US TV comedy star's reading drive

Henry Winkler was not diagnosed with dyslexia until he had left school

Actor Henry Winkler, better known as "The Fonz" in 70s US comedy Happy Days, has visited a Worcestershire school in a bid to encourage pupils to read more.

Now a children's author, he read extracts from his book based on his childhood about a boy who faces various learning challenges, like dyslexia.

The visit to Franche Community School in Kidderminster is part of the 2008 National Year of Reading campaign.

"The fact of the matter is, I was not good in school," he said.

'Learning challenges'

His novels are based on a character called Hank Zipzer, dubbed the "world's greatest underachiever".

"He (Hank) is me actually, he is taken from my life," he said.

"He bumps up against my learning challenges, my dyslexia but we make the kids laugh first."

The producer and director, now in his 60s, has co-written 15 books.

His visit was set up by First News, a children's newspaper organising a tour for the reading campaign.