Titter Ye Not!

The Life Of Frankie Howerd

by William Hall

A master of the innuendo and the raised eyebrow, Frankie Howerd - inimitable star of the classic Carry On films - became a cult hero. As much at home in the Oxford Union as in high-camp pantomime, he was adored by millions, old and young alike. From his first memory of falling downstairs as a toddler and landing on his head (and thus uttering the original 'Ooooo ... aaaah!'), to his countless radio, stage, TV and film appearances, Frankie Howerd was nevertheless a shy man, a perfectionist haunted by self-doubt and a battle with depression. Rich in anecdotes and revelations, with many of his friends contributing their own stories, Titter Ye Not! is an affectionate portrait of a comic genius whose like will never be seen again.

'With Frankie Howerd, the world has lost one of its dearest and rarest treasures - a true clown' Barry Took

Terry-Thomas ...Tells Tales - An Autobiography

by Terry-Thomas with Terry Daum

Terry-Thomas is remembered by millions for his inimitable portrayals of the upper-class English cad in such classic films as Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines and How to Murder Your Wife, and in this characteristically funny autobiography - completed shortly before his death in January 1990 - he has left a frank, moving and vivid account of his extravagant and idiosyncratic life.
In these colourful reminiscences he recalls his humble beginnings in Finchley and amateur dramatics, his experiences in variety, radio and television, and the films which led him to become Hollywood's favourite Englishman. His stories of his co-stars - including Doris Day, Jayne Mansfield, Jack Lemmon and Gina Lollobrigida - are hilarious, and he candidly divulges how his cadish screen behaviour spilled over into his big-spending, fast-living private life and how all this was cruelly curtailed when he was stricken with Parkinson's Disease...

‘Terry-Thomas was the nicest bloke ever to make a living out of playing a cad... He lived life to the brim. And it makes such a good read. The pages quiver with jokes.’ Daily Mail

‘. . . overflows with funny stories about rich and famous friends.’ Daily Telegraph

The BBC: 70 years of broadcasting

by John Cain

As the BBC celebrates its 70th anniversary, this important book on the history of the world's most prestigious and successful broadcasting organisation is timely.
Like the BBC itself, The BBC: 70 Years of Broadcasting is entertaining, informative and educational. John Cain traces the transformation of the British Broadcasting Company into the BBC, the achievements of Lord Reith, the story of the BBC in wartime, the growth of the World Service, the early days of television, how the BBC reacted to the end of its monopoly and vigorously responded to the swiftly changing broadcasting landscape of the Eighties and Nineties.
The general reader and the media student alike will equally enjoy this book which fills a major gap. From ITMA to Only Fools and Horses, from the Annan committee and its predecessors to Charter Review, from 2LO in London to the global BBC of today, this book covers the rich and sometimes stormy history of the BBC and its remarkable programmes and personalities.

Black boards / Gold inscribed spine & front board

Star Turns

The Life and Times of Benny Hill & Frankie Howerd

by Barry Took

April 1992 was a sad time for British comedy. Within a matter of hours two inimitable British comedians died. Benny Hill and Frankie Howerd had delighted millions for more than forty years. In their private lives they were complete opposites; Howerd gregarious, Hill a loner. Both were in the spotlight for over thirty years and in STAR TURNS, Barry Took, who knew them both - and wrote scripts for Howerd - tells the bitter sweet story of their lives and illustrates their very special brands of humour.

Blue boards / Silver inscribed spine

Don't Laugh At Me

An Autobiography

by Norman Wisdom with William Hall

Norman Wisdom came from a broken home, was ill-treated by his father, slept rough on the pavements and stole food to survive. A rags to riches saga of the man Charlie Chaplin said would take his mantle and who went on to make millions laugh around the world for nearly five decades, this is the truth about the little man in the tight-fitted suit and cloth cap who could make people laugh and cry at will. Here are the hardships, tragedies and triumphs that gave him his inspiration.

'The book is pure joy to read' Film Review

'All the laughter and tears in the memoirs of Britain's best-loved and most successful film comedian since Charlie Chaplin are contained in this long-awaited volume' Publishing News

Radio Times Radio & Television Trivia Quiz Book

compiled by Neil Somerville

Who was the first guest on Desert Island Discs? Was it Vic Oliver, Arthur Askey, Wilfred Pickles or Vera Lynn?
In which part of London is Only Fools and Horses set?
Who was the first female newsreader on ITN?
These are just a few of the questions from the Radio Times Radio and Television Trivia Quiz Book, which will have you racking your brains for an answer. No matter whether you are a fan of comedy, drama, soaps or sport there will be questions here to challenge your expertise.
Compiled from programmes past and present, the Radio Times Radio and television Trivia Quiz Book is full of brain-teasing trivia and is certain to give you many hours of puzzling pleasure with your family and friends!

Televisions Greatest Hits

Every Hit Television Programme Since 1960

by Paul Gambaccini & Rod Taylor

In TELEVISION'S GREATEST HITS, best-selling author Paul Gambaccini and television producer Rod Taylor have compiled a complete record of the most successful programmes of the past thirty years. The stories, the stars, the creative talent, dates, times, viewing figures and chart positions are all included, along with photographs from every Number One programme.

