-
Murray Walker: Unless I'm Very Much Mistaken
Murray Walker is a national institution. The turbo-tongued motor-racing commentator who played a key role in the shaping of Formula One's televised image over the past three decades, Murray's unique brand of boyish enthusiasm made even the dullest race sound like an unmissable thriller. There was no one remotely like him on television -- and the public loved him. Ever since his first stint at the microphone in 1949 at the British Grand Prix, Murray has entertained us with his commentaries on car and motorcycle racing and in particular Formula One. In his autobiography, he describes his relationship with many of the key personalities of his era, from Geoff Duke to Mike Hailwood, Stirling Moss to John Surtees, Nigel Mansell to Ayrton Senna, and Damon Hill to current world champion Michael Schumacher. He also recalls his celebrated commentary partnerships, initially with the inimitable James Hunt and later with martin Brundle, his surprise move from the BBC to ITV, and looks at how the sport has evolved from its humble beginnings to today's multi-billion pound industry. Away from the pit lane, he talks about his early personal life and the influence of his father Graham, about his experiences in the war with the Royal Scots Greys, and later his fascinating and highly successful career as an advertising executive handling major blue-chip companies such as Esso and Mars. In the drama-filled world of Formula One, Murray Walker's story is a refreshingly candid and straight-talking account of a sport he adores and which every one of his fans across the world should read.
-
Jordan:A Whole New World
Following the surprise smash hit of last year, Being Jordan, comes the next installment in the life of Katie Price, aka, Jordan, one of the most notorious celebrities in Britain today and described as “the biggest driver of sales of tabloid newspapers in the country.”
-
Dear Fatty
Dawn French is one of the greatest comedy actresses of our time, with a career spanning nearly three decades and encompassing a vast and brilliant array of characters that would eventually establish her as a national treasure. She first appeared on the British entertainment scene as part of the groundbreaking alternative comedy group, the Comic Strip, which marked a radical departure from the more traditional comedy acts of the time. Later came the all-female Girls on Top with Jennifer Saunders, Ruby Wax and Tracy Ullman. Then, as part of the wildly successful duo, French and Saunders, Dawn helped create a repertoire of brilliantly observed recurring characters parodying popular culture and impersonating everything from Madonna and Harry Potter to The Exorcist. Dawn’s more recent role in The Vicar of Dibley again has showcased not only her talent but also her ability to take a controversial issue and make it mainstream and funny. From her early years as an RAF child to her flat-sharing antics with Jennifer Saunders, from her outspoken views on sizeism to her marriage to Lenny Henry, Dear Fatty will chronicle the fascinating and hilarious rise of a complex, dynamic and unstoppable woman.
-
Feel
First came Ebury's massively successful, 2001 illustrated account of Robbie's touring world, Somebody Someday. Now the time has come for the complete, intimate story of Robert P Williams. Spanning his childhood through Take That to his current status as rock icon, probing his love life and his family relationships, this is closer than you'd ever thought you'd get to Robbie Williams. Written by Chris Heath, who has spent nearly two years working with Rob on this book, every word is imbued with Rob's humour, charisma, talent, memories and complexity. But more than ever before, this book tells the truth about his extraordinary life. Billy Connolly told his story through his wife, and with Rolling Stone journalist, Chris Heath, Robbie's own story promises to be as brilliantly and insightfully told. You may have seen his face a million times, heard his music every day, followed him from the beginning of Take That, but this is a man with some serious surprises in store. This is a ground-breaking publication; a truly original and brilliantly written book; a grippingly honest story of an extraordinary man.
-
A Royal Duty
The untold story behind one of the most sensational chapters in the history of House of Windsor. Paul Burrell fought to clear his name. Now he reveals startling new truths about Diana. Princess of Wales- and presents for the first time as faithfully an account of her thoughts as we can ever hope to read. He was the favourite footman who formed a unique relationship with the Queen. He was the butler whom the Princess of Wales called ‘my rock’ and ‘the only man I can trust’. He was accused of theft, and then acquitted following the historic intervention of the monarch. He was the princess’s most intimate confidant – and is the only person able to separate the myth from the truth of the Diana years.
