Arts & Literature
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A Funny Life: The Sunday Times Bestseller
The Sunday Times top 10 bestseller.
Laugh along with Michael McIntyre as he lifts the curtain on his life in his revealing autobiography.
Michael’s first book ended with his big break at the 2006 Royal Variety Performance. Waking up the next morning in the tiny rented flat he shared with his wife Kitty and their one-year-old son, he was beyond excited about the new glamorous world of show business. Unfortunately, he was also clueless . . .
In A Funny Life, Michael honestly and hilariously shares the highs and the lows of his rise to the top and desperate attempts to stay there. It’s all here, from his disastrous panel show appearances to his hit TV shows, from mistakenly thinking he’d be a good chat show host and talent judge, to finding fame and fortune beyond his wildest dreams and becoming the biggest-selling comedian in the world. Along the way he opens his man drawer, narrowly avoids disaster when his trousers fall down in front of three policemen and learns the hard way why he should always listen to his wife.
Michael has had a silly life, a stressful life, sometimes a moving and touching life, but always A Funny Life.
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A Life in Movies: Stories from 50 years in Hollywood
“A lively memoir . . . a first-hand work of cinema history . . . the testament of a pivotal figure in American moviemaking.” —Martin ScorseseThe list of films Irwin Winkler has produced in his more-than-fifty-year career is extraordinary: Rocky, Goodfellas, Raging Bull, De-Lovely, The Right Stuff, Creed, and The Irishman. His films have been nominated for fifty-two Academy Awards, including five movies for Best Picture, and have won twelve.
In A Life in Movies, his charming and insightful memoir, Winkler tells the stories of his career through his many films as a producer and then as a writer and director, charting the changes in Hollywood over the past decades. Winkler started in the famous William Morris mailroom and made his first film—starring Elvis—in the last days of the old studio system. Beginning in the late 1960s, and then for decades to come, he produced a string of provocative and influential films, making him one of the most critically lauded, prolific, and commercially successful producers of his era.
This is an engrossing and candid book, a beguiling exploration of what it means to be a producer, including purchasing rights, developing scripts, casting actors, managing directors, editing film, and winning awards. Filled with tales of legendary and beloved films, as well as some not-so-legendary and forgotten ones, A Life in Movies takes readers behind the scenes and into the history of Hollywood.
“Charming and anecdote packed . . . popcorn for movie nerds.” —Newsweek
“A deftly written recollection of an eventful and happy life in a precarious and, frankly, insane business; a remarkably clear-eyed look behind the scenes of moviemaking.” —Kevin Kline
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Agatha Christie: The Sunday Times Bestseller
‘A smart and highly entertaining portrait of a literary powerhouse’
– THE TIMES BOOKS OF THE YEAR‘A riveting portrait’
– GUARDIAN BOOKS OF THE YEAR***
‘Worsley’s sparkling biography brings a fresh eye to Christie’s life and work, firmly busting the myth that she, or her novels, were cosy.’ Daily Mail‘Every Christie fan should read this’ – The Times
‘Shows the Queen of Crime in a new light.’ – Daily Telegraph
‘Worsley’s book excels in bringing a broader historical perspective to Christie’s life and work, and her enthusiasm is infectious.’ – Observer
‘Nobody in the world was more inadequate to act the heroine than I was.’
Why did Agatha Christie spend her career pretending that she was ‘just’ an ordinary housewife, when clearly she wasn’t? As Lucy Worsley says, ‘She was thrillingly, scintillatingly modern’. She went surfing in Hawaii, she loved fast cars, and she was intrigued by the new science of psychology, which helped her through devastating mental illness.
So why – despite all the evidence to the contrary – did Agatha present herself as a retiring Edwardian lady of leisure?
She was born in 1890 into a world which had its own rules about what women could and couldn’t do. Lucy Worsley’s biography is not just of an internationally renowned bestselling writer. It’s also the story of a person who, despite the obstacles of class and gender, became an astonishingly successful working woman.With access to personal letters and papers that have rarely been seen, Lucy Worsley’s biography is both authoritative and entertaining and makes us realise what an extraordinary pioneer Agatha Christie was – truly a woman who wrote the twentieth century.
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American Prince: My Autobiography
He has appeared in over a hundred films. Elvis copied his looks. The Beatles put him on the cover of Sgt. Pepper. Tony Curtis is without question a Hollywood legend and part of its Golden Age. In American Prince he tells the whole story, from his hard-knock childhood growing up in the Bronx to his wild days as a Hollywood playboy, his destructive drug addiction and his life now as an artist in his eighties. He talks frankly about the people he has known during his long and illustrious career, from the studio owners and directors to his famous friends, such as Jack Lemmon, Cary Grant and James Dean, and the women in his life, including Janet Leigh and Natalie Wood.
Forthright and enthralling, and sparing no detail and no ego, American Prince is the true record of a life lived to the full.
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At My Mother’s Knee…And Other Low Joints: Tales from Paul’s mischievous young years
THE MILLION COPY BESTSELLER
‘Warmly funny, dry and mischievous . . . Genuine and brilliant.’ Daily Mail
Paul O’Grady is one of Britain’s very best loved entertainers. He is known and adored by millions, whether as the creator of the acid-tongued Blonde Bombsite, Lily Savage, the presenter of the fantastically successful, award-winning Paul O’Grady Show on Channel 4 or the massive hit ITV show, For the Love of Dogs.
