A guide to some of the new British comedy related books out for Christmas 2013:

	Through It All I've Always Laughed: Memoirs Of Count Arthur Strong One of the funniest books we've read this year. Count Arthur Strong (Steve Delaney) has published his own autobiography, reminiscing and sharing tales from his exceedingly long career in showbusiness. As you can imagine, this being Arthur the book isn't entirely coherent and a printing 'mistake' means we get Arthur's scribbled notes in the margin too. Details
	The Tim Vine Bumper Book Of Silliness This is a very silly thing to buy... but a near perfect present! Packed with enough jokes and hilarity to blow off your laughter valve including: Finger Archery, Alternative Uses for a Grapefruit, The Adventures of Punslinger, The History of Legs, Sing-a-long with Tim, and Jokes about Hamsters' Feet. Vine needs little introduction - this is a great stocking-filler for the silly gag fan in your life. We're still giggling at Tim's pictures in the book. Details
	Becoming Johnny Vegas From BBC Dickens adaptations to Benidorm and Ideal to the PG Tips ads, Johnny Vegas has become one a much-loved comic actor. But before he'd ever drunk tea with a knitted monkey, Johnny Vegas was one of the most fearless stand-ups this country has ever produced. And before that, an 11 year-old trainee Catholic priest. This autobiography - which has been showered with praise for its honesty - is his story. Details
	The Treasures Of Morecambe & Wise - Bring Me Sunshine There seems to be a new book on Eric, Ernie or the much loved comedy pair each Christmas - but this latest addition to shelves is a little something extra special. Written by Eric's son, Gary, it tells the seemingly entire story of the duo and is absolutely packed with wonderful, rarely seen pictures, and a selection of reproduced documents packed in envelope inserts. Simply delicious. Details
	Frankie Boyle - Scotland's Jesus: The Only Officially Non-racist Comedian The dodgiest title of all the new books. Convering topics from International Politics to the Animal World, Frankie Boyle showcases his increasingly unsympathetic world-view. Boyle uses the stories of the popular press as a springboard to explain his view on the nature of reality and the details of our enslavement to mirthless corporate Warlocks. Details
	The Unbelievable Truth From the creators of the hit Radio 4 panel game about truth and lies, this book contains many of the obscure facts that have appeared since it began back in 2006. Like other books of this kind (such as the new QI book, see below), it is a fun publication that is best read in short bursts. Admittedly some of the facts are false, as anyone who listens to the corrections made on these shows will tell you (see the myth about the naming of the monkey wrench). However, aside from these points, The Unbelievable Truth is a fun read, combined with contributions such as David Mitchell's introduction and Graeme Garden's detailed 'lectures'. Details
	1,339 QI Facts To Make Your Jaw Drop The follow-up to 1,227 QI Facts To Blow Your Socks Off. For over a decade QI has been the smartest comedy show on British television. At QI's very core are astonishing facts: painstakingly researched and distilled to a brilliant and shocking clarity. This new book collects together more than a thousand new and fascinating nuggets of wisdom for your entertainment. Details
	Script (And Scrapped) - Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa The official script for the box-office smash movie, featuring every ruddy word (and stage direction) of Alan's transformation from natural-born broadcaster into fully fledged and occasionally fully dressed hostage negotiator. Contains deleted scenes and an exclusive foreword by star Steve Coogan. Details
	David Jason: My Life The autobiography of sitcom star Sir David Jason (Only Fools And Horses, Open All Hours, Porridge, and much else), which looks set to be one of the most-wanted gifts this Christmas. Its desirability is not harmed one jot by a new Open All Hours special due to go out on Boxing Day, nor by the fact it's just been named Biography of the Year at the National Book Awards 2013. Details
	Jack & Michael Whitehall - Him & Me Him & Me is entertaining and irreverent account of a unique relationship between a father and son. Written in two distinctive styles, it reflects the larger-than-life personalities of its authors, Jack Whitehall and his theatrical agent father, Michael Whitehall. Fans of their current BBC Three chat show, Backchat, will particularly appreciate this one. Details
	Jennifer Saunders - Bonkers: My Life In Laughs Bonkers: My Life In Laughs by Jennifer Saunders is the touching life story of the iconic comedian. From The Comic Strip to Absolutely Fabulous and Mamma Mia, her characters are household names. This is her own personal memoir. Details
	John Bishop - How Did All This Happen? How Did All This Happen? is the autobiography of a boy who, having grown up on a council estate dreaming of ousting Kenny Dalglish from Liverpool FC's starting line-up, suddenly found himself on stage in front of thousands of people nationwide, at an age when he should have known better. Details