-
Michale Parkison:My Autobiography
From prize-winning journalist to chat show king on a show voted one of the top 10 British TV programs of all time, Michael Parkinson's starry career spans over four decades. Now an international celebrity himself, the man from a humble but colorful Yorkshire mining family who can tease out the secrets of even the most reticent star guest, at last reveals his own story, with the easy manner and insight that has kept his audiences fascinated. His distinguished career has involved working on highly acclaimed current affairs and film programs. His wide interests and expertise include jazz, film, soccer, and cricket. Witty, humorous, and blessed with exceptional intellectual clarity, Michael Parkinson's memoir is a joy to read.
-
The Devil Rides Out
Birkenhead, 1973. The eighteen-year-old Paul O'Grady gets ready for a big Saturday night out on the town. New white T-shirt, freshly ironed jeans, looking good. As he bids farewell to his mum, who's on the phone to his auntie, and wanders off down the street in a cloud of aftershave, he hears her familiar cry: 'Oh, the devil rides out tonight, Annie. The Devil rides out!' The further adventures of Paul O'Grady - following on from the million-copy-selling At My Mother's Knee - are, if anything, even more hilarious and outrageous than what has come before. As Paul struggles to get to grips with unexpected fatherhood and bereavement, he searches high and low for a job that lasts and somehow finds himself getting married in the process. Work takes him from an abattoir to a children's home, from a hospital to a nightclub, and from penthouse to pavement. Along the way, he takes his first-Savage steps on stage, tastes the exotic delights of Manila and invades Poland . . . To say that The Devil Rides Out is action-packed is an understatement. Its extraordinary cast of characters includes lords and ladies, the legendary Vera, a serial killer, more prostitutes than you can shake a stick at and drag queens of every shape and size. Wickedly funny, often moving, and searingly honest, Paul's tales of the unexpected will make your jaw drop and your hair stand on end. And you'll laugh like a drain. The Devil Rides Out - one hell of a read!
-
At My Mother's Knee... and Other Low Joints
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, or the presenter of the fantastically successful, award-winning Paul O'Grady Show on Channel 4. 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...
-
Spilling the Beans
As a child, Clarissa Dickson Wright was surrounded by wealth and privilege. Her mother was an Australian heiress, her father a brilliant surgeon to the Royal family. But he was also a tyrannical and violent drunk who used to beat her and force her to eat rotten food. When her adored mother died suddenly, Clarissa fell into a mind-numbing decade of wild overindulgence that eventually cost her entire fortune. After a long, hard road to recovery, Clarissa finally faced her demons and turned to the one thing that had always brought her joy: cooking. Now at last she has found sobriety and peace, and her TV parternship with the beloved late Jennifer Paterson as the "Two Fat Ladies" brought her fame and success. With stark honesty and brilliant wit, this is Clarissa's own story of a life lived to extremes.
-
Happy Birthday
Time to blow out the candles, say goodbye to the past, and make a wish for the future... For April Wyatt, turning thirty is not what she had expected. She's single, with no interest in changing that in the foreseeable future. Her popular, successful restaurant in downtown New York where she is chef and owner consumes every ounce of her passion, attention and energy. Ready or not, though, April's life is about to change, in a tumultuous discovery on the morning of her milestone birthday. April's mother Valerie is a popular TV personality and the queen of gracious living. Since her divorce long-ago, she has worked tirelessly to reach the pinnacle of her career and to create a camera-ready life in her Fifth Avenue penthouse. But she's having trouble equating her age with how she feels, and all the hours with her personal trainer, the careful work of top hairdressers and her natural good looks can't hide the fact that she is turning sixty, and the whole world discovers it on her birthday. It is also Jack Adams' birthday - the most charismatic sports personality on TV, a man who has his pick of desirable younger women. But he fears his age may finally be catching up with him when he wakes up on his fiftieth birthday needing an emergency visit to the chiropractor... A terrifying act of violence, an out-of-the-blue blessing, and two very unlikely love affairs soon turn lives inside out and upside down. As these three very different people celebrate their birthdays, they discover that life itself is a celebration and that its greatest gifts are always a surprise... About the Author Danielle Steel is one of the world's most popular and highly acclaimed authors, with nearly 600 million copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include 44 Charles Street, Family Ties, Legacy and Big Girl. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death. She lives in California and Paris.