Now, in his own unique voice, Paul O’Grady tells story of his early life in Irish Catholic Birkenhead that started him on the long and winding road from mischievous altar boy to national treasure. It is a brilliantly evoked, hilarious and often moving tale of gossip in the back yard, bragging in the corner shop and slanging matches on the front doorstep, populated by larger-than-life characters with hearts of gold and tongues as sharp as razors.
At My Mother’s Knee features an unforgettable cast of rogues, rascals, lovers, fighters, saints and sinners – and one iconic bus conductress. It’s a book which really does have something for everyone and which reminds us that, when all’s said and done, there’s a bit of savage in all of us…
Readers love At My Mother’s Knee:
‘I laughed, I cried, I couldn’t put it down and the characters really just jumped out of the page.’ *****
‘Candid, heart warming and also hilarious.’ *****
‘Wonderfully written, laugh out loud funny and poignant by turns.’ *****Read more
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Behind the Sequins: My Life
Leave it all on the floor…
Queen of Latin Ballroom, Shirley Ballas has a spectacular dance career spanning over 40 years – she has Cha-Cha’d her way across the world’s dance floors to become a multi-award-winning ballroom champion and one of the most renowned dancers in the world. In 1996, Shirley retired from competitive dancing to become a highly-acclaimed coach and now holds the enviable position of Head Judge on BBC One’s prime time show Strictly Come Dancing.
In Behind the Sequins, she leads us through her dramatic and determined life, from growing up in a rough estate on the Wirral and leaving home at 14 years old, to conquering the high-octane world of ballroom and coping with betrayal, bullying, two broken marriages and a personal tragedy that left Shirley and her family devastated.
Speaking from the heart, Shirley leaves her dancing shoes at the door to tell you the story of a fiery, strong-willed grafter who could make the brat pack blush.
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Billy Connolly
The inside story of the one of the most successful British stand-up comedians, as told by the person best qualified to reveal all about the man behind the comic, his wife of over 20 years – Pamela Stephenson.
Once in a lifetime, there strides upon the stage someone who can truly be called a legend. Such a person is the inimitable, timeless genius who is Billy Connolly. His effortlessly wicked whimsy has entranced, enthralled – and split the sides of – thousands upon thousands of adoring audiences.
And when he isn’t doing that…he’s turning in award-winning performances on film and television.
He’s the man who needs no introduction, and yet he is the ultimate enigma. From a troubled and desperately poor childhood in the docklands of Glasgow he is now the intimate of household names the world over.
How did this happen, who is the real Billy Connolly? Only one person can answer that question: his wife, Pamela Stephenson. Pamela’s writing combines the very personal with a frank objectivity that makes for a compelling, moving and hugely entertaining biography. This is the real Billy Connolly.
This genre-defining book is now released as an ebook for a new generation of comedy fans, with a new Foreword from the author. Pamela’s vision of Billy is as true now as it ever was – as groundbreaking, as moving and as laugh-out-loud funny – and here she brings the book fully into its context, as one of the most influential biographies ever written.
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£0.90Billy Connolly
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Britney Spears: The Biography of Britney Spears
University Press returns with a short, captivating biography of one of history’s most compelling figures: Britney Spears.Britney Spears, the pop sensation who exploded onto the scene like a glittery tornado, has lived a life as vibrant as her music.
Born in McComb, Mississippi, in 1981, this Southern belle traded her small-town roots for the neon lights of Hollywood, and the world hasn’t been the same since.
From her iconic schoolgirl outfit in “Baby One More Time” to her fierce comeback in Las Vegas, Britney’s journey has been nothing short of legendary.
She’s danced her way through triumphs, survived the harshest media storms, and emerged stronger than ever.
With a discography that could make anyone want to “Scream & Shout,” Britney’s star power remains as blinding as ever.
Raise a toast to the princess of pop, who continues to live life on her terms and reminds us that we’re all stronger than yesterday.
This short book tells the intensely human story of a woman who is inspiring her millions of adoring fans – and changing the world in a way that no one else can.
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Carry On Actors: The Complete Who’s Who of the Film Series
The release of Carry On Sergeant in 1958 saw the beginning of one of the most successful film series in cinema history. The ensuing thirty Carry On films and numerous television specials spanned two decades and featured some of the finest comedy actors ever to appear on our screens. Watched by generations of comedy fans the Carry On series and its unforgettable cast members have become a global phenomenon.Carry On Actors brings together every actor from the beloved series for the very first time in one book.
With comprehensive biographies on all of the main stars of the series, including comedy greats such as Kenneth Williams, Sid James, Joan Sims and Barbara Windsor, along with over 500 individual entries featuring little-known facts about the supporting actors who featured in the films, Carry On Actors is the ultimate guide for fans of the series. The book also reveals those celebrities whose appearances in the classic series did not make it into the final films and brings the Carry On story up to date with details of recent reunions and celebrations.
Fully revised and updated for 2015 Carry On Actors features more than 100 unique quotes from the Carry On actors and their contemporaries along with exclusive memories from the series producer, the late Peter Rogers.
Featuring a truly astonishing array of well-known names this is the essential reference for Carry On fans and British comedy enthusiasts alike.
