Tom Hanks has waded into the book censorship row following the backlash against Roald Dahl and Agatha Christie novels. Hanks, 66, is one of H0llywood's most loved stars as he has graced our screens for decades and seemingly never puts a foot wrong. The Forrest Gump star has got involved in the debate that is raging at the minute after much-loved books are being altered to cater to "modern sensitivities". During an appearance on <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_fourfm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC Radio 4</a>, Arts Correspondent Rebecca Jones questioned the actor on his thoughts about the works of dead authors being altered for modern audiences. <img class="size-full wp-image-1263210819" src="https://img.vt.co/2023/05/2H4J56T-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="1823" height="2560" />[[imagecaption|| Tom Hanks has got involved in the debate surrounding book censorship. Credit: MediaPunch Inc / Alamy]] This comes after rows emerged following publisher's hiring "sensitivity reads" whose job it is to censor works of words deemed to be hurtful, such as "fat" and "mad", which appear frequently in Roald Dahl's works. "Well, I'm of the opinion that we're all grown-ups here. And we understand the time and the place and when these things were written," Hanks said. "It's not very hard at all to say: that doesn't quite fly right now, does it?" he continued. "'Let's have faith in our own sensibilities here, instead of having somebody decide what we may or may not be offended by." Hanks went on: "Let me decide what I am offended by and not offended by. I would be against reading any book from any era that says abridged due to modern sensitivities." The comments come after the release of Hanks' first book, The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, which lifts the lid on Hollywood. Following the success of the book's release, the actor was questioned whether he had any more upcoming written projects. He responded: "It never stops. That would be nice, but you’d have to talk to me in another three or four years. But the wanting to sit down and create – it’s just the best way to spend one's time outside of being with those you love and [who] make you laugh." Even British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has gotten involved in the debate about book censorship, as a spokesperson for him offered the leader's thoughts. <img class="size-full wp-image-1263210820" src="https://img.vt.co/2023/05/2CKJ1EB-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" />[[imagecaption|| Roald Dahl's books have come under fire for the language used. Credit: Benjamin John / Alamy]] As cited by the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11775111/British-fury-woke-rewrite-Roald-Dahls-book-cut-words-like-fat.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a>, the spokesperson said: "When it comes to our rich and varied literary heritage, the Prime Minister agrees with the BFG that we shouldn’t gobblefunk around with words." "I think it’s important that works of literature and works of fiction are preserved and not airbrushed. We have always defended the right to free speech and expression," they concluded. <h6>Featured image credit: Everett Collection Inc / Alamy</h6>

Tom Hanks may boycott books censored to avoid offending 'modern sensitivities'

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