Crying With Laughter - An Autobiography

by Bob Monkhouse

Below is a short paragraph from the book. After reading it I just couldn't help myself... For a brief synopsis see the paperback here

"Our attempts to make a second smash series out of Calling All Forces led to only a moderate success with The Forces Show starring Richard Murdoch, Kenneth Horne and Sam Costa. We got one series of twenty-six hours out of that. Another version hosted by Cheerful Charlie Chester and Tony Hancock defeated us. We could write funny stuff for Charlie but Tony hated everything we gave him. 'This,' he shouted during the read-through on the stage of the Garrick Theatre, 'is shit! And it's written on shit paper so I'll take it away and have a shit and wipe my arse with it!' And he actually did just that; please don't ask me how I know. Denis and I surrendered the script-writing job to two new kids on the block, Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. The show still didn't work very well but the team of Tony, Ray and Alan did. The rest is the Hancock Story and enough people have written that."

Grey boards / Maroon inscribed spine

Dancing in the Moonlight

Early Years On The Stage

by Ronnie Barker

This is Ronnie Barker's uproarious, racy and affectionate memoir of the vanished world of the repertory theatre. Dancing in the Moonlight is his droll, wickedly candid autobiography from the moment as a nineteen year old he threw up his steady job in an Oxford bank for a heady affair with the stage.

Maroon boards / Gold inscribed spine

Benny - The True Story

by his best friend Dennis Kirkland with Hilary Bonner

People really loved Benny Hill. People of all sorts, across the world. But was the Benny Hill we saw on the screen, on stage, the real Benny? What was he like to work with, at home? How was he with women - including the long, luscious line of Hill's Angels? Dennis Kirkland knew him better and for longer than anyone, both as his producer for more than twenty years, and as a friend. Benny Hill's work was his life. Only someone who shared that with him could understand him fully. Here is Benny Hill, the public performer and the private man...

'The funniest comedian in the world. My all time hero' Michael Jackson
'I only want to do two things. I want to sing with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and I want to go to a Benny Hill rehearsal' Frank Sinatra

Just Williams - An Autobiography

by Kenneth Williams

Kenneth Williams was one of the great institutions of British entertainment. For nearly forty years his inimitable performances on stage, screen and radio delighted audiences around the world, and his autobiography recalls the most memorable moments from this time.
Barrack-room life in Singapore, post-war repertory, his roles in revue and on the London stage of the fifties and sixties, his famous cameos in great radio shows such as Hancock’s Half Hour, Round the Horne and Just a Minute, his friendships with people such as Ingrid Bergman, Maggie Smith, Orson Welles, Noel Coward, Joe Orton, Stanley Baxter and Gordon Jackson - all these are described with his special brand of humour and intelligence.

‘Fascinating ... amiable, intelligent, and full of good stories’ John Lahr, TLS

‘Exceptionally well written ... laughs to be had in plenty’ Paul Bailey, OBSERVER

A Divided Life - Memoirs

by Bryan Forbes

It would be a mistake to describe this mordant, though often wildly funny, odyssey as just another show business autobiography, for, as might be expected, Bryan Forbes tells his story with the directness and honesty that have characterised his divided life as an actor, author and film maker of distinction...

'Fresh, frank, impertinent, personal as well as professional. The reader who wants entertainment and the film buff who seeks information will probably both come away content' Evening Standard

'The memories of a multi-talented, surely likeable man' Daily Telegraph

'Warm and witty' Mail on Sunday

'Frank and funny' Woman's Journal

'Entrancing' Daily Mail

Crying With Laughter - The Acclaimed Autobiography

by Bob Monkhouse

Now, for the first time, Bob Monkhouse, one of Britain's most successful and enduring comedians, tells us in his own inimitable style the fascinating and often hilarious story of his life.
From disclosures of painful personal tragedies to extraordinary and uproarious anecdotes about the stars he has known, Bob's confessions are always blisteringly honest, touching - and often shocking.
Crying With Laughter combines heartache with hilarity, sexy showbiz revelations with genuinely moving tales of the hard times, to create a passionate, witty and sparkling account of an extraordinary man's extraordinary life.

It makes a refreshing change to read some real revelations from the life of a true, old-fashioned star' Daily Mirror

'Riveting... packed with cracking true stories' Sun

Crying With Laughter - An Autobiography

by Bob Monkhouse

In this highly acclaimed autobiography, Bob Monkhouse, one of Britain's most successful and enduring comedians, tells us in his own inimitable style the fascinating and often hilarious story of his life. From disclosures of painful personal tragedies to uproarious anecdotes about the stars he has known, Bob's confessions are always blisteringly honest, touching - and often shocking.

Crying With Laughter combines heartache with hilarity, sexy showbiz revelations with genuinely moving tales of hard times, to create a passionate, witty and sparkling account of an extraordinary man's extraordinary life.

'An entertaining and abrasive canter through his up-anddown life... Witty, moving, candid - and very well written' Sunday Express

'Winning... genuinely funny' Sunday Times