Comedy and stand-up Books

Book SynopsisMark Watson is generally accepted to be alive. And yet he's died many times. Not just on stage - though he'll tell you about that - but in other ways, too. There's been the death of his innocence. The death of his panel-show career. And then there was the time he died inside . . .  This is a warm, wise and hilarious book about mortification, failure and all the times life doesn't work out as planned. But it's also a book that questions whether the things we strive for - recognition, success, the approval of others - are really the things that matter. It's a book about death that reminds us how to live.Trade ReviewCruel dismissals, personal mortifications, career disappointments and daggers to the heart. This is Mark Watson's brave look at failure. Lucky it's funny or it'd be really depressing -- Danny WallaceMark Watson's abundant, whip-smart humour is all over every page. His honesty in this book is a tonic, a generous gift to anyone who has ever tried to "make it" -- Shaparak KhorsandiLife is full of hurdles, but this hilarious book brilliantly demonstrates that we learn more by hitting them than clearing them. The world is overflowing with disappointments, but thankfully this book is not one of them -- Richard HerringMark Watson makes the base metal of failure into comedy gold -- Adam KayMark Watson is a national treasure -- Richard OsmanLife is full of hurdles, but this hilarious book brilliantly demonstrates that we learn more by hitting them than clearing them. The world is overflowing with disappointments, but thankfully this book is not one of them -- Richard HerringDespite Mark Watson being one of my Taskmaster enemies, I have to say this book is an absolutely gorgeous read, full of funny and heartwarming anecdotes that will make you feel better -- Aisling BeaMark Watson has always been far ahead of the curve. Generous and honest are good words to describe his work. The comedy scene is very lucky to have him -- Josie LongIf you're interested in comedy (small if), you won't find a better book than this. Mark Watson is a thoroughbred comedian. If you cut him open (big if) he would bleed comedy -- Alex HorneMark is an exceptional comedian and this insight into his process is hilarious and invaluable -- Sara PascoeMark has always been one of those annoyingly brilliant and clever comedians, and he's gone and done it again. Brilliant whether you're a die-hard comedy fan or you just like the occasional chuckle -- Jason Manford

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Book SynopsisThe former Sex & Relationships Editor for Cosmopolitan and host of the wildly popular comedy show Tinder Live with Lane Moore presents her poignant, funny, and deeply moving first book.Lane Moore is a rare performer who is as impressive onstage—whether hosting her iconic show Tinder Live or being the enigmatic front woman of It Was Romance—as she is on the page, as both a former writer for The Onion and an award-winning sex and relationships editor for Cosmopolitan. But her story has had its obstacles, including being her own parent, living in her car as a teenager, and moving to New York City to pursue her dreams. Through it all, she looked to movies, TV, and music as the family and support systems she never had. From spending the holidays alone to having better “stranger luck” than with those closest to her to feeling like the last hopeless romantic on earth, Lane reveals her powerful and entertaining jTrade Review“Lane Moore is one of the most talented people I know and I’m so glad even more people will be able to read her words.”— Mara Wilson, author of Where Am I Now?: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame“How to Be Alone feels like peeling back your best friend’s skull and jumping into her brain. Lane is so open and funny and honest; I never want to be alone if it means I can’t have her with me. What a gift.” — Samantha Irby, New York Times bestselling author of Meaty and We Are Never Meeting in Real Life“How to Be Alone is like a song that pops up on the radio and lifts your spirits . . . so special, elegant, and true. It’s spectacular and truly personal. This book is with me every day, and it helps so much.”— Caroline Kepnes, author of You, Hidden Bodies, and Providence“How to Be Alone is the book I wish I had read in my early twenties. I truly believe it would have saved me a world of pain. The moment I met her I felt like I had known her my entire life. This book will make everyone smart enough to read it feel the same exact way.”— Laura Benanti, Tony Award-winning actress“Within this compassionately told memoir, Moore offers hard-won advice for those looking to get beyond a painful past.” — Publishers Weekly "Lane Moore turns a dismal childhood into laughs. [Her] story offers insights about the effects of childhood trauma and our capacity for resilience."— The Washington Post"It is [Lane's] thoughtfulness and compassion that will make How to Be Alone resonate with readers long after finishing the last page . . . Moore’s book is the empathetic friend you’ve been searching for your whole life."— CURVE MAGAZINE“An irreverent, candidly introspective exploration of toiling with loneliness that will leave readers feeling not so alone.”— Kirkus Reviews“The essays are whip-smart, pithy, and full of an honest, conversational charm that sets Moore apart.”— Booklist"One woman's wry, wise, sometimes funny and often melancholy reminder that friends can be demanding and complicating, love is imperfect and obligating, and you can't count on a hard-charging cavalry of people who were just right for you to come riding over the hill and sweep you away."— NPR's Weekend Edition "The most epic, incredible, soaring parts of your story, are the places where you’re tender, and funny, but also so harrowingly sad and devastated. Your commitment to survival is more than a notion; it’s a balm, an affirmation, an eternal love note, and a sacred love manifestation that starts as a whisper and rises into the atmosphere. How to be Alone gave me closure. What a gift it is to know that there’s another person in the world who’s so brave and true to her spirit that she survived the hardest parts of being alive. Instead of sinking into despair or madness; being waylaid by bitterness or tragedy; or turning the grueling and terrifying dark of isolation against yourself, you’ve transmuted it into a fire so bright that it blazes brilliantly, with a classic, universal humanity. James Baldwin said, “You think your heartbreak is unprecedented in the world, and then you read. How To Be Alone is like that."— Bitch Media "Honest, hilarious, and deeply intimate. How to Be Alone is a profound first book from a truly talented writer."— Bustle "[How to be Alone] pulls no punches . . . Readers will find themselves in her stories, and even if they don’t, they will come away from this book having learned something. A great book for all ages but should be required reading for 20-somethings navigating young adulthood."— New York Post "[A] bracingly honest memoir...Moore is especially equipped to address the taboo of loneliness, along with other adult problems, with hilarity and aptness."— REFINERY 29 "Even if you don’t know Lane personally, she still feels like someone you’ve known for years. And that’s exactly what reading How to Be Alone feels like: having an honest conversation with an old friend."— Hello Giggles "In funny, super relatable, and smack-you-in-the-face-with-how-thoughtful-it-is prose, Moore talks about crushes, identity, feminism, and finding self-worth when everything inside you is telling you that you kind of suck. Funny enough, How to Be Alone made me feel a lot less alone."— Marie Claire "Enter Lane Moore, who is the cutest human, creating relatable comedic material that is so raw, you’ll want to cry and cuddle with her— partly because she point-blank states that she craves comfortable, platonic cuddling, and partly because you’ve realized, while reading, how much you crave it, too."— Sometimes Snarky "It might sound like a downer, but she manages to add a lot of humor along the way."— Bustle "While Moore is delving into some of the most difficult moments of her life, she does it with wit and humor in a way that makes this book an enjoyable read."— BITCH MAGAZINE "How to Be Alone by Lane Moore isn’t a self-help book or one about mental illness but I included it because I think you might find some encouragement within the pages of this book."— All the Good Books

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Book SynopsisFollow the misadventures of Ian Moore as he chronicles the charming and chaotic escapades of his family and their eccentric assembly of animals, on their continued search for serenity in rural FranceAfter six years in the idyllic Loire Valley, comedian Ian Moore, his family and his ever-expanding menagerie are beginning to feel like they''re on the cusp of the peace and tranquillity they hoped for when they moved from dreary Crawley to la belle France. Their grand project, a writing school called Les Champs Créatifs, is finally complete - only, nobody''s signed up.Natalie and the boys must contend with the ever-colourful locals, including a Sicilian faith healer, threatening hunters and the Christmas Pudding Man, and Ian must test his mod mettle against two new additions to the animal family - a pair of disappearing goats. With stresses, strains and animal poo mounting up, la famille Moore have their work cut out - but they''re determined to give it their best shot!