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Could It Be Forever? My Story
This ebook edition contains the full text version as per the book. Doesn’t include original photographic and illustrated material. In the seventies, when he was just 20 years old, David Cassidy achieved the sort of teen idol fame that is rarely seen. He was mobbed everywhere he went. His clothes were regularly ripped off by adoring fans. He sold records the world over. He was bigger than Elvis. And all thanks to a hit TV show called The Partridge Family. Now, in his own words, this is a brutally frank account of those mindblowing days of stardom in which being David Cassidy played second fiddle to being Keith Partridge. Including stories of sex, drugs and rock’n’roll that explode the myth of Cassidy as squeaky clean, it’s also the story of how to keep on living life and loving yourself when the fickle fans fall away.Read more
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David Bowie FAQ: All That’s Left to Know About Rock’s Finest Actor
David Bowie was one of the world’s most famous rock stars. But, as David Bowie FAQ shows, he was also far more than that. After spending the latter part of the 1960s searching for the best medium through which to express his artistic aspirations—and trying out several performing arts in the process—he experienced fleeting but significant success in music with the top-ten UK hit “Space Oddity,” released at the time of the successful Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969.
Subsequently he achieved true international fame in the early 1970s through playing the role of the androgynous alien rock-star Ziggy Stardust. From here he went on to a career that spanned five decades, exploring numerous artistic disciplines, challenging societal mores and conventions, and building a platform of constant change and reinvention. Whereas most rock stars would find a winning formula and rigidly stick to it to avoid alienating their fans, David Bowie made stylistic variation his cornerstone—an entirely new and model for rock stardom.
But David Bowie was more than a rock star. Reflecting an approach to art that knew no boundaries, he also made his mark in movie acting, legitimate stage acting, and more. There was a unifying factor in all of the roles he played, regardless of medium, because even from childhood he’d felt himself to be an outsider, alienated and estranged. Bowie’s fans quickly recognized this quality in him, and it created a bond that went far beyond the usual star-fan relationship. Through David Bowie, fans found themselves able to accept their sense of difference as a positive thing rather than a negative one. David Bowie didn’t simply entertain people—he empowered them.
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David Bowie Made Me Gay: 100 Years of LGBT Music
The definitive book on the influence of LGBT performers on modern music: a Duckworth contemporary classic, beautifully repackaged for our 125th anniversary
From Sia to Elton John, Dusty Springfield to Little Richard, LGBT voices have changed the course of modern music. But in a world before they gained understanding and a place in the mainstream, how did the queer musicians of yesteryear fight to build foundations for those who came after?
Pulling back the curtain on the colourful world that shaped our musical and cultural landscape, Darryl W. Bullock reveals the inspiring and often heartbreaking stories of internationally renowned stars, as well as lesser-known names, who have led the revolution from all corners of the globe. David Bowie Made Me Gay is a treasure trove of moving and provocative stories that emphasise the right to be heard and the need to keep up the fight for equality in the spotlight.
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David McCallum: A Journey Through Time and TV
Step into the captivating world of David McCallum, the enigmatic actor who traversed time, space, and television screens. In this compelling biography, Kelvin Pen takes you on an extraordinary journey through McCallum’s life, illuminating the man behind iconic roles and unveiling the profound impact he left on both the entertainment industry and humanity.
Explore his early days and the family that nurtured his talents. Witness his formative years at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the pivotal moments that propelled him into the spotlight. Delve into the enigmatic Illya Kuryakin from “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” an era-defining character that captured the world’s imagination.
Follow McCallum’s post-“U.N.C.L.E.” odyssey as he reinvented himself, leaving an indelible mark in films and television. Experience his triumphant return to pop culture in the 21st century, mesmerizing a new generation of fans in “NCIS.”
Discover McCallum’s profound commitment to philanthropy and humanitarian work, reflecting a heart as generous as his talent was vast. Uncover the enduring legacy and influence he cast upon the entertainment industry, inspiring generations of actors and creators.
Join us in a heartfelt tribute as we remember the life and career of David McCallum, cherishing his accomplishments and the unforgettable characters he brought to life. Immerse yourself in the worlds of “The Outer Limits,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” and “Sapphire and Steel,” exploring the genius that defined an era.
This book is a treasure trove of fascinating facts about David McCallum, a comprehensive celebration of his remarkable journey, and a poignant conclusion to a life well-lived.
Get ready to embark on a journey through time, television, and the extraordinary life of David McCallum.
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Diana Dors
Diana Dors, born Diana Mary Fluck on 23rd October 1931, at Haven Nursing Home, Swindon, Wiltshire, England, UK was a feature film and television actress, TV personality and singer. Dors first became famous as a blonde bombshell in the style of Marilyn Monroe, promoted by her first husband, Dennis Hamilton, mainly via sex movie-comedies and risqué modelling.Read more
£16.90Diana Dors
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Diddly Squat: Pigs Might Fly
Get ready for another trip back to Clarkson’s Farm this Christmas with the brand new bestseller from our favourite wellie-wearing wannabe farmer, Jeremy Clarkson
Welcome back to Clarkson’s Farm. Since taking the wheel three years ago Jeremy’s had his work cut out. And it’s now clear from hard-won experience that, when it comes to farming, there’s only one golden rule:
Whatever you hope will happen, won’t.
Enthusiastic schemes to diversify have met with stubborn opposition from the red trouser brigade, defeat at the hands of Council Planning department, and predictable derision from Kaleb – although, to be fair, even Lisa had doubts about Jeremy’s brilliant plan to build a business empire founded on rewilding and nettle soup. And only Cheerful Charlie is still smiling about the stifling amount of red tape that’s incoming . . . But he charges by the hour.
Then there are the animals: the sheep are gone; the cows have been joined by a rented bull called Break-Heart Maestro;. the pigs are making piglets; and the goats have turned out to be psychopaths.