-
Chicken Soup For The Teenage Soul On Tough Stuff -
Life Lesson on Tough Stuff for Teens: Part of growing up is learning how to deal with difficult issues. The pressures of life can be overwhelming for teens. You worry about schoolwork, competitive sports, family responsibilities, dating, and sometimes more serious problems, such as school violence, drugs, pregnancy, eating-disorders and suicide. This book gets to the heart of these issues in the following chapters: On Self-Acceptance Family Matters Tragedy On Courage Growing Up Eating Disorders & Depression Drugs & Alcohol Suicide Abuse Learning Difficult Lessons Death & Dying Every person in this book realized something profound from his or her experience; hopefully, this lesson will be passed on to you and spare you similar pain. At the very least, you will know as you read these stories that you are not alone in the world with the challenges you face. May you find comfort, hope and inspiration in the courage, strength and faith of the teens who have bravely shared their stories with you in this book
-
Chicken Soup For The Teenage Soul..
This first batch of Chicken Soup for Teens consists of 101 stories every teenager can relate to and learn from -- without feeling criticized or judged. This edition contains important lessons on the nature of friendship and love, the importance of belief in the future, and the value of respect for oneself and others, and much more.
-
Being Freddie: The Story So Far
Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff is one of the most exciting cricketers in the world, and has gained more and more notoriety through the last few years. This book marks his story so far in his own words, taking us up to and including the summer of 2005. Freddie highlights the moments and matches in his career that helped him dramatically on his way forward, and reveals what it is like to play for one of the most successful England cricket teams in recent times.
-
Double Champions: The Manchester United Players' A
Since the start of the Premier League era one club more than any other has dominated: Manchester United. In 2007-08, having won the title the previous season, United went in search of even greater things, bringing in new talent such as Anderson, Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Carlos Tevez to back up established stars such as Ferdinand, Giggs, Ronaldo and Rooney. Once the new players bedded in, United went on a great run of success, with the goals flying in from all corners and the defence proving to be their best ever in the top division. They surged back up to the top of the table during a fabulous autumn that had Sir Alex claiming it could be 'the strongest squad' he'd had in over 21 years at Old Trafford. The Premier League title was secured on the last day of the season, with the final goal coming from Ryan Giggs on the day he equalled Bobby Chalrton's appearance record for the club. In this fascinating and revealing insight into the club, all the key figures relive the highlights of their season and explain what really went on behind the scenes to create a wonderful and enduring account of the most important events in the campaign that climaxed with the Champions League final in Moscow, when everything hinged on a tense penalty shoot-out before United finally overcame Chelsea to become European champions for the third time.
-
Winning!
Winning! tells the story of the remarkable past six years - an unforgettable journey that began in September 1997 and took the team from the lower ranks of international first-class rugby to the top as World Cup Champions.