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Book Synopsis''Enlightening Funny, smart, original and provocative ... It is hard to imagine the stalwarts of Mock the Week recognising the Druze militia leader Walid Jumblatt in a London cinema'' NEW STATESMAN''Few standups have come close to capturing a fraction of this creative energy in a book Alexei Sayle is an exception'' GUARDIANWhat I brought to comedy was an authentic working-class voice plus a threat of genuine violence - nobody in Monty Python looked like a hard case who'd kick your head in.In 1971, comedians on the working men''s club circuit imagined that they would be free to continue telling their tired, racist, misogynistic gags forever. But their nemesis, a nineteen-year-old Marxist art student, was slowly coming to meet themThatcher Stole My Trousers chronicles a time when comedy and politics united in electrifying ways. Recounting the founding of the Comedy Store, the Comic Strip and the Young OTrade ReviewEnlightening … Funny, smart, original and provocative ... It is hard to imagine the stalwarts of Mock the Week recognising the Druze militia leader Walid Jumblatt in a London cinema … Compared to today’s comics and the unctuous 1970s Variety Club of Great Britain golf club elite, Sayle – baleful, menacing, intelligent – comes over as a bloke whose company one might seek out, whether he cared or not. He is a master of the flashing en passant insult. I laughed out loud * New Statesman *Few standups have come close to capturing a fraction of this creative energy in a book … Alexei Sayle is an exception … The reader is left with a lesson so often imparted in the standup’s foray into memoir: comedy is no laughing matter * Guardian, Book of the Day *I devoured the first chapters of Sayle’s terrific second volume of memoirs … Thatcher Stole My Trousers, but he changed my life **** * Mail on Sunday *Thatcher Stole My Trousers deals with the birth of stand-up as we understand it in the UK … I really, really enjoyed this, I thought it was brilliant ... Laugh-out-loud * Stewart Lee *The inventor of alternative comedy * David Baddiel *Comedy underwent seismic change in the 1980s, and Alexei Sayle was at the forefront of it … Thatcher Stole My Trousers, is full of self-accusation, pratfalls, memories of idiocy and delusion, all built up for comic effect. But about his debut he is deadly serious: he knows he helped change the tone of British comedy. He blazed a trail for a new generation of punkish comic violence (such as The Young Ones) and politically engaged stand-up, that consigned to oblivion the old gag-merchants; he effectively silenced the humour of mothers-in-law, tits, arses, Pakis, micks and poofs * Independent *An unexpected delight. All those lefty stand-up comedians who monopolise the funny stuff now: their style started with Alexei Sayle and his comrades of the 1980s ... It is not packed with one-liners. It is much funnier than that ... Observant and wry * Independent *Sayle relates an endless stream of entertaining anecdotes ... An affectionate account of a group of performers who transformed British comedy * Sunday Times *An interesting social history here as comedy and politics come together in the late 1970s and his work with The Comic Strip and The Young Ones takes centre stage. It’s fascinating to watch Sayle battle with his principles * Observer *Alternative comedy’s erstwhile ranter-in-chief has mellowed with age but expect a few residual flecks of spleen * Daily Telegraph *The granddaddy of alternative comedy… Takes potshots at the establishment and his comrades. Laced with his trademark corrosive wit * Shortlist *This century he has reinvented himself as a writer. A good one too. Thatcher Stole My Trousers is a pleasure to read * Herald *Brilliantly funny * Waitrose Weekend *A combative return for a pioneer of alternative comedy … Anarchic * Yorkshire Post *