But despite the naysayers and (sometimes self-inflicted) setbacks, Jeremy remains irrepressibly optimistic about life at Diddly Squat. Because It’s hard not to be when you get to harvest blackberries with a vacuum cleaner.
And, after all, it shouldn’t just be Break-heart Maestro who gets to enjoy a happy ending . . .
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£10.40Diddly Squat: Pigs Might Fly
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Disney’s British Gentleman: The Life and Career of David Tomlinson
‘A wonderful account of a life filled with far more ups and downs than its subject’s languid demeanour ever suggested.’
Miles Jupp.
Even if the name doesn’t ring a bell, you’d recognise David Tomlinson’s face – genial and continually perplexed, he was Mr Banks in Mary Poppins, Professor Browne in Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Peter Thorndyke in The Love Bug. To many, he’s the epitome of post-war British comedy.
But at times his life was more tragedy than comedy. A distinguished RAF pilot in the Second World War, his first marriage was to end in horrific tragedy and his next romance ended with his lover marrying the founder of the American Nazi Party. He did find love and security in his second marriage, but drama still played its part in his life – from the uncovering of an earthshattering family secret to the fight for an autism diagnosis for his son, up against the titans of the British medical establishment.
Tomlinson may have died over twenty years ago, but his star continues to shine. In Disney’s British Gentleman, Nathan Morley reveals the remarkable story of one of Disney’s most beloved icons for the very first time.
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Emma Mackey: The Biography Of A Modern Icon (Biography Of Your Favorite Barbie Actors and Actresses Book 6)
“Delve into the captivating life and journey of Emma Mackey, the enigmatic actress who has captured hearts worldwide. In ‘Emma Mackey: The Biography Of A Modern Icon,’ discover the untold story of her rise from an aspiring actress to an international sensation, tracing her steps through the challenges, triumphs, and transformational moments that shaped her into the remarkable figure she is today. Uncover the behind-the-scenes anecdotes, personal struggles, and artistic inspirations that have contributed to Mackey’s meteoric rise, making her not just a screen star, but a symbol of empowerment and change for a new generation.”
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Ewen and Cat’s Wee Book of Aye or Naw?: 500 quiz questions to test your knowledge on EVERYTHING!
500 quiz questions to test your knowledge on EVERYTHING! Packed full of hilarious behind-the-scenes moments and puzzling brain busters from their award-winning radio show Ewen and Cat at Breakfast. It’s bound to bemuse and amuse in equal measure!Are these statements true? Aye or Naw?
Usain Bolt would beat a cat over 100m.
A jiffy is a real unit of time.
Volkswagen sell more sausages than cars.
All will be revealed.Will Ewen and Cat’s Wee Book of Aye or Naw? change your life? NAW.
But will it make you instantly more interesting to other humans? OH AYE!!Read more
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Finucane & Me: My Life with Marian
Marian Finucane was a trailblazing broadcaster, the first to champion women’s issues on air, and respected for her fairness, empathy and doggedness. One of a small group of Irish people known simply by their first name, the nation mourned when she died suddenly, aged 69, in January 2020.
But John Clarke, Marian’s widower, doesn’t use her moniker – instead, he calls her ‘Finucane’. It highlights the gap between the woman so many felt they knew and the woman he loved – the real Marian – who was by turns curious, fiery, emotional, stubborn, charming and endlessly excited by life.
When John and Marian first got together, they promised each other that they’d never be boring. What ensued was forty years of conversation and thousands of miles travelled. Finucane & Me is an unexpected love story: the story of two people who ‘made a pact for madness’; the story of a never-ending search for meaning; the story of two people who lived life to its fullest.
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Gordon Ramsay: Angel in Disguise
An unauthorized mini biography of Chef Gordon Ramsay, written in 2013.Read more
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Gordon Ramsay: The True Story Of Gordon Ramsay And His Wife Tana Ramsay Welcoming Their Sixth Child Together || Biography, Early Life, Career As Chef, Five (5) Children And Net…
Have you ever wondered about the extraordinary journey of Gordon Ramsay and his wife Tana Ramsay welcoming their sixth child together?
Dive into the compelling pages of this book, unveiling the true story behind the celebrated chef’s family expansion. Explore the moments of joy, challenges, and the Ramsay family’s journey to completeness.
Discover the intimate details of their remarkable life.
Are you ready to immerse yourself in the heartfelt narrative of love, resilience, and the joy of a growing family?
Scroll Up and Click the BUY!!
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In Plain Sight: The Life and Lies of Jimmy Savile
A major source for the BBC drama The Reckoning
Winner of the 2015 Gordon Burn Prize and the 2015 CWA Non-Fiction Dagger
Shortlisted for the Orwell Prize and the James Tait Black Prize
Dan Davies has spent more than a decade on a quest to find the real Jimmy Savile, and interviewed him extensively over a period of seven years before his death. In the course of his quest, he spent days and nights at a time quizzing Savile at his homes in Leeds and Scarborough, lunched with him at venues ranging from humble transport cafes to the Athenaeum club in London and, most memorably, joined him for a short cruise aboard the QE2. Dan thought his quest had come to an end in October 2011 when Savile’s golden coffin was lowered into a grave dug at a 45-degree angle in a Scarborough cemetery. He was wrong. In the last two and a half years, Dan has been interviewing scores of people, many of them unobtainable while Jimmy was alive. What he has discovered was that his instincts were right all along and behind the mask lay a hideous truth. Jimmy Savile was not only complex, damaged and controlling, but cynical, calculating and predatory. He revelled in his status as a Pied Piper of youth and used his power to abuse the vulnerable and underage, all the while covering his tracks by moving into the innermost circles of the establishment.
