Description

Book Synopsis

Known for his intelligent and often surreal humour, Paul Merton's weekly appearances on BBC1's Have I Got News For You as well as Radio 4's Just A Minute and his travel documentaries have seen him become an artfully rebellious fixture in our lives for over 25 years.

He also has a real story to tell. In ONLY WHEN I LAUGH, his rich and beautifully-observed autobiography, Paul takes us on an evocative journey from his working-class Fulham childhood to the present day.

Whether writing about school days, his run-ins with the nuns and other pupils; his disastrous first confession; his meatpacking job; taking acid; leaving home to live in bedsit; his early brushes with the opposite sex and not forgetting his repeated attempts to break into the world of comedy Paul's writing is always funny, poignant and revealing. And when his star finally ascends in the atmospherically drawn 1980s alternative cabaret scene there is a sense of excitement, energy, camara

Trade Review
Crammed with laugh-out-loud moments * Daily Telegraph *
A rollicking good read -- Bruce Dessau * Evening Standard *
A thoughtful, understated memoir -- Joe Moran * Guardian *
Witty and enjoyable -- Robert Elms * BBC Radio London *
Compelling * Chortle *

Only When I Laugh My Autobiography

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    A Paperback by Paul Merton

    £15.29

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    RRP £16.99 – you save £1.70 (10%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Mon 12 Oct 2026.

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      Book details

      Publisher Penguin Random House Group
      Imprint Ebury Press
      Published 5 July 2015
      ISBN-13 9780091949341
      978-0091949341
      ISBN-10 0091949343

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      Known for his intelligent and often surreal humour, Paul Merton's weekly appearances on BBC1's Have I Got News For You as well as Radio 4's Just A Minute and his travel documentaries have seen him become an artfully rebellious fixture in our lives for over 25 years.

      He also has a real story to tell. In ONLY WHEN I LAUGH, his rich and beautifully-observed autobiography, Paul takes us on an evocative journey from his working-class Fulham childhood to the present day.

      Whether writing about school days, his run-ins with the nuns and other pupils; his disastrous first confession; his meatpacking job; taking acid; leaving home to live in bedsit; his early brushes with the opposite sex and not forgetting his repeated attempts to break into the world of comedy Paul's writing is always funny, poignant and revealing. And when his star finally ascends in the atmospherically drawn 1980s alternative cabaret scene there is a sense of excitement, energy, camara

      Trade Review
      Crammed with laugh-out-loud moments * Daily Telegraph *
      A rollicking good read -- Bruce Dessau * Evening Standard *
      A thoughtful, understated memoir -- Joe Moran * Guardian *
      Witty and enjoyable -- Robert Elms * BBC Radio London *
      Compelling * Chortle *

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