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Book SynopsisHilarious, heartwarming and inspirational, this is the number 1 Sunday Times bestselling autobiography by comedian Sarah Millican. The funniest book of the year! *****''The naughtiest, helpiest, laughieoutloudiest and goodest book I''ve ever done reading on. Give that girl a banana!'' DAWN FRENCH SARAH MILLICAN''S AUTOBIOGRAPHY WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH, FEEL NORMAL AND PROBABLY SNIFF YOUR LEGGINGS. Part autobiography, part self help, part confession, part celebration of being a common-or-garden woman, part collection of synonyms for nunny, Sarah Millican''s debut book delves into her super normal life with daft stories, funny tales and proper advice on how to get past life''s blips - like being good at school but not good at friends, the excitement of IBS and how to blossom post divorce. If you''ve ever worn glasses at the age of six, worn an off-the-shoulder gown with no confidence, been contacted by an old school bully, lTrade Review'The naughtiest, helpiest, laughieoutloudiest and goodest book I've ever done reading on. Give that girl a banana!' Dawn French'Of course Sarah Millican's writing will make you laugh out loud, but there are moments where she will touch you deeply. The dirty bitch.' Kathy Burke'A properly funny autobiography had a one-night stand with a genuinely inspirational self-help book and this is their lovable mongrel offspring.' Frank Skinner'Do not read this while eating tomato soup. You are guaranteed to laugh and stain something.' Sandi Toksvig'Funny and honest. Sometimes too honest. Like your nan when she's drunk at Christmas.' Ricky Gervais'This is everything you want Sarah's first book to be. Outrageously funny, painfully honest and deliciously filthy.' Phillip Schofield'What a fantastic comedy victory for the peerless Madam Millican... Blows much of the erudite, smug old bollocks in bookshops out of the water.' Jo Brand'Like Sarah - funny, wise and authentic. Read it!' Miranda Hart'Just like her stand-up: nothing is off limits, honest, candid, but most of all laugh-out-loud funny.' Alan Carr'Settling down with the divine Ms M's book is like cosying up with your best mate, big laughs, intimate confessions, earthy wisdom and hilarious, self-deprecating honesty, it's all there.' Meera Syal'Hilarious and heartwarming, just like the author.' David Walliams'If you like Sarah, read this book and you will love her. If you already love her, you will love her even more.' Michael McIntyre'As cheering and neccessary as a sweary cup of tea.' Caitlin Moran'How To Be Champion does something all too rare, it encourages us: to laugh at our flaws, to value ourselves, and also to fight back when the chips are down. It's as hilarious as it is touching. This book should be taught in schools!' John Robins'Witty, wise, forthright and very funny. Terrific!' Graham Norton'A wonderful read... Sarah Millican is a national treasure.' Matt Lucas'Just as wise and funny and honest as [Sarah] is. Loved it.' Jojo Moyes'Original, thoughtful and inspiring; I found myself laughing out loud on far too many occasions to count.' Jason Manford'As good as a cuddle.' Sarah's dad'This book is ballsy, naughty and sexy, just like its author. Also most importantly FUNNY, with the occasional flash of the vulnerable woman beneath the bold-as-brass exterior. If you don't love her your heart is dead.' Richard Herring'Not just a book, this will make you laugh, hold your hand when you're feeling wobbly and whisper into your ear, that not only are you normal, you're "champion".' Jenny Eclair'I knew Sarah's book would be hysterical because she is one of the best comedians in the world, but her book is also wise, touching, heart warming and uplifting. Buy it for all your mates!!' Sara Pascoe'This book is empowering, vulnerable and, of course, hilarious. Which is like every time I've ever spent with the always inspiring Sarah Millican.' Joe Lycett'I've had Sarah in the bath, in bed and even on the train and I can honestly say her book is the best relationship of my life. Hilarious, honest and emotional. It's like having a best friend in a book. A triumph.' Susan Calman'A wickedly smart, throbbingly relatable, hysterically funny book that will remind you that you're never alone - you've always got Sarah Millican. As good as a girls' night in with your best friend and your favourite cake.' Deborah Frances-White - The Guilty Feminist'Sarah Millican is as funny in book form as she is onstage, which is very funny indeed.' David Baddiel'This book is completely brilliant. If you don't love it, come find me.' Claudia Winkleman'You know when you cry laugh and nod over-enthusiastically with a friend because what they're saying is so funny and so true? That's how I felt about Sarah's wonderful book' Louise Pentland The one-liners come thick and fast in comedian Sarah Millican's memoir HOW TO BE CHAMPION, and when bad things happen - bullying or divorce - the jokes become funnier and more real. You'll be laughing a lot, crying a bit and cheering for her, too * GOOD HOUSEKEEPING *One of our favourite stand-ups looks at her own life to show that life doesn't have to be perfect and you don't have to be amazing all the time. Packed with laugh-out-loud stories and advice, this will delight her many fans -- Fanny Blake * WOMAN & HOME *I do not recommend you read this book in public, unless you like snorting and crying with laughter in front of strangers. This is a book in which the writer's warmth shines through and the advice really is responsible and helpful. Do read it, you will learn something; even if it is just how to bake a cake -- Kate Stone * FUNNY WOMEN *Written with the sort of warmth and sincerity that hallmarks her stand-up. Her book is, in short, champion * CHORTLE *Funny, feisty and just a little bit filthy, the fast-talking Geordie is one of Britain's best-loved comedians. Her book, a combination of memoir and self-help book, will make you laugh out loud * BEST *Down-to-earth superstar Millican tells her own story here of how she turned to stand-up after the break-up of her first marriage and conquered the male-dominated comedy world. Honest, touching and, like Millican's stand-up shows, endearingly smutty * EVENING STANDARD *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2021 SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR The hilarious trials and tribulations of stand-up comedian Paul Tonkinson as he attempts to beat the much lauded 3-hour mark at the London Marathon. Along the way, we are introduced to the characters helping Paul with his quest. Celebrity names such as Bryony Gordon, Russell Howard, Roisin Conaty and Vassos Alexander pop up with wit and wisdom, alongside an alpine adventure to the Mayr Clinic with Michael McIntyre that pushes Paul to the limit. And not forgetting the words of wisdom' and derision from Paul's anti-running friend, Richard. With a supporting cast of fellow comedians, this is a warmly written and wonderfully honest adventure-through-sport that will both entertain and inspire.Trade ReviewI couldn't put it down... insightful, inspiring and laugh-out-loud funny! -- Michael McIntyreThis book is that rare thing - something that actually makes me WANT to run another marathon. Utterly joyous! -- Bryony GordonThe funniest book about running I have ever read. In fact it is the only book about running I have ever read, but it is HILARIOUS! -- David WalliamsEnjoyed it enormously. Pain. Hope. Misery. Joy. All the big stuff. Excellent. -- Dara Ó BriainWhat a brilliant, funny and above all, inspiring book. I read it in three days flat. I literally raced through it as though running alongside Paul. -- Tim VineThis book is funny (which I expected) and concerns running (ditto), but it is also exceptionally moving and profound. Don't be fooled: it's not really about completing a marathon. It's about life and all its joy and weirdness. Recommended to all, even those who jog no further than the fridge. -- Miranda SawyerFunny and captivating, even persuasive. A book that memorably and joyously illustrates how we can find our escape and ourselves by switching off from the rest of the world that actually switches us on. -- Robin InceExcellent... Extremely talented. Brilliant. * Time Out *Very good book... very funny, very insightful, very inspiring -- Chris Evans * Virgin Radio *Fabulous book -- OJ Borg * Radio 2 *You don’t have to be a runner to enjoy 26.2 Miles to Happiness * The Scotsman *Hilarious * Daily Mail *The best book about running I have read -- Nick Cohen * The Critic *Table of ContentsPreface 5.45 a.m. Race Day Part 1 Beginning: Miles 1-13 1 November. Five months before the marathon. A conversation with Richard 2 Scarborough 1981. The First run London Marathon. Mile 1 3 2 January. Flat white orgy 4 4 January. In da club 5 Two days later. Bryony Gordan drags us south of the river 6 Mid February. McIntyre Mayr madness 7 10 February. This is a journey into time. Mile 10. Rotherhithe. Observations from the pack. 8 Scarborough 1982, 5:30 a.m. Teenage kicks for free 9 Crouch End. Dirty Burger. Richard gets behind the sub-3 goal 10 Late February. Tuesday track. The voices, the voices Mile 13 Wapping. Halfway but NOT Part 2 The Monster: Miles 13-20 11 What's that coming over the hill? 12 Why this is not a misery memoir 13 Happy talking, talking happy talk 14 Early March. You are my hero Mile 16. Isle of Dogs. Peaking 15 Six weeks to go. The life of the hero 16 Five weeks before the marathon in Cuba 17 The hardest week. 26 March - 2 April. 58 1/2 miles 18 Pantsgate Mile 18. Isle of Dogs to Canary Wharf. Crossing over 19 York marathon. There are things we don't know we don't know 20 Meaningful mantras. Rudeness 21 The juice Part 3: The Battle: Miles 20-24 Mile 20. Poplar. Here we go again 22 Super Mario Catch-Up Miles 21, 22. Limehouse to Shadwell. Knocked out 23 Black Tuesdays, 7 p.m. Three weeks before the marathon Mile 23 1/2. Approaching the Embankment. A bearded intervention 24 Two weeks before the marathon. Owning Richard Part 4 Tipping Point Mile 24. Blackfriars. The magical possibility Part 5 Better 25 Mile 25. The final corner 26 Finished 26.2 Bonita Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisJokes change from generation to generation, but the experience of the comedian transcends the ages: the drive, jealousy, heartbreak, and triumph. From the Marx Brothers to Milton Berle to George Carlin to Eddie Murphy to Louis CK—comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff brings to life a century’s worth of rebels and groundbreakers, mainstream heroes and counterculture iconoclasts, forgotten stars and workaday plodders in this essential history of American comedy. Beginning with the nationwide vaudeville circuits that dominated at turn of the twentieth century, Nesteroff describes the rise of the first true stand-up comedian—a variety show emcee who abandoned physical shtick for straight jokes. The end of Prohibition ushered in a surprising golden age of comedy, as funnymen were made into radio stars and the combination of the Borscht Belt, the Chitlin Circuit, and Mafia-run supperclubs furnished more jobs and money than ever before. Those were the days of the Copacabana, tuxedos, and smoking cigars onstage, when insulting the boss could result in a hit man at your door and obscenity charges could land you in jail. In the 1950s, late-night television cemented the status of the comedy establishment while young comics rebelled, arriving on the beatnik coffeehouse scene with cerebral jokes and social angst. They soon found their own way to fame through comedy records that vied with top musicians for Billboard spots. Then came the comedy clubs of the coke-fueled 1970s and 80s, Saturday Night Live and cable TV, and with the internet, a whole new generation of YouTube stars, podcast personalities, and Twitterati. Through the decades, Nesteroff reveals the contradictions between comedians’ public and private personas and illuminates the often-seedy underbelly of an industry built on laughs. Based on over two hundred original interviews and extensive archival research, The Comedians is a sharply written and highly entertaining look at one hundred years of comedy, and a valuable exploration of the way comedians have reflected, shaped, and changed American culture along the way. Trade ReviewPraise for The Comedians: Named a Best Book of the Year by Kirkus Reviews, National Post, and Splitsider "Entertaining and carefully documented ... I thought I knew a lot about the history of American comedy. But this book located gaps in my knowledge I never knew were there and filled them with jaw-dropping anecdotes that made my eyes spin in different directions ... This book is a real treat."--Merrill Markoe, Wall Street Journal "In the past decade, there have been several superb history books about comedy ... but none will entertain comedy nerds as much as Kliph Nesteroff's The Comedians ... sprawling and savvy ... comedy's answer to Luc Sante's Low Life."--New York Times Book Review "An antic history of U.S. comedy ... Nesteroff writes with insider perception ... With his encyclopedic knowledge, a talent for vivid anecdotes and tireless gusto ... [The Comedians is] an insightful overview of the most independent and subversive entertainment genre of the last century."--Washington Post "[An] excellent book."--New York Times "The Comedians ... is right up there with I'm Dying Up Here, Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live and Drunk, Stoned, Brilliant, Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon, in terms of thoroughness, engagement and lasting significance."--L.A. Weekly (Best Local Comedy Author) "An informative and engaging account ... Nesteroff provides a clear through-line from vaudeville to the New Millennium. Yet it's the anecdotes about personality and style that elevate the book beyond mere history."--USA Today "The Comedians is everything it should be, including very funny. This historically rich history of comedians in America is fascinating ... If you're a comedy nerd you'll love this book."--Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "If you think you know a lot about stand-up comedy, this book will expose you as the fraud you secretly reckoned you were. Remember Frank Fay? Exactly."--Norm MacDonald "Kliph Nesteroff and this book are devoted to what I truly love--the art of comedy."--Mel Brooks "Kliph Nesteroff is a 'comedy nerd' in the deepest sense of the word ... He is the preeminent historian of modern comedy."--Marc Maron "This is one of the best books I've ever read about show business ... [Nesteroff] has amassed a dishy, informal, and knowledgeable history of comedy ... This is straight talk about largely undocumented areas of show business and it is utterly fascinating. I feasted on this book and look forward to a possible sequel."--Leonard Maltin, Indiewire (Holiday Book Roundup) "Comedy tends to disappear, either into the boozy corners of a night club, or onto countless lost videotapes of TV variety shows that may never even make it to Netflix. That's what makes The Comedians so essential. No one charts the connections between the Jewy-old-masters of the TV age of comedy to the gay woman telling jokes into your ear right now on a podcast quite like [Kliph Nesteroff]."--John Hodgman, contributor to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart "Beginning in the always smoky, often dilapidated vaudeville theaters of the early 20th century and spanning over a hundred years, Nesteroff meticulously details the lives and careers of forgotten and famous comics ... Nesteroff's exhaustive research is evident and historians will appreciate his thoroughness."--Associated Press "A definitive volume. A lively, raucous, and immensely entertaining love letter to funny business."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Both pop culture enthusiasts and entertainment scholars will relish this important history of American comedy."--Library Journal (starred review) "Indispensable."--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "So flipping entertaining."--Cleveland Plain Dealer "A great book."--Splitsider "The Comedians is as good as they come. Nesteroff hits all the highlights and lowlights of this constantly evolving art form."--Portland Mercury "Comedy buffs will find a treasure chest of trivia ... But Nesteroff's aims are far more ambitious. He weaves comedians into the larger American story, from racism ... and blacklisting to the counterculture and the anti-war movement ... An interesting, satisfying read."--Dallas News "Extraordinary ... wildly, crazily revealing, and readable."--Buffalo News "The definitive history of the comedy business ... downright majestic."--Forward "One of the most comprehensive and accessible accounts of the art form to date."--Flavorwire "Immensely entertaining, a fast read that's also a deep dive."--Ken Tucker, Yahoo TV "A valuable book ... a compulsively readable history of American comedy ... The book provides terrific insights into how the comedy greats of cinema created their personae and their acts ... The book is also, no surprise, funny ... My only complaint about the book? It's too short."--Glenn Kenny, RogerEbert.com "Highly recommended."--Longform "A rollicking history."--Macleans (Canada)