-
David Beckham:My Side
David Beckham is one of the world's foremost media icons, his popularity transcending sport and cultural divides. This is his own in-depth account of his career to date, for Manchester United and England, his childhood, family and personal life, and the full story of his transfer to Real Madrid. With endless newspaper column inches devoted to one of the most talked about men in the world, it seems that we know everything there is to know about David Beckham. Or do we?This is Beckham’s fascinating life story in his own words. His stormy relationship with United boss Alex Ferguson and the highs and lows of his career at Old Trafford. The England story, from being vilified by the nation before returning as the prodigal son, captain of his country and almost single-handedly guiding them to the 2002 World Cup Finals. And the full account of a turbulent 2002/03 domestic football season, when relations between Beckham and his manager hit a new low, culminating in his highly publicised transfer to Spanish giants Real Madrid.Now from Beckham himself, we gain a vivid and at times searingly honest insight into the family man behind the famous footballer, the international model and fashion leader. He describes how he first met and then married ex-Spice girl Victoria Adams, and the upbringing of their two children Brooklyn and Romeo. How his family's every step is monitored by a possee of newshounds and paparazzi, and the threats to their safety. Also, the influence of his parents, growing up as a shy youngster in the family home, and how their subsequent split created a yawning chasm in his private life.This book is an intimate and soul-searching portrayal of a massive celebrity, a family man, and an awe-inspiring footballer – the likes of which we are unlikely to see again.
-
Ashes Fever: How England Won the Greatest Ever Tes
It had been 18 years since England had last won the Ashes. Since then, Australia, their fiercest rivals and the world's best test team throughout this time, had prevailed. But this time England were on a roll. They had been unbeaten for two years and had a crop of young, talented players. That the series would be closer and more competitive than usual was the general view, but no-one could have predicted that it would end so dramatically. At the end of the first test at Lords, English optimism had nosedived. Australia were supposed to be an ageing team in the twilight of their careers, but Glenn McGrath destroyed England's batsmen, save for the new kid on the block, Kevin Pietersen. Yet at the second test, England took command, first batting with carefree abandon, then setting a target that looked beyond Australia's capability when, with just two wickets left, they still needed 120 runs. On the last day of the second test England finally won by just 2 runs. During this test match a new hero was born. Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff scored two fifties, and would star again with the ball in the third test at Old Trafford which, once again ended in high drama. This time England needed just one more wicket to win. McGrath and Brett Lee survived the final 24 balls as a watching nation sat gripped. Unperturbed, England made no mistake at Trent Bridge, this time winning in four days, but even here there was more high drama. When Australia were bowled out in their second innings England needed only 129 runs to win. They got there, but lost seven wickets in doing so. Now it was official. This really was the greatest Ashes series of all time. No previous series could match this for drama, tension and excitement. England went to the Oval knowing that a draw would be enough to take home the Ashes after nine consecutive defeats to Australia. The eyes of the sporting world fell on a corner of south-east London to watch the drama unfold. ASHES FEVER relives the incredible story of how England brought the best cricket team in the world down on their knees. It tells of the tension, the twists that shaped this unforgettable series. It explains the creation of new English sporting heroes and how cricket became the media focal point. Lavishly illustrated with over 200 colour images by universally acclaimed cricket photographer Phil Brown, it relates how over three months the England cricket team created history in a manner that is unlikely ever to be repeated.
-
Ashes Victory: The Official Story of the Greatest
Written from the viewpoint of the changing room and the middle of the pitch, Team England's Ashes Diary is a blow-by-blow account of England's progress in the most dramatic Ashes series in history. With England's improvement under Michael Vaughan, the 2005 Ashes series was eagerly anticipated by all sports fans; all tickets were sold out months in advance. The first day at Lord's saw Australia spectacularly bowled out for just 190, and then England were 92 for 7 in reply. It seemed as though we'd seen one of the greatest days of Test cricket ever. In fact, it was only the beginning of a remarkable series...England went on to lose that match, before winning the second Test by 2 runs (the closest Ashes victory in history), drawing the third (when they failed to dismiss Australia's last pair), and then winning the fourth amid scenes of unbearable tension to go into the last Test with an unbeatable 2-1 series lead. In this fascinating inside account, the players reveal their emotions at key moments, and explain how they set about taking on the formidable Aussies.Packed with brilliant photographs of the best action and behind-the-scenes moments, this is a book that all who have thrilled to cricket this summer will want to keep and treasure for years to come.