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On the Edge
Richard Hammond is one of our most in-demand and best-loved television presenters. On September 20, 2006, he suffered a serious brain injury following a high-speed car crash, and the nation held its breath. On the Edge is his compelling account of life before and after the accident and an honest description of his year of recovery, full of drama and incident. It is also, perhaps, his explanation of why, as a married man and father of two young daughters, he was prepared to risk all by strapping himself to the front of a jet engine with the power of eleven Formula One cars. A daredevil and a petrolhead long before his association with Top Gear, Richard tells the story of his life as an adrenalin junkie, from the small boy showing off with ridiculous stunts on his bicycle to the adolescent with a near-obsessive attraction to speed and the smell of petrol. After a series of jobs in local radio, he graduated to television and eventually to Top Gear, one of the world's most popular shows, upgrading his car with each step up the ladder. His insights into the personalities, the camaraderie and, of course, the stunts for which Top Gear has become famous make compulsive reading. It was whilst filming for Top Gear, driving a jet-powered dragster at speeds over 300mph, that a tyre burst and the car left the track and rolled over, burying him in the earth. He was airlifted to hospital and hovered near death for several days. His wife Mindy tells the story of the anxious hours and days of watching and waiting until he finally emerged from his coma. In an extraordinarily powerful piece of writing, she and Richard then piece together the stages of his recovery as his shattered mind slowly reformed, leaving him sometimes lucid and plausible, sometimes confused and angry, and often exhausted. The final chapter recounts his return home and his triumphant reappearance in front of the cameras.
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It's Not What You Think
Chris Evans' extraordinary career has seen him become one of the UK's most successful broadcasters and producers. Here, his autobiography is a funny and frank story of how a boy from a Warrington council estate who started work at 13 and held down 20 different jobs by the time he left school became the most widely acclaimed broadcaster of his generation. From the early death of his father that literally set him to work, to his meteoric rise in TV and radio, he talks openly about the highs and lows of his turbulent career and how his drive to succeed impacted his personal life. This is a fascinating and surprising life story from one of Britain's brightest and boldest personalities.
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Keep Smiling
Charlotte Church burst onto the music scene when she was only 12 years old. She went straight to the top of the charts with VOICE OF AN ANGEL and sang for the Pope, the US President and royalty across the world. She has released five classical albums, one pop album, hosted her own TV Chat show and received numerous accolades, yet we are still continually fascinated by this Welsh star. Candid to the last, in her autobiography Charlotte reveals herself as never before. She talks of her life, career, family and loves and impending motherhood with surprising intimacy and, being true to her outspoken reputation, complete honesty. Keeping her feet firmly on the ground, Charlotte Church is a genuine superstar of our times. She combines being a style icon and international diva with being a true family person who always makes sure she has supper with her nan every Tuesday night. Including beautiful photographic spreads and candid snapshots from behind the scenes, the book will be unique in the market and offer an insight into the managing of true talent and the demands of modern celebrity.
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Upfront and Personal: The Autobiography
Writing with the warmth and humor that have made her so popular, Coleen describes her eventful life, from joining her sisters' band" The Nolans" when she was only nine to growing up in the spotlight as they went on to chart-topping success around the world. Coleen also reveals how she coped with her tumultuous marriage to television star Shane Richie and how, after they split, she was left a single parent struggling to get through each day. She landed the job of presenter on "This Morning" and was just finding her feet when she was sacked, plunging her into depression as she lost all confidence. A way out finally came in the form of the chat show "Loose Women," where Coleen reclaimed her place in the nation's hearts. Today she is happily married and an inspiration to women everywhere who believed their best days were behind them. Entertaining, funny, and shockingly honest, this book is sure to appeal to her many fans old and new.
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Oh My God!: The Biography of Chantelle
Describing herself as a bright, blonde bimbo, Chantelle shot to fame in" Celebrity Big Brother" earlier this year. A Paris Hilton look alike, she loves shopping, lip-gloss, and all things pink but that's as close to the celebrity lifestyle she had got until the Channel four show changed her life. Successfully fooling the real celebrity contestants in the BB house that she was a pop star, Essex born Chantelle, is now living the dream. With her own TV show, she is now gracing the covers of glossy magazines and is set to marry BB co-star and Ordinary Boy front man Preston later this year.
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Sharon Osbourne Extreme: My Autobiography
Sharon Osbourne is a devoted wife and mother, businesswoman, TV star and award-winning producer. This autobiography takes the reader from her extraordinary childhood as the daughter of infamous rock manager Don Arden, to managing and marrying rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, to her own rising fame on shows such as "The Osbournes" and "The X Factor".
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Survivor: My Story - The Next Chapter
Sharon Osbourne's life has always been tumultuous, full of both heartbreak and passion. When she completed her bestselling first book "Sharon Osbourne Extreme" she had hoped to find some peace and stability after her rollercoaster years. It was not to be. In her brand new memoir she reveals what really happened next--from famous celebrity feuds, to her eventful experiences on "The X Factor," to her turbulent relationship with her father and the tragic impact of his death, Sharon remains as frank and insightful as ever. Never afraid to admit her own problems, she is brutally honest about her weight issues and plastic surgery. She also describes movingly how her husband's unconditional love finally brought her true happiness, even amid all the chaos of her life.