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Book Synopsis''Mark Watson is a national treasure'' Richard OsmanWhatever I now know about life - or think I know - I found out through failure, disappointment, mortification. I''m writing it all down as much to remind myself as for anyone else - but now you''re here, I''d love you to stick around . . .Mark Watson is generally accepted to be alive. And yet he''s died many times. Not just on stage - though he''ll tell you about that - but in other ways, too. There''s been the death of a childhood dream. The death of his panel-show career. And then there was the time he died inside and nearly lost it all . . .Eye-opening, revealing and painfully funny, this is a book about mortification, failure and all the times life doesn''t work out as planned. But it also wisely questions whether the things we strive for - recognition, success, the approval of others - are really the things that matter. It''s a book about death that reminds us how to live.''Mark Watson makes the base metal of failure into comedy gold'' Adam Kay

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Book SynopsisCome on my journey. Look at where man's come from. I was working in retail in 2017.You might know Mo as the critically acclaimed stand-up comedian, BAFTA-winning presenter, Masked Singer judge and social media mega star. But do you know the moments that really made him? Opening up on the turning points, the good times, the challenges and the lessons learned, this is Mo as you've never seen him before.Journeying through childhood memories in South London, Mo reminisces about school days and old-school raving, and takes us behind the scenes of his first comedy gigs, the creation of the original Geezer, selling out national tours and becoming one of TV's most in-demand stars. Share the moment that Mo decided he wanted to be a comedian, the moment he went viral, the moment he realised he was famous (and how to deal with it), the moment his Netflix special dropped, the moment he won his BAFTA and the moments he still has to come.In among the laugh-out-loud observations, life lessons and candid storytelling, there lies the bigger influences in Mo's life - the unsung heroes of the Black British comedy scene, the power of community and the feel-good legacy he wants to create.'The Funniest Man in Britain' The Times

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Book SynopsisIn this electrifying autobiography, Rik stands naked in front of his vast legions of fans and disciples and invites them to take communion with the blood he has spilled for them during his thirty year war on show business.Trade Review'a ludicrous…very funny – fusion of fact and comic fantasy'The Times '… a dense clootie dumpling of a book.'Sunday Herald '… hilariously irreverent …'Daily Express 'It's a masterpiece in tongue-in-cheek ego-mania, a comic tour de force or – if you are the ghost of Mary Whitehouse – a nasty, smelly, subversive book about an incurable bighead who shouldn't be on the telly, let alone in print.'The Journal, Newcastle upon Tyne '… should get a few old farts in Tunbridge Wells trying to work out how to send emails … Mayall's disciples will love this nook and he might win over several million more followers with it.'Sport Lads Mag (plus four stars) '… full of fun and laughter, just like the man himself. A word of warning: don't read it in public …the belly-laughs may cause embarrassment.'Nottingham Evening Post*****Nuts Magazine

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Book SynopsisPacked with hard-won wisdoms and gentle truths, this is Miranda's honest exploration of the lessons she has learned on her journey from illness to recovery''A bombshell, moving, inspirational. Hart passes on the tips that helped her emerge from psychological as much as physical doldrums. No comedian, female or male, has been so taken to the nation's bosom since Victoria Wood'' Independent''Irrepressible and joyous. Taking us affectionately by the hand, Miranda takes us through her ten-year journey to deep self-knowledge'' Daily MailA wonderful book, filled with treasure' Julia Samuel''A raw and poignant account. Miranda is more of an everywoman than ever before'' The Times''Miranda''s account of slowly letting her guard down and being vulnerable is sweet and moving, and proof that happiness is possible even in the most trying times'' Guardian----Hello to you, I am with news. I have a new book: I Haven't Been Entirely Honest With You. I know what an intriguing title!Basically, I have had an unexpectedly difficult decade there have been surprising joys, but also deep revelations and challenging lows. I shall be honest about those, because what I discovered in the difficult times were my, what I call, treasures.Treasures practical tools, values, ways, answers researched from some great scientists, neuroscientists, therapists, sociologists (all the ists') out there, that have genuinely led to a sense of freedom, joy, peace and physical recovery I never would have thought possible.Life now, amazingly, with what I will share, is SUCH FUN! (always important to quote your own catch phrases. . .) If you fancy having a read, then I hope my story might help your story. After all, we are in this beautiful, mysterious, challenging life together. Rest assured there are funny stories along the way we will have a laugh too, my dear reader chum.Oh, and I couldn't possibly say if there is a love story in it . . . (There is shush). Exciting.----Sunday Times bestseller, October 2024

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERThis is a self-help book like no other. Because you are not helping yourself, James Acaster is helping you.In 2019, James quit all forms of social media - covering his phone in tar and driving it to a lock-up in Rhyl, before setting up home in a castle he''d built himself called Castle Anti-Net. But when the withdrawal symptoms hit him, he realised in order to stay clean he''d have to replace everything social media gave him with three-dimensional, real-life activities. Employing the help of a mysterious, wealthy benefactor named Clancy Dellahue, and an ever-growing gang of misfits (aka the Tangfastic Crew), James found ways to replace his online friends (he joined the scouts) and spy on his exes (climbing ropes, zip lines, fake moustache) as well as anonymously bullying strangers, seeing photos of everyone''s dogs, getting public figures fired, arguing with everybody about everything, and so much more. His life is amazing