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JOAN COLLINS BIOGRAPHY BOOK: Behind the Shoulder Pads: A Life of Glamour, Grit, and Enduring Grace
Step into the dazzling world of Joan Collins, an icon of Hollywood glamour and timeless elegance. In this captivating biography, explore the life of a woman who defied expectations and became a true legend of the silver screen. From her early days in London’s West End to her reign as a Dynasty diva, Joan’s journey is a tale of talent, tenacity, and unapologetic style. Get ready for a glamorous ride through the golden era of Hollywood with the inimitable Joan Collins as your guide.Read more
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Johnny Ruffo : The biography of Home and Away’ actor and singer, cause of death and legacy
It is a short interesting Biography of Home and Away Actor and Singer, Cause of Death and LegacyJohnny Ruffo was more than just a celebrity. He was a man who faced the most difficult challenge of his life with courage, optimism, and humor. He was a man who never stopped chasing his dreams and never stopped spreading his joy. He was a man who left an indelible mark on the world with his talent, charisma, and spirit.
Johnny Ruffo: The Biography of Home and Away Actor and Singer, Cause of Death and Legacy is the definitive account of Johnny Ruffo’s extraordinary life, from his childhood in Perth to his meteoric rise to fame and his brave battle with brain cancer. It is a story of passion, perseverance, and resilience, told with honesty and compassion by those who knew him best.In this book, you will discover:
How Johnny Ruffo became a star on The X Factor Australia, impressing the judges and the audience with his singing and dancing skills.
– How Johnny Ruffo landed a role on Home and Away
– How Johnny Ruffo balanced his music and acting careers, releasing hit singles, touring with international artists, and starring in TV shows and movies.
– diagnosis of brain cancer
– lasting legacy in the entertainment industry, the cancer community, and the hearts of his family, friends, and fans.Johnny Ruffo: The Biography of Home and Away Actor and Singer, Cause of Death and Legacy is a tribute to a man who lived a remarkable life and touched the lives of many. It is a book that will remind you to never give up and never stop smiling.
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Kammy: The Funny and Moving Autobiography by the Broadcasting Legend
Foreword by Ben Shephard
‘Everyone loves Kammy . . . Full of humour and endless blunders’ – The Times
‘What a man, what a life, what a story, and what a great read’ – Paddy McGuinnessPresenter, commentator, (sometimes masked) singer, footballer, manager and campaigner, Kammy has done it all. His irrepressible enthusiasm – and a couple of legendary gaffes on Sky Sports – have seen him become broadcasting royalty.
Now Kammy reveals all in this funny and moving autobiography. What happens when you double cross José Mourinho? What it’s like to play with Vinnie Jones? Who comes off better: Kammy or a rampaging gorilla? How did Kammy end up releasing his own top-ten record? What’s the real story behind his infamous line, ‘I don’t know, Jeff!’?
But despite the crazy tales, it hasn’t all been plain sailing. Kammy had a tough upbringing, faced racism during his playing career and has, in recent years, dealt with a rare brain condition – apraxia – that has affected his speech and seen him say goodbye to Sky Sports. Relating his battle against the condition, Kammy shows how he’s met every challenge with courage, determination and his infectious smile.
Packed with hilarious stories and featuring a cast of famous names, from Elton John to Channing Tatum, this is a book about friendship, courage and why it’s always important to have a good laugh.
‘A talented (and daft) lad from the Boro who has entertained the nation for decades, on and off the pitch. So get the tissues ready – this book will make you laugh and cry in equal measure’ – Steph McGovern
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Keith Richards: Satisfaction
In celebration of Keith Richards’ 80th birthday, this edition features a new introduction from the author.‘A highly readable portrait of the irresistible millionaire minstrel.’ Independent
‘Highly entertaining . . . Of this latest crop of Stones books, Sandford’s affectionate, warts-and-all portrait of Keith is undoubtedly the best read.’ Charles Spencer, Sunday Telegraph
‘A pungent, air-guitar twanging celebration of one of rock’s true wild men.’ The Times
He’s the shy, half-educated boy from Dartford . . . the ‘elegantly wasted’ junkie who wrote and played the Rolling Stones’ best-known songs . . . the artist formerly known as Wormwood Scrubs’ prisoner 7855 . . . the original Human Riff . . . and, today, the contented family man who continues to be rock’s most indomitable living practitioner.
But who is the real Keith behind the kohl-eyed image? Christopher Sandford’s penetrating and entertaining biography is a hard, fast, sometimes shocking saga of sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll — and of a flawed but wildly creative life.
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My Effin’ Life
“As someone who has spent his life telling made-up stories that are obliged to sound somewhat plausible, I am deeply envious of Geddy Lee. And it’s not only the improbable, absurd, wondrous and at times heartbreaking true story that life has gifted him that envy, but also the warmth, care, artfulness, hard-earned wisdom and—always—the gently skewed humor with which he tells it. He’s one of my musical heroes, for reasons that are there on record, but with this book everyone can see why for so long he has also been one of my heroes as a man.”—Michael Chabon
The long-awaited memoir, generously illustrated with never-before-seen photos, from the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Rush bassist, and bestselling author of Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass.
Geddy Lee is one of rock and roll’s most respected bassists. For nearly five decades, his playing and work as co-writer, vocalist and keyboardist has been an essential part of the success story of Canadian progressive rock trio Rush. Here for the first time is his account of life inside and outside the band.
