Andy Mulligan was brought up in the south of London. He worked as a theatre director for ten years before travels in Asia prompted him to retrain as a teacher. He has taught English and drama in India, Brazil, the Philippines and the UK. He now divides his time between London and Manila.

Ribblestrop Andy Mulligan's first book was published in 2009 and shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Books prize. Described as 'An absolutely amazing book...incredibly funny' Philip Ardagh- it has had fantastic reviews

Sue Palmer – international educationalist and author of ‘Toxic Childhood’ has declared the book ‘brilliant, un-put-downable and incredibly funny…a true celebration of the human spirit’. The Bookbag calls it ‘an exceedingly bold debut novel…achieved with gusto’.

Roofless dormitories, distracted teachers and a lethally dangerous underground labyrinth - Ribblestrop's visionary headmaster is out of his depth even before the pupils arrive! And when they do - what a bunch! There's Sanchez, a Colombian gangster's son hiding from kidnappers; Millie, an excluded arsonist and self-confessed wild child; Casper, the landlady's spoiled grandson; the helpful but hapless Sam and his best friend Ruskin, plus a handful of orphans from overseas, who are just happy to have beds - even if they are located in a roofless part of the building...Anything could happen - and anything does!

The book took several years to bash into shape, and the publishers worked hard to tone it down. It starts slowly enough, on the train from London Paddington. Then it’s one catastrophe after another, and you’re plunged into nightmare. Ribblestrop has the strangest children in the strangest situations – this is comedy-horror-action-suspense-school-fiction at its most bizarre.

And there’s football, too.