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Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER from the star of Netflix's The Duchess, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Your Face or Mine and host of All That Glitters'A fearless origin story' Caitlin Moran'Brilliant!' Aisling Bea'Outrageously brilliant! I'm buying this for all my friends' Laura Whitmore'Witty as hell' Tom AllenWildly readable... tremendous' The Times*****Hi, I'm TV's Katherine Ryan. I'm known to live my life embracing the reality that you just can't please everyone, so you might as well put yourself out there and have a laugh. As my mother always said, 'Katherine, if we all liked the same thing, we'd all be married to your father.' Being audacious led me to becoming the calm, contented woman I am today - who doesn't care what strangers think of her and can always take a joke.I'm often asked how I developed my lurid level of courage and assurance and for tips on how others can match. This is my blueprint for just that, a collection of my most relatable advice.How To Attract Toxic Men AND Keep Them Interested!How To Have A BabyHow To Impress Famous Celebritiesand so much more...No matter what I do, there will always be something about me that reads as simply, outrageously audacious. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA fascinating and hilarious glimpse into Paul''s life at home in the country with his animalsPaul O''Grady''s Country Life for the first time gives a glimpse into the home life of one of Britain's best loved stars, alongside the animals he adores. Sometimes rural idyll, sometimes hell on earth, Paul's life in rural Kent has been shared over the years with some very vocal pigs, a mad cow, various rescued barn owls, the world's most sadistic geese and Christine the psychotic sheep among many other animal waifs and strays. And of course Paul tells the stories of the dogs in his life including the tiny chihuahua/Jack Russell cross with Napoleonic ambitions, Eddie, Miss Olga, Bullseye, Louis, Boycie and, of course, Buster, the greatest canine star since Lassie. In addition, Paul shares some of his favourite recipes, explores country lore and superstitions, and extols the benefits of growing your own vegetables, herbs aTrade ReviewFor the past decade, O'Grady has lived a quiet life in Kent... and he details the change of pace with typical wit and frankness. * Radio Times *

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Book SynopsisHere, for the first time, is complete collection of actor and entertainer Stanley Holloway's incomparable comic monologues, which he performed between 1929 and 1941. All the much-loved characters such as Albert Ramsbottom (with a stick with an orse's ead andle'), Sam Small (Sam, Sam, pick oop tha' arm), and King Arold (on his orse with his awk in his and') are gathered together and brilliantly illustrated by cartoonist Bill Tidy.

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Book Synopsis''There was none like her before and there''s been none like her since - she was unique.'' Dawn FrenchPublished to celebrate the much-missed Victoria Wood''s 70th birthday, this stunning hardback edition of Chunky contains the very best of Wood''s sketches and shows, including those never seen on TV, as well as:NEW introduction from Celia Imrie, star of many of Victoria Wood''s showsAdditions and annotations from Wood''s acclaimed official biographer, Jasper Rees.''I was very proud to be part of her gang.'' Celia Imrie''She is on a par with Alan Bennett.'' Clive James''Absolutely perfect.'' Sarra Manning

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Book SynopsisToday, he stars in hit films, headlines sold out tours, hosts the popular Uncle Joey’s Joint podcast, and is a devoted father - but his life wasn’t always so picture-perfect. Joey “Coco” Diaz credits his success to his “immigrant mentality,” the work ethic his mother modeled for him and on which countless others have depended to survive the harsh landscape of being an outsider. Diaz wasn’t always a star, but he was always a comedian - it just took him a while to figure it out. To be fair, he was pretty busy while he was young: helping his tough-as-nails mother in her bar, holding a gun for the first time at the age of six, and later dealing drugs and serving time. Tremendous is the story of Diaz’s life, from grueling childhood and misspent youth to finding his true calling in comedy. Immigrants, fans of celebrity tales, and comedy enthusiasts alike will be enthralled by this incredibly true, foul-mouthed, and funny memoir. It’s not a story for the faint of heart, or for prudes who’ve never spent a week sleeping in a piece of playground equipment. From finding his mum’s body to high stakes crime, addiction and depression, there are plenty of dark episodes in this saga. Diaz shares it all with brutal honesty and humour, in the same inimitable voice he’d use talking to you from the stage or in a bar. He also shares the story of his improbable rise to the top and the bumpy road that led him there. An inspiration to misfits everywhere, Tremendous is storytelling at its finest - and a reminder that the direst of circumstances can change in unimaginable, unpredictable ways.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Absorbing, incisive...With skill and insight, Saul shows how both the best and the worst of Pryor could merge into a great body of work unmatched by anyone who was ever paid to make people laugh." -- USA Today "The most detailed and rigorously researched work on the comic's life and performances...Pryor was both the quintessential hipster and the vulnerable, damaged witness of his age...Becoming Richard Pryor captures these dimensions of the persona and the man behind it very well." -- Washington Post "Sharply observed...lays out the case that Pryor was not only a comic genius but 'a bellwether of the great changes of postwar American life, some of which he helped incite.'...Riveting." -- TIME magazine "A gripping read...The only book you need on its subject." -- Sunday Times (London) "A pop-culture masterpiece of exhaustive reporting, psychological insight and elegant writing." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer "Insightful and expansive, Scott Saul's remarkable biography of the now legendary comic chronicles how a sensitive brilliant man with a hardscrabble past mined his personal life for American entertainment, revolutionizing stand-up along the way." -- Playboy, "This Winter's Best Books" "Masterful." -- Newsweek "A fascinating, exhilarating read. Saul dives deeper and comes up with more treasure than previous biographers; he deftly traces the stamp that Pryor left on American culture at one of its more impressionable moments...I didn't want to put the book down and couldn't wait to get back to it." -- Michael Chabon, bestselling and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and Telegraph Avenue "Becoming Richard Pryor is a compulsively readable book that sets a new gold standard for American biography. Scott Scaul's research is extraordinary; his writing his taut, elegant, and insightful; and he captures both the hilarity and pain that made Richard Pryor such a towering figure." -- Debby Applegate, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for biography and author of the forthcoming Madam: The Notorius Life and Times of Polly Adler "The Richard Pryor biography we've been waiting for." -- Deadspin "With Becoming Richard Pryor, Scott Saul gives us the fullest picture yet of a great and puzzling American figure. What starts as a procedural on the making of an artist becomes a story of a man desperate to be free." -- RJ Smith, author of The One: The Life and Music of James Brown "Pryor has had the good fortune to fall into the hands of a writer with the smarts to understand both his greatness and his madness. Becoming Richard Pryor is a first-rate biography." -- Peter Biskind, author of Easy Riders and Raging Bulls "Becoming Richard Pryor takes you on a wild, tumultuous ride. Scott Saul's superb storytelling is a perfect match for his subject--he keeps you mesmerized, laughing, crying, stunned, hungry, and above all, surprised." -- Robin D. G. Kelley, author of Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original "Becoming Richard Pryor is a book that breaks new ground...Saul details the amazing way that Richard found his way out of the life for which he seemed destined and into the world of the performing arts." -- New York Times Book Review "This is a well-executed study that gives Pryor due credit as pioneer, intellectual and artist. Better written and more thoughtful than David and Joe Henry's Furious Cool. The latter remains worth reading, but this book is the place to start." -- Kirkus Reviews "Magisterial...Brilliantly reveals the glorious highs and lows of Pryor's life...Becoming Richard Pryor reveals itself to be not simply a biography, but the compassionate map of a terra incognita." -- Independent "Drawing on interviews with family and friends, unpublished journals and court records, Saul jauntily chronicles the year-by-year, and almost day-by-day, evolution of Richard Pryor. Glaringly honest, Saul shines a light on a revolutionary stand-up comic who perfected the art of dramatizing his own imperfections, and the world's." -- Publishers Weekly "Drawing on interviews with family and friends, unpublished journals and court records, Saul jauntily chronicles the year-by-year, and almost day-by-day, evolution of Richard Pryor. Glaringly honest, Saul shines a light on a revolutionary stand-up comic who perfected the art of dramatizing his own imperfections, and the world's." -- Booklist (starred review)

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Book SynopsisMindy Kaling has found herself at a turning point. So in Why Not Me?, she shares her ongoing journey to find fulfilment and adventure in her adult life, be it falling in love at work, seeking new friendships in unlikely places, or attempting to be the first person in history to lose weight without any behaviour modification whatsoever.In How to Look Spectacular, she reveals her tongue-in-cheek solutions for guaranteed on-camera beauty. Player tells the story of Mindy being seduced, then dumped, by a female friend in LA. And in Soup Snakes, she spills some secrets on her relationship with ex-boyfriend and close friend B. J. Novak.Mindy has put the anxieties, the glamour and the celebrations of her second coming-of-age into this book, to which anyone can relate. (And, if they can't, they can skip to the parts where she talks about meeting Bradley Cooper.)