Long before Rush accumulated more consecutive gold and platinum records than any rock band after the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, before the seven Grammy nominations or the countless electrifying live performances across the globe, Geddy Lee was Gershon Eliezer Weinrib, after his grandfather was murdered in the Holocaust.
As he recounts the transformation, Lee looks back on his family, in particular his loving parents and their horrific experiences as teenagers during World War II.
He talks candidly about his childhood and the pursuit of music that led him to drop out of high school.
He tracks the history of Rush which, after early struggles, exploded into one of the most beloved bands of all time.
He shares intimate stories of his lifelong friendships with bandmates Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart—deeply mourning Peart’s recent passing—and reveals his obsessions in music and beyond.
This rich brew of honesty, humor, and loss makes for a uniquely poignant memoir.
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£17.10My Effin’ Life
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Once Upon A Tyne: The hilarious and heart-warming Sunday Times bestseller
Complete with Christmassy gold cover, this is the perfect uplifting gift for Ant and Dec fans. (P.S. it’s a little known fact that you can give gifts to yourself, too. Go on, treat yourself!)
Told through the lens of every TV show Ant and Dec have made, this is the riotously funny journey of two ordinary lads from Newcastle who have gone on to achieve extraordinary things.
From their modest beginnings in Byker Grove through to their “unique” time as pop stars and an award-laden TV career, Ant and Dec are surely the most loveable double act on our small screens. With more laugh out loud moments than you can count, ONCE UPON A TYNE includes behind-the-scenes stories about their first scriptwriter (an unknown comedian called David Walliams), Saturday night fun and games with countless Hollywood A-listers, and celebrities they torture – sorry, work with – every year in the jungle.
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Pretty Boys Are Poisonous: Poems: A Collection of F**ked Up Fairy Tales
‘A glimpse to the person behind the glamour and drama . . . you get a real sense of the beating soul of Megan Fox’ – Glamour
Megan Fox showcases her wicked humor throughout a heartbreaking and dark collection of poetry. Over the course of more than 80 poems, Fox chronicles all the ways in which we fit ourselves into the shape of the ones we love, even if it means losing ourselves in the process.
“These poems were written in an attempt to excise the illness that had taken root in me because of my silence. I’ve spent my entire life keeping the secrets of men, my body aches from carrying the weight of their sins. My freedom lives in these pages, and I hope that my words can inspire others to take back their happiness and their identity by using their voice to illuminate what’s been buried, but not forgotten, in the darkness,” says Fox.
Pretty Boys Are Poisonous marks the powerful debut from one of the most well-known women of our time. Turn the page, bite the apple, and sink your teeth into the most deliciously compelling and addictive book you’ll read all year.
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£9.50 -
Robert My Father: A Personal Biography of Robert Morley
‘If Robert had a mission, it was to emphasise that life was meant to be fun; he was one of the few men I knew who strode through life instead of circumnavigating it. He died without ever growing old.’ Michael Parkinson
‘Comic genius’ was the uncontested verdict of the International Herald Tribune. But Robert Morley was bigger even than that. While he is remembered for landmark performances such as the first portrayal of Oscar Wilde on stage and screen, and for many more as the epitome of the crusty but lovable English gentleman, Robert Morley is equally remembered for perhaps his finest role: playing himself. Through books, plays and countless radio and television performances, Robert Morley spread his own unique brand of irresistible humour and joie de vivre, generally resembling, to quote one memorable description, ‘an indignant elephant’. In this wonderfully entertaining account of a remarkable life, Sheridan Morley reveals the true Robert Morley – actor, playwright, bon viveur, and, not least, father.
‘Warm yet unsentimental … a first-rate portrait of a true original and star’ Evening Standard
‘Affectionate and moving, packed with anecdotes. Above all it is fun’ Sunday Express
‘Charming and affectionate … What his son’s biography sets out to do, and succeeds in admirably, is to celebrate the joyful pleasure that old-fashioned performers took in their art’ Times Literary Supplement
‘Hugely entertaining, and bulges with very good stories’ Mail on Sunday
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Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton and Me
‘This is the most glorious of books. I am besotted by the life I never knew he had.’ -Elton John
‘Orgasmic. Every page of Scattershot is a delight, a joy, a name-dropper fan’s delight. Divine. I couldn’t put it down.’ -Pete Townshend
‘In Bernie Taupin’s miraculous memoir Scattershot you’ll meet legends, cowboys, geniuses, unforgettable faces in the night, shady purveyors of outrageous fortune, warriors of the heart, and most of all, Taupin himself. Hilarious and so emotionally true, Scattershot is like a letter from a cherished friend. You’ll want to keep it close, so you can read it again and again.’ -Cameron Crowe
‘Touching. Charming. Humble. Witty. And exquisitely written. Taupin’s words need no musical accompaniment. They sing with a poets voice.’ -Gary Oldman
‘Eloquent and inspiring, Scattershot is a freewheeling memoir that is as warm and evocative as Bernie Taupin’s most memorable lyrics. A born storyteller, Taupin gives us the life of an artist whose outlook was shaped by a rare but fascinating blend of lifelong innocence and endless intellectual curiosity.’ -Robert Hilburn, author of Johnny Cash: The Life
This is the memoir music fans have been waiting for. Half of one of the greatest creative partnerships in popular music, Bernie Taupin is the man who wrote the lyrics for Elton John, who conceived the ideas that spawned countless hits, and sold millions and millions of records. Together, they were a duo, a unit, an immovable object. Their extraordinary, half-century-and-counting creative relationship has been chronicled in biopics (like 2019’s Rocketman) and even John’s own autobiography, Me. But Taupin, a famously private person, has kept his own account of their adventures close to his chest, until now.