	Mrs. Brown's Family Handbook Mrs. Brown's Family Handbook, the first and only official book from Brendan O'Carroll's hit sitcom creation, is a comic guide to keeping a well-run family home. Packed with hints and tips from the comic character herself, readers will learn about cleaning Grandad, the Five-Sausages-A-Day Diet, and correct utilisation of the tea towel - every Mammy's secret weapon. Details
	Funny Way To Be A Hero Comedy historian, biographer and television producer John Fisher published the first edition of this book in 1973 when he was still in his 20s. Tracing the history of comedy through music hall to the stand-ups of today, as well as looking at the mechanics of what makes us laugh, it was the basis of hit C4 documentary series Heroes Of Comedy, and has now been freshly updated. Details
	George Cole: My Autobiography - The World Was My Lobster The World Was My Lobster tells the story of George Cole's more than 70 years in the acting profession that began with a walk-on part at the age of 14 in the stage musical The White Horse Inn in 1939, and continues today having included such roles as David Bliss in radio's A Life Of Bliss, Flash Harry in the St. Trinian's films, and Arthur Daley in television's Minder. Details
	Celebrity Juice - The Book Play Celebrity Juice at home with your very own board game in a book! Fronted by the irrepressible Keith Lemon, ITV2's Celebrity Juice is one of the most popular comedy shows on television, and now fans can recreate and relive its raucous humour in the comfort of their own home. Details
	Eddie Braben's Morecambe & Wise Book Often called the third member of Morecambe & Wise, the late Eddie Braben was the quiet writing genius behind their best-loved jokes, routines and sketches. Here, collected together for the first time, is a celebration of the finest repartee Braben ever penned for the comedy legends. A great read for fans of classic, family comedy. Details
	Mock The Week's Ultimate Panic-Buy! The creative minds behind BBC Two's enduringly popular topical panel game return with another new book this season, packed to the proverbial rafters with 'scenes we'd like to see'. To be honest, these aren't as good as on TV as you don't get the comic delivery. Details
	One Leg Too Few - The Adventures of Peter Cook & Dudley Moore One Leg Too Few by William Cook is the first full-length dual biography of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, and the first to be written with the consent and cooperation of both of their estates. Surely a must-own for any fan of the 1960s' most irreverent comedy duo. Details
	Bad Education - Teachers' Handbook Bad Education - Teachers' Handbook is a new book filled with great content from both the first and second series of the BBC Three sitcom starring Jack Whitehall, from pupils' report cards and the graffiti found in the staff toilets, to Alfie's teaching methods and the best ways to scam a free laptop from the government. Details
	Hello, Darlings! - The Authorised Biography Of Kenny Everett Kenny Everett was a true revolutionary, both on radio - where the direct influence of his jingles and comic presenting style can still be heard across the nation today - and on television, where he was loved by millions. This brand new biography, written with full co-operation of Kenny's family, friends and colleagues, lifts the lid on a much-missed comedy icon. Details
	The Real Mrs. Brown: Brendan O'Carroll - The Authorised Biography Who'd have thought a potty-mouthed Dublin mammy with a cream cardigan and elasticated tan tights could storm British TV screens and leave a nation helpless with laughter? Brendan O'Carroll performs to tens of thousands of people a night in packed-out stadiums across the country. This authorised biography tells the true story of the man behind the mammy. Details
	The Man Who is Mrs.Brown: The Unauthorised Brendan O'Carroll Story We're really not quite sure why anyone's bothered to write or publish this, when the star of the hit sitcom has published his own autobiography at the same time. But, heyho. If you want to get an alternate 'inside' view of the Irish star, order now. Details
	Driving Mr Morecambe - A Chauffeur's Story Michael Fountain became Eric Morecambe's chauffeur in 1969 shortly after the comedian's first heart attack. Originally a postman in Harpenden, he became a driver to earn a little extra cash and gained Eric's trust and respect during the initial BBC-funded first year. Once that year came to an end Eric offered him a full time position as his driver, handyman, house-sitter and friend. Details
	Al Murray: A Memoir - Watching War Films With My Dad Al Murray is best known as the reactionary Pub Landlord, but is in fact highly educated, with a particular interest in military history, and World War II in particular. Growing up in the 1970s, he and his dad visited battlefields rather than sports events, sparking a lifelong obsession. In this brand new memoir Al muses on the war, his upbringing and fascination with military events. Details

See Also:

Stand-Up DVDs


TV and Radio DVDs