To mark the 30th anniversary of the first publication of Roald Dahl’s beloved Matilda, the author’s long-time illustrator and friend Quentin Blake has released a series of eight sketches depicting the famous gifted girl, all grown up.

In the pictures, the talented, courageous heroine of Dahl’s books has transformed into a 30 year-old astrophysicist. Now a well-travelled chief library executive.

Three of these sketches will appear next month on the covers of 30th Anniversary special collectors’ editions.

Matilda as an Astrophysicist. Photograph:Penguin Random House

Matilda as a world traveller in the new edition. Photograph: Penguin Random House

In his foreword to the new editions, Blake now 85, expresses his joy at reimagining the many possible futures of Matilda. Who is one of Dahl’s most famous fictional characters. ‘Since, as a small child, Matilda was gifted in several ways, it wasn’t very difficult. I imagined that for each version of our grown-up Matilda one of her extraordinary talents and achievements would have come to the fore and shown her a role in life,’ he writes.

Miss Honey must be very proud!