Written with honesty and candour, Scatterhot allows the reader to witness events unfolding from Taupin’s singular perspective, sometimes front and center, sometimes from the edge, yet always described vibrantly, with an infectious energy that only a vivid songwriter’s prose could offer. From his childhood in the East Midlands of England whose imagination was sparked and forever informed by the distinctly American mythopoetics of country music and cowboys, to the glittering, star-studded fishbowl of ’70s and ’80s Beverly Hills, Scattershot is simultaneously a Tom Jones-like picaresque journey across a landscape of unforgettable characters, as well as a striking, first-hand account of a creative era like no other and one man’s experience at the core of it.
An exciting, multi-decade whirlwind, Scattershot whizzes around the world as we ride shotgun with Bernie on his extraordinary life. We visit New York with him and Elton on the cusp of global fame. We spend time with him in Australia almost in residency at an infamous rock ‘n’ roll hotel in an endless blizzard of drugs. And we spend late, late night hours with John Lennon, with Bob Marley, and hanging with Frank Sinatra. And beyond the world of popular music, we witness memorable encounters with writers like Graham Greene, painters like Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali, and scores of notable misfits, miscreants, eccentrics, and geniuses, known and unknown. Even if they’re not famous in their own right, they are stars on the page, and we discover how they inspired the indelible lyrics to songs such as “Tiny Dancer,” “Candle in the Wind,” “Bennie and The Jets,” and so many more.
Unique and utterly compelling, Scattershot will transport the reader across the decades and around the globe, along the way meeting some of the greatest creative minds of the 20th century, and into the vivid imaginings of one of music’s most legendary lyricists.
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Sean Connery: A Life from Beginning to End (Biographies of Actors)
Discover the remarkable life of Sean Connery…
Free BONUS Inside!Sean Connery is still well remembered for his role in the epic James Bond series. Although we often picture him as a smooth, daring, and debonair agent, surviving all manner of incredible stunts, Sean Connery was more than just James Bond. His films were indeed action-packed, but so was his personal life.
Connery was a man who was always on the move. Since his earliest days growing up in Scotland, he sought to make the most of everything he had. Whether he was involved in theater, film, or worthy causes in his ancestral homeland, he gave it his all. This book explores the life and legend of Sean Connery in full.
Discover a plethora of topics such as
- Early Days in Edinburgh
- Connery, the Bodybuilder and Casket Polisher
- Becoming James Bond
- Work with Hitchcock
- Sci-Fi Era
- Late Life and Death
- And much more!
So if you want a concise and informative book on Sean Connery, simply scroll up and click the “Buy now” button for instant access!
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Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays The Rent
THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER
This Christmas let Dame Judi Dench take you behind the scenes as she shares her life with, and love of Shakespeare.
‘A MAGICAL LOVE LETTER TO SHAKESPEARE’ Sir Kenneth Branagh
‘Companionable and compelling – it genuinely feels like you’re sitting at her kitchen table with her. If you love Judi Dench or Shakespeare (and most of us do), look no further’ Guardian
‘It swirls and dances with brilliance and mischief’ Daily Mail
‘Gloriously entertaining’ ObserverTaking a curtain call with a live snake in her wig…
Cavorting naked through the countryside painted green…
Acting opposite a child with a pumpkin on his head…
These are just a few of the things Dame Judi Dench has done in the name of Shakespeare.
For the very first time, Judi opens up about every Shakespearean role she has played throughout her seven-decade career, from Lady Macbeth and Titania to Ophelia and Cleopatra.
Here she reveals her behind the scenes secrets; inviting us to share in her triumphs, disasters, and backstage shenanigans, all brightened by her mischievous sense of humour and striking honesty.
Witty, provocative and inspiring, this is ultimately Judi’s love letter to Shakespeare, or rather, The Man Who Pays The Rent.‘An utterly delightful book… Shakespeare from a great actor’s perspective – that repeatedly strikes to the heart of the matter with a sharp instinctive intelligence that puts fancy-pants literary critics to shame’ Telegraph
‘A wonderful ode to the bard’ I
‘The book is pure enchantment. It swirls and dances with brilliance and mischief, so forget traditional Shakespearean criticism and analysis. Sack the Eng. Lit. professors. As never before, this book brings the subject to wild, authentic life.’ Daily Mail‘Riveting, revealing and witty’ Gazette and Herald
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Shark Infested Waters: Tales Of An Actors’ Agent
Michael Whitehall contrasts the glamorous image of theatrical life with the mundane realities of the business, while passing on some startling trade secrets along the way.
A laconic raconteur of refreshingly unstar-struck theatrical anecdotes, Whitehall deftly sketches the social comedy of his eccentric background: growing up in suburban London in the 1950s, his schooldays at Ampleforth and his subsequent adventures as a prep schoolmaster – worthy of Evelyn Waugh himself – before becoming an actors’ agent.
Shark-Infested Waters is a charming, funny and piquant view of a world that continues to fascinate.
Praise for Shark Infested Waters:
“The funniest show-business memoir I’ve read since David Niven’s The Moon’s a Balloon.” – Nigel Havers
“One of the year’s funniest memoirs.” – Daily Express
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The Chateau – Forever Home: The instant Sunday Times Bestseller, as seen on the hit Channel 4 TV Series Escape to the Chateau
Take a journey to Château-de-la-Motte Husson in the spellbinding memoir from Sunday Times bestselling authors, Dick and Angel Strawbridge.