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Book SynopsisRichard Bean: In 2011 Richard became the first playwright to win the Evening Standard Award for Best Play for two plays, The Heretic and One Man, Two Guvnors. The New York production of One Man, Two Guvnors was awarded the 2012 Outer Critics' Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Play. His credits include Kiss Me (Hampstead), The Nap (Sheffield Crucible), Great Britain (National Theatre), Made in Dagenham: The Musical (Adelphi Theatre) and Pitcairn (Chichester Minerva Theatre/Shakespeare's Globe). Richard's other work includes Under the Whaleback (Royal Court. George Devine Award 2002), The Heretic (The Royal Court. Evening Standard Best New Play 2011), Honeymoon Suite (Pearson Play of the Year), Harvest (Critic's Circle Best New Play), The House of Games (from David Mamet's film), a new version of Moliere's The Hypochondriac, The Big Fellah (Out of Joint), England Peo

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Book Synopsis''No life can really be all black, right? Even during the darkest times, what got me through that bleakness was laughter and time. With enough of both of these things I reckon you could get over just about anything.''Nick Frost burst onto our screens in a blaze of camo fatigues and weaponry as the Territorial Army obsessed loveable idiot Mike Watt in the hit cult comedy Spaced. Since then, fans around the world have watched him with a fervent devotion as he fought zombies, rescued aliens and salsa''d his way to box office smash after smash.It''s quite a story. But it''s not this story. This story isn''t the romp from movie set to Hollywood party. This is a story of a life like no other.With blistering candour Frost recounts his childhood growing up in Essex in a household full of love and optimism but tragically blighted by alcoholism, illness and sudden life shattering misfortune. Dogged by his own personal demons, Nick tells of the hil

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book Synopsis'Hilarious and heartbreaking' Sara Pascoe'Sheer bloody joy' Philippa PerryOver the course of a year, comedian Rachel Parris asked members of her live audience for advice - and here's what she learned from a bunch of total strangers...She takes those random nuggets of wisdom - 'Be kind', 'Never pass up the opportunity for a wee', 'When it doubt, wing it' - and explores them in ways that are entertaining and serious, hilarious and heart-breaking. Full of life guidance on how to deal with everything from tampons to Tories, from grief to gaslighting, this book might just change your life.Funny, fiercely feminist and full of love, this book is a feast; devour it, then pass it to a friend. 'Original and wise. This is essential reading' Ellie TaylorTrade ReviewRachel is one of my favourite comedians. This book is warm, wise and hilarious. It is written in her comic voice - a voice she mainly has used to tell me off, so I am thrilled to see it deployed in this way. -- Nish KumarHilarious, wise and heart breaking. Like an all-night over-share with your best friend. -- Sara PascoeWarm witty and wise -- Richard OsmanThe most joyful bursts of wisdom from a truly funny soul. I adore this book. -- Cariad LloydAn essential, hilarious handbook for life. -- Athena KugblenuRachel is one of the wisest, funniest people I know. Funny, sad, beautiful and ridiculous, Advice from Strangers has it all. -- Pippa EvansHilarious, original and wise. This is essential reading. -- Ellie TaylorA hilarious, fiery, reassuring hug of a book. Full of laughter, compassion and feminist wisdom. -- Fran BusheFunny, sad, joyful, and wise, something everyone should have on their bookshelf * funnywomen.com *

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Book SynopsisAs seen on The View and Good Morning America! If you think Joan Rivers said funny, outrageous, and ridiculous things ONSTAGE, wait ’til you read the funny, outrageous, and ridiculous things she said OFFSTAGE…things that will make you laugh out loud…and keep Melissa in therapy for the foreseeable future.The only thing my mother loved more than making people laugh was lying…or as she’d say, “embellishing.” Her motto was: “Why let the truth ruin a good story?” This book contains some of those stories. ***************** “When Joan told a story, the truth disappeared faster than I did.” — Jimmy Hoffa “If you thought Dante’s Inferno was hot, read Lies My Mother Told Me; it’s a five-alarmer.” — Dante’s second wife, Allie “Twelve of my twenty-six personalities loved this book.” — Sybil “The words on the page absolutely crackle and spark; I burned my fingers reading it!” — Annie Sullivan “The Bible may be the good book, but Lies My Mother Told Me is way funnier.” — Matthew 2:14 The Jets. 7 “Lies My Mother Told Me is the feel-good book of 2022.” — Torquemada “All’s not well that ends well. I’ve had massages with happier endings.” — Wm. Shakespeare “Melissa, I don’t care what your mother said in this book, I LOVE your bangs.” — Mamie Eisenhower “Lies My Mother Told Me is so funny even those ‘woke’ m***********s will laugh.” — Lenny Bruce

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Book Synopsis'This book had sex with my brain!' SARA PASCOE'Hilarious. Intimate. Vital.' JAMEELA JAMIL'I couldn't put the book down!' LAURA BATESComedian Sofie Hagen has not had sex in 3,000 days (and counting). And it turns out, she's not the only one . . .In an attempt to find out why we're not having the sex we want, Sofie asks the questions: can we blame a lacking sex education? Is it all just sexual trauma? Where's the radical sexual liberation we were promised? What are we going to do about this? Should she have slept with that guy in that bush that one time? How do you overcome being a 35-year-old virgin (when it comes to queer sex, that is)? How do the socially awkward and the neurodiverse have sex?In Will I Ever Have Sex Again?, Sofie Hagen explores the quirks and difficulties of being an 'involuntary celibate' (but one of the feminist, progressive ones). With a blend of me

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'A wonderful blend of nostalgia, hilarity and personal anecdotes that only Josh Widdicombe could deliver' James Acaster'Brilliantly observed' Romesh Ranganathan'Beautifully written, cleverly crafted and charmingly funny' Adam Hills 'Retro heaven' Alan Carr 'A '90s TV throwback dream' Katherine Ryan Watching Neighbours Twice a Day... is part-childhood memoir, part-comic history of '90s television and culture. Using a different TV show of the time as its starting point for each chapter, it discusses everything from Josh's strange, rural childhood, to the BBC convincing him that Michael Parkinson had been possessed by a ghost, to Josh's belief that Mr Blobby is one of the great comic characters, to what it's like being the only vegetarian child west of Bristol. It tells the story of the end of an era, the last time when watching television was a shared experience for the family and the nation, before the internet meant everyone watched different things at different times on different devices, headphones on to make absolutely sure no one else could watch it with them.'Annoyingly very funny' Sean Walsh 'Warmth, wit and Widdicombe - with big laughs and pure nostalgia at its heart' Danny Wallace'Brilliantly funny and nostalgic' Russel Kane 'If you read only one book by Josh Widdicombe this year, make it this one' Jack Dee

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Book SynopsisFor fans of Really Good Actually and I'm Glad My Mom Died'Moving, hilarious and generally astonishing' - Guardian'Brave, funny and moving' - Aisling Bea 'A deftness that catches your breath' - Fern Brady'An incredible piece of writing' - Brett Goldstein'Interrogates moments of trauma with insight, kindness and humanity' - John RobinsThis is a book about mistakes. And why we should de-flower shame in all its messy, complicated glory...Hello!It's Lou here...I've poured my heart and guts on to the page and shared my soul in this book. This won't be for everyone but I hope it helps the people it does connect with. We all have stories and I think its useful to share them, I think it helps unite us and in some ways it helps us release some shame.I've been alarmingly truthful and sincere, because I think society would be better if we could all be honest. I've of course used humour too, not as a way to cope (I've processed the darker things that have happened to me), but as a change in pace, some gorgeous light relief, because life is light and dark dancing together in the wind. And I love jokes.If this is the sort of thing you're after, please pick me up and take me to bed (that's the book speaking so a little joke there).

