third character from the doorway.