Dick and Angel recount the newest and biggest challenges they faced on the journey to transforming their once derelict and abandoned château in France’s Pays de la Loire into a thriving family home and sustainable business.
When the Covid-19 pandemic engulfs the world, the château faces a new challenge and the Strawbridges must find ways to adapt in order to keep their dream life in France alive. From the cancellation of the wedding season to finding new ways to complete renovations, living in an isolated bubble whilst continuing to film their TV series through to life after the pandemic, this is Dick and Angel at their most honest and heartfelt, revealing many details never seen on TV.
As entertaining, warm and irresistible as ever, Join Dick and Angel on their remarkable journey to find their family’s forever home.
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The Jamie Oliver Effect: The Man, The Food, The Revolution
By the age of eight, Jamie Oliver was already cooking in his parents’ pub and restaurant in Essex. From Westminster Catering College, he went straight to the apron strings of Antonio Carluccio as his head pastry chef. Spotted by the director who would make Nigella, Jamie’s cheeky chappy image in the kitchens of “The River Cafe” won him his own TV series, “The Naked Chef”, by the tender age of 22. A monster advertising deal with Sainsbury’s was soon to follow, allowing Jamie and his mates – strewn through his series as effortlessly as he chucked herbs on his easy dishes – to come into our sitting rooms several times a night. We watched him marry his sweetheart, become a father twice, and chewed our fingernails with Jools in Jamie’s School Dinners”, willing him to come home more often. His campaign, Jamie’s “Fowl Dinners”, highlights the animal welfare implications for chickens of our constant demand for cheap food. The story of Jamie Oliver is the story of a culinary revolution. Speaking to people at the very heart of this revolution, from chefs and food stars to politicians and media commentators, Gilly Smith asks if it was Jamie who struck the match, or whether it was simply time to turn up the heat under a world finally ready to feed itself.Read more
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Vinyl Countdown
‘You hold in your hand a miracle. A book about a passion, and the hipsters, oddballs and old heads who share it, written by one of their number, albeit a ludicrously erudite one’ – Danny Kelly
A revival of interest in vinyl music has taken place in recent years – but for many of those from the ‘baby boomer’ generation, it never went away.
Graham Sharpe’s vinyl love affair began in the 1960s and since then he has amassed over 3000 LPs and spent countless hours visiting record shops worldwide along with record fairs, car boot sales, online and real life auctions.Vinyl Countdownfollows his journey to over a hundred shops across the globe – from New York to New Zealand, Walsall to Warsaw, Oslo to Ozstralia, (old) Jersey to New Jersey – and describes the many characters he has encountered and the adventures he accrued along the way.
Vinyl Countdown seeks to reawaken the often dormant desire which first promoted the gathering of records, and to confirm the belief of those who still indulge in it, that they happily belong to, and should celebrate the undervalued, misunderstood significant group of music-obsessed vinylholics, who always want – need – to buy… just one more record.
A mesmerising blend of memoir, travel, music and social history, Vinyl Countdown will appeal to anyone who vividly recalls the first LP they bought and any music fan who derives pleasure from the capacity that records have for transporting you back in time.
‘Graham Sharpe’s journey around the second-hand record shops of the UK is full of laugh out loud anecdotes and wonderful observations. A great read not just for vinyl fans, but for anybody who has ever visited a record shop’ – Graham Jones, author of Last Shop Standing (Whatever Happened to Record Shops), Strange Requests and Comic Tales From Record Shopsand The Vinyl Revival and the Shops That Made it HappenRead more
£1.10Vinyl Countdown
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Watford Forever: How Graham Taylor and Elton John Saved a Football Club, a Town and Each Other
‘The heartwarming story of the collaboration and friendship between English football’s oddest couple, Elton John and Graham Taylor’ The Times
‘An ever-entertaining telling of a remarkable sporting fairy-tale’ Daily Telegraph
_____________________An unforgettable British underdog story from one of our greatest narrative nonfiction writers, John Preston, and the international musical icon and bestselling author, Sir Elton John.
Britain in the 1970s was beset by unrest and unemployment, as inflation soared, fuel was scarce, and hooliganism was on the rise. And for Watford FC, the outlook was even gloomier. Rundown and rat-infested, Watford were an ailing side with holes in their kit and barely enough fans to fill a stand. Of the 92 clubs in the Football League, spread across four divisions, Watford were in 92nd place.
Meanwhile, Elton John was the most successful rockstar in the world. With six-inch platforms, spangled jumpsuits, and peroxide hair, he was glamorous, gay, and seemingly a world away from the semi-detached house in Pinner where he had supported Watford FC as a child. Many assumed he would move to America. Instead, he bought the football club.
Watford Forever is the remarkable story of Elton John’s ownership of Watford FC and its transformational journey to the top of the First Division under iconic manager Graham Taylor. Perhaps most remarkably, four of the same players who had been written off as has-beens went with them all the way from the bottom to the top. Inspiring and infectiously funny, this is a tribute to football’s unlikeliest friendship as Elton John and Taylor, a straight-talking former fullback with a love of Vera Lynn, beat the odds and their personal demons to save a club and a community.
Immersed in the grime and glamour of ’70s Britain, Watford Forever is one of sport’s great underdog stories and a love letter to the beautiful game.
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£9.99