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Book SynopsisIn wartime Ireland, an Englishman and a German each need the other to betray his country. And if the nationalist firebrands get their way, they may have to fight to the death. But hang on!—Just a few months ago, Flight Lieutenant Oliver Carmichael and Baron Julius von Stulpnagel were living together in Berlin, trying to sell forged paintings. So what are they doing in rundown Ballingore, and how will ex-convent-girl Mary Collins and her devoted red-headed sidekick Niamh Slattery play into their hands? In this hilarious Irish farce, Casey McCartney brilliantly recreates the slapstick flavour of an Ealing Studios comedy.

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Book Synopsis** PRE ORDER LENNY HENRY''S NEW AUTOBIOGRAPHY RISING TO THE SURFACE NOW **Sir Lenny Henry is one of the country's best-loved comedians with a career spanning over forty years. Here he writes about his youth for the first time.You might think you know Lenny Henry. Think again.''Glorious.'' NEIL GAIMAN''Touching and affectionate.'' CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMS, SUNDAY TIMES''Heartfelt . . . honest.'' OBSERVER''Moving, powerful and very funny.'' MAIL ON SUNDAYIn 1975, a gangly black sixteen-year-old apprentice factory worker from Dudley appeared on our TV screens for the first time. He had no idea he would go on to become a national treasure. Here at last, Sir Lenny Henry tells the revealing and very funny story of his rise to fame.Surviving a tough family upbringing, along with the trauma of finding out the truth about his father at a y

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Book SynopsisOffers the first English translation of a modern adaption of King Stag, an 18th-century Italian fairy-tale play by Swiss dramatist René Morax (18731963) and director Werner Wolff (18861972).

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Book SynopsisThe 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 thathe''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 Trade Review‘Searingly honest, it’s an engrossing story told with all the winning warmth and insight we have come to expect from clinical psychologist and former comedian, Pamela.’ Woman’s Weekly

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Book SynopsisThe new book by the hilarious Daisy May Cooper. The Bafta Award Winning actor and bestselling author delves into the unexplained and shares the spookiest stories from her life and the world at large For as long as Daisy May Cooper can remember, she's been fascinated with the unexplained. Ghosts, spirits, tea leaves, astrological charts, paranormal activity - you name it, she's been obsessed! In her hilarious new book, Daisy sets out to probe the otherworldly and investigate how her own experiences with forces we can't explain have influenced all parts of her life. Armed with an open mind and ghost-hunting equipment from the dark web, she explores haunted houses, interrogates experts who claim they can communicate with the other side, reveals a brush with paganism that turned out to be a front for swinging, and digs in to her own spooky side. It's like 'Scooby-Doo' meets 'Mystic Meg', via

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Book Synopsis''Funny, fresh and heart-warming'' Stella Newman ''Smart, self-aware, and properly funny'' Richard Roper''A dream of a rom-com!'' Holly Miller Can you fall in love like they do in the movies? It''s Evie Summers'' job to find out. Because if she can''t convince her film agency''s biggest client, Ezra Chester, to write the romantic comedy script he owes producers, her career will be over. The catch? He thinks rom-coms are unrealistic - and he''ll only put pen to paper if Evie shows him that it''s possible to meet someone in real life the way it happens on the big screen. Cynical Evie might not believe in happily ever after, but she''ll do what it takes to save the job that''s been her lifeline . . . even if it means recreating iconic rom-com scenes in public. Spilling orange juice on a cute stranger? No problem. Leaving her number in books all over London to see who calls? Done. With a lTrade ReviewFunny, fresh and heart-warming - a book to fall in love with -- Stella NewmanI completely loved it. Smart, self-aware, and properly funny. I was cheering Evie on from page one. -- Richard RoperA fresh and funny romcom with all the magic of the movies. Would like to read more! -- Anna BellThis was a dream of a rom-com! A delightful summer read that had me revelling in the meet-cutes and rooting for a happy-ever-after. Touching and smart, with a cast of warm, funny characters I completely fell for. -- Holly MillerWinters's charming debut combines tropes from classic romantic comedy films to hilarious effect. * Publishers Weekly *Relive your favourite rom-com movie moments in this charming and delightful meet-cute novel -- Erin Reinelta writer who's one to watch * Sarra Manning *This is The Perfect romcom, sharp and clever and so funny! * Michele Gorman *Packed full of laughs, this is perfect for romcom addicts. * My Weekly *The perfect romance. A relaxing read for the warmer months. * Woman *the perfect feelgood read * Red Magazine *With laugh-out-loud moments and a lot of heart, it's a delightful summer read -- Zoe West * Woman & Home *

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Book SynopsisFrom Shaun Micallef, beloved host of ABC TV’s news satire Mad as Hell, comes Tripping Over Myself – an insightful and funny memoir about comedy and life that takes us through uncharted waters to unexpected places.Comedy has been Shaun’s escape, his guiding light, his refuge, his passport, his lifebuoy, his drug, his mask, his means, his end, his lingua franca, his Self. But it’s not everything.From his early years as a gangly, bespectacled nerd in suburban Adelaide to the giddy heights of national TV stardom, Shaun regales us with his experiences and his continuous reinvention through humour with... well, humour. He writes with candour about his successes and failures, loves and losses, along with tales of wine, women, song, and eccentric dancing. Behind the persona of one of Australia’s best-loved comedians lurks, as you will discover, an idiot.Despite Shaun’s best efforts, Tripping Over Myself is sprinkled with thoughtful insights and observations and shows us how to persist in the face of adversity or even good fortune. You will laugh, you will dog-ear pages, you will wonder, you will Google ‘Jerry Lewis’, you may book a trip to India, and you will come away from this book reflecting on your own life in new and remarkable ways.Trade Review ‘As I was reading Tripping over Myself this morning I felt something funny was happening to my mouth. I touched it with my fingers. It was smiling.’ – BARRY HUMPHRIES ‘I had to teach this flog the absolute basics. Embarrassing.’ – KATE McCARTNEY ‘Shaun Micallef is an enigma, wrapped in a nerd, inside a truly brilliant comedian.’ – ANDREW DENTON ‘Working with Shaun was ‘the most difficult thing I have ever had to do in my life’. – DENISE SCOTT ‘Shaun Micallef is the most uniquely talented comedic performer Australia has ever seen. His unseen humility also means he would never use this quote to grotesquely self-promote himself.’ – ROVE McMANUS ‘I am forever grateful that Shaun Micallef hasn’t let being a complete genius get in the way of also being so stupid.’ – CELIA PACQUOLA ‘Everyone talks about Shaun’s washboard abs and pert buttocks, but he’s also very funny.’ – MARK HUMPHRIES ‘Who else, in this country, could possibly make a career that's lasted well over 30 years doing weirdo stuff on network television? We love Shaun and we couldn't be here without him. Also, he owes us 20 bucks.’ – AUNTY DONNAPRAISE FOR SHAUN MICALLEF’S PREVIOUS BOOKS ‘Shaun is a genius. In fact the worst written part of this entire book is this quote.’ – WIL ANDERSON ‘One of the greatest comic voices of our time.’ – MATT LUCAS ‘Shaun has a gift for the surreal. The English language is a sunlit garden. Shaun has a Harley-Davidson and a cast-iron alibi. He will be home by nightfall. You may hear some noise. It will be made by you. You will feel much better afterwards.’ – JOHN CLARKE ‘He’s a wonderful hybrid of Peter Cook and Stephen Fry with a touch of Graham Kennedy’s subversiveness.’ – THE AUSTRALIAN