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Red Carpet & Other Banana Skins
An element of drama has always attended Rupert Everett, even before he swept to fame with his outstanding performance in 'Another Country'. He has spent his life surrounded by extraordinary people, and witnessed extraordinary events. He was in Moscow during the fall of communism; in Berlin the night the wall came down; and in downtown Manhattan on September 11th. By the age of 17 he was friends with Andy Warhol and Bianca Jagger, and since then he has been up close and personal with some of the most famous women in the world: Julia Roberts, Madonna, Sharon Stone and Donatella Versace. Whether sweeping the floor for the Royal Shakespeare Company or co-starring with Faye Dunaway and an orang-utan in 'Dunstan Checks In' (they both took ages to get ready), Rupert Everett always brings as much energy and talent to his life as he does to his career. His memoir swoops from the eccentricities of the British upper classes to the madness of Hollywood, from the Russian steppes to an Easter egg hunt in Elizabeth Taylor's garden.
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Nobbut a Lad
One of the best-loved men in Britain, Alan Titchmarsh, brilliantly recalls his childhood in 1950s Yorkshire. Alan Titchmarsh grew up, and developed his passion for nature in the wild and beautiful landscape of Yorkshire. A real treat for his millions of fans, the ever-popular presenter vividly depicts a childhood of simple pleasures like climbing trees and fishing in streams, in a time of post-war austerity. It was not a deprived childhood, yet neither was the garden eternally rosy and Alan's colourful portrait of a bygone era brings poignant moments and others that leave you aching with laughter. Alan's sharp eye for detail brings to life various family members and their memorable quirks, as well as local characters, childhood haunts and significant events that have shaped his life.
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By Any Means: His Brand-New Expedition from Wicklo
Charley Boorman has arranged himself a new challenge: he must travel from his home town in England all the way to Sydney, Australia, and he must use any means available to reach his destination, including steam train, horse, boat, kayak, motorcycle, and tuk-tuk. Whether crossing the Black Sea, trekking through Tibet, riding an elephant in India, or hiking through the forests of Papua New Guinea, this thrilling travelogue follows Charley's travels through extraordinary places via unusual transports. With trademark enthusiasm, dedication, and good humor, Charley tackles his most challenging voyage to date with astounding results.
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Fern- My Story
For years now, Fern Britton has been widely loved as the presenter of Ready Steady Cook, and, more recently, co-presenter of This Morning with Philip Schofield. Never one to shy away from a good laugh or cry on national TV, she has none-the-less never talked about herself to the public, preferring to keep her private life private. Her warmth and humour, empathy and compassion, have made her feel like a best friend to millions on a daily basis, but no one knows the woman behind the sparkling smile. Now, for the first time, she is going to tell her story. And it is one that will strike a chord with women everywhere. Life as a child was not always easy, and she faced private and public challenges with her personal life, appearance and her career as she climbed the ladder to fame. Now a full-time working mum, with a very happy marriage to her second husband Phil Vickery, she is at the top of her game, and ready to tell it like it is. So put your feet up and get ready for a great read.
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The Privilege of Youth: The Inspirational Story of
For Dave Pelzer, standing on the threshold of adulthood in 1970’s America,his adolescence formed a crucial bridge between the shocking abuse of hischildhood and the worrying world of responsibility ahead. In ThePrivilege Of Youth, he tells the story of those years with his uniqueinsight and sensitivity. Whilst recounting the relentless physical andemotional attacks of the high school bullies, he also recalls the joy ofexploring a new neighbourhood and encountering true friendship for the firsttime. Through his adventures with his new ‘brothers’ and theirdiscovery of cars, girls and themselves, Pelzer introduces a fascinating cast ofcharacters who each in different ways, helped shape an extraordinary life andprepared him for fresh trials to come. Brave and compassionate, this new memoirfrom the man who has journeyed far will inspire a whole new generation ofreaders.
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Peter Alliss - My Life
The Voice of Golf' tells his compelling and colourful life story in this revealing autobiography.
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Taking On The World
The Incredible Story Of The Fastest Woman To Sail Around The Globe Solo The Vendee Globe around-the-world sailboat race is sailing's ultimate challenge and the pinnacle of extreme sports--a single handed, nonstop race including 13,000 miles through the planet's most dangerous waters: the Southern Ocean that encircles Antarctica. Small wonder that fewer than half the boats that start a Vendee Globe race can finish it. Of those who don't, the luckier drop out; the rest are claimed by the sea. At 5 feet 2 inches tall and age 24, Ellen MacArthur was the smallest and youngest competitor in the 2000-01 Vendee Globe and one of just a handful of women ever to have attempted it. In an event dominated by older men of the elite French long-distance racing fraternity, she was a long shot even to finish. Yet on February 11, 2001, she finished second, and became the youngest sailor to complete the race, the first woman to earn a top-three placing, the fastest woman ever to sail around the world, and the second fastest person ever to do so alone. Her time of 94 days 4 hours 25 minutes shaved 11 days from the previous record. On the day Ellen reached the finish line off the French resort town of Les Sables d'Olonne, an estimated 200,000 people turned out to greet her, and her race website received 4.5 million hits. Her reception, and the media coverage, eclipsed that accorded the winner--the Frenchman Michel Desjoyeaux--the day before. Ellen's accomplishment transcended national boundaries.