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Book SynopsisThis is a funny and beautiful book. What a little bastard.' RUSSELL BRANDA millennial''s answer to David Sedaris. No writer is funnier than Joel Golby.' DOLLY ALDERTONA collection of full-throated appreciations, withering assessments, and hard-won lessons by the popular journalist.There are a few things you need to know about Joel Golby. Both his parents are dead. His dad was an alcoholic. He himself has a complicated relationship with alcohol. He once went to karaoke three times in five days. He will always beat you at Monopoly, and he will always cheat.Joel makes a name for himself as a journalist who brings us distinguished articles such as A Man Shits On A Plane So Hard It Has To Turn Around And Come Back Again', but that says more about us than him. In his first book, Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant Joel writes about important stuff (death, alcohol, loss, friendship) and unimportant stuff (Saudi Arabian Camel Pageants, a watertight ranking of the Rocky films, MTrade Review ‘Joel Golby is my favourite pop-culture obsessed nihilist. If you like camel beauty pageants and robot sex as much as I do you’ll love this. You’ll laugh, cry and probably be a bit weirded out.’ SHARON HORGAN ‘Seeing the byline “Joel Golby” means you’re about to ungraciously snort with laughter in a public place. Sharper at dissecting the madness of 21st century online existence than any other writer.’ CAITLIN MORAN ‘Joel Golby is brilliant, his writing is brilliant, and his book is brilliant brilliant brilliant.’ JOE LYCETT ‘Joel is one of my favourite writers. He is brilliant and so is this massive book. If push came to shove, I would almost certainly pay the full RRP for it.’ GREG JAMES

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Book SynopsisPrepare to laugh' Reese Witherspoon253 steps to becoming an anti-it girl.Funny woman, Instagram star and international comedy sensation, Celeste Barber's Challenge Accepted! is a raucous, hilarious and outspoken guide to life, unwanted gas and how to rock a sexy scar.Part-memoir, part-comedy routine, part-advice manual, Challenge Accepted! is Celeste at her best, revealing her secrets to love, friendship, family and marriage (oh hai, #hothusband), and how to deal with life's many challenges why she checks the bath for sharks, how Nutella quite literally shaped who she is as a woman, and why being famous on Instagram is like being rich in Monopoly. It's real, like totally, really real.Trade Review‘Prepare to laugh when reading this memoir. Just when Celeste has you in stitches, she hits you right in the heart.’ –Reese Witherspoon

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Book SynopsisFor his many friends and fans, Peter Cook was quite simply the funniest man they''d ever encountered. And nearly eight years since his death, his status as one of Britain''s greatest comedians shows no sign of shrinking. Despite his reputation for idleness, Peter Cook was a great comedy writer, who created countless outrageous sketches and articles and was famed for his prolific role in the satire boom of the 1960s. The very best, the most famous and some of the most unusual of his comic masterpieces are collected here. Some of these pieces have never been published before, others are out of print, a few only survive in print, and many have only ever been seen or heard - never read. This collection ranges from Cook''s first writing, at school and university, via Beyond The Fringe, with Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett and Jonathan Miller, his dualogues with Moore as Pete & Dud and Derek & Clive, and their brilliant TV series, Not Only But Also, to transcripts of his late, great TV app

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Book SynopsisMulti-award-winning comedian, presenter, actor, author and scriptwriter RUSSELL KANE is best known for the BBC Sounds podcast, Evil Genius which has become a flagship show and was the best performing original podcast on the platform. Russell's other podcast, Boys Don't Cry, also features regularly on the iTunes podcast chart. Recent TV appearances include The Apprentice You're Fired, Antiques Roadtrip, Stupid Man, Smart Phone and the host of three series of Live At The Electric. Other TV appearances include Live at The Apollo, Michael McIntyre's Big Show, Love Island Aftersun, Comedians Giving Lectures, 8 Out of 10 Cats, The Crystal Maze and Celebrity Juice.Winner of Best Show in 2010 at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, Russell went on to make history as the first comedian to win both the Edinburgh Award and Melbourne Comedy Festival's Barry Award in one year. Russell is currently tourin

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Book Synopsis''The king of character comedy.'' Good Housekeeping''A lynchpin of British comedy.'' Alan MooreThe nation's favourite comedian opens up about two extraordinary decades at the heart of British comedy. Packed with inside stories and wisdom, this is a heartfelt, inspiring and always-hilarious memoir of a true comedy legend.Relayed with characteristic exuberance and self-deprecation.' Fiona Sturges, Book of the Day GuardianHighly enjoyable . . . Funny, pacy and sharp.' Mail on SundayMoving and honest.' ObserverThis paperback edition contains a new chapter in which Lenny Henry wrestles with Shakespeare as he searches for a new direction in his career.

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Book SynopsisJo Brand is one of Britain''s funniest and best-loved comedians. With a sharp eye for the absurd and in her own unique voice, she tells her story for the first time. What possessed her to become a professional comedian in the cut-throat world of stand-up comedy after ten years as a psychiatric nurse? How did she deal with late night drunken audiences? From her early years growing up in a small south coast town with two brothers who toughened her up, to emerging on stage as ''The Sea Monster'', Jo Brand tells it like it is with wit and candour.

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Book SynopsisInstant New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller! An intimate and light-hearted memoir by viral sensation and three-time Emmy-nominated musical comedian Randy Rainbow that takes readers through his lifethe highs, the lows, the lipstick, the pink glasses, and the show tunes.Randy Rainbow, the man who conquered the Internet with a stylish pair of pink glasses, an inexhaustible knowledge of Broadway musicals, and the most gimlet-eyed view of American politics this side of Mark Twain finally tells all in Playing with Myself, a memoir sure to cause more than a few readers to begin singing one of his greatest hits like A Spoonful of Clorox or Cover Your Freakin' Face. As Randy has said, There's so much fake news out there about me. I can't wait to set the record straight and finally give people a peek behind the green screen. And set the record straight

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Book SynopsisObject work, environment and physicality are essential for improvisational theatre. Skilled improvisers can draw audiences into the performance by helping them see things that aren't there. The Improv Illusionist is the first book dedicated to physical improv. It reveals why these skills are so important, how to fix bad habits that develop over time and practical techniques for being more physical on stage. The book features over 50 exercises to help improvisers develop their skills through solo and group work. Instructors will also find notes and tips for teaching physical improv. Improvisers of all ages and experience levels will learn how to: * become more playful through exploring physical activity; * eliminate miscommunication with other players by adding precision to object work; * get new ideas for scenes by exploring the environment and activities; * develop an eye for real-world detail and how to reproduce it in improv; * add more visual flair to scenes; * stay safe, botTrade ReviewThis is the book I wish I had when I was starting at Second City * Geri Hall, actor *It’s a wonderful workbook to guide a long-term practice. The exercises are explained with such eloquence that, while you read them, you feel like starting to play and working... After reading this book you just have to dare, practice, play, and create new and magical illusions. * Status Magazine *Table of ContentsForeword by Bruce Hunter Introduction Part I: Foundations 1. Why Bother with Environment? 2. First Principles Part II: Object Work 3. Making the Invisible Visible 4. Activities & Routines 5. Bad Habits Part III: Environment 6. Starting with Where 7. Building Worlds 8. Refreshing the Environment 9. Research 10. Unusual Environments Part IV: Problem-Solving 11. Making Discoveries from Environment 12. Three Elements: How to Handle Tricky Situations 13. Physical Stage Effects Part V: Safety 14. Physical Safety 15. Emotional Safety Part VI: The Working Improviser 16. Performing and Learning from Shows 17. Improvising Online 18. Teaching Physical Improv Final Thoughts Acknowledgements Want to learn more about Physical Improv? Appendix: Exercises Glossary of Improv Terms Bibliography Index

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