Miles Jupp gets three-book publishing deal

The News Quiz. Miles Jupp. Copyright: BBC

Publisher Headline has announced three books by Miles Jupp.

The comic, actor, and News Quiz host will pen the books for publication over each of the following three years.

The first book, due for publication in 2017, will be a fictional autobiographical memoir of his comic character Damien Trench, the gay cookery writer at the heart of Jupp's Radio 4 sitcom In And Out Of The Kitchen.

Egg and Soldiers: A Childhood Memoir (with postcards from the present) is available to pre-order now ahead of its 27th July publication date, in both hardbook and ebook formats.

The second book in the deal, due for release in 2018, will be a novel, with a non-fiction title following in 2019.

Jupp says: "I am really enjoying writing this luxury, high-end and ultimately expensive book. Damien has an appalling tendency to go off at tangents, but I'm doing my best to rein him in where possible and happily mining the rich seam of anxiety and confusion of his formative years. Whatever obstacles the past and present world throw up, his passion for good food, done well, remains undimmed. And there'll be recipes. Probably."

Richard Roper, the publisher's Commissioning Editor, said: "Miles is a supremely talented writer and I am truly excited that he will first be delving into Damien Trench's early years to explore how such pivotal moments as the 'Swiss Cottage Poo Incident' set him on the path to becoming the respected broadcaster, author and all round good egg he is today."


Damien Trench - Egg & Soldiers: A Childhood Memoir

Miles Jupp (The News Quiz presenter, star of Rev., I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue and The Thick Of It) delves into the mind of his comedy creation Damien Trench - urbane food writer and protagonist of BBC Radio 4's acclaimed sitcom In And Out Of The Kitchen.

'I have just had one of those absolutely mad mornings when you go out to have a browse at tagines and end up coming home with a brand new gas ring expander. I think I was probably as surprised as anybody. Sometimes life is just like that, isn't it?'

Damien Trench is one of the most well-respected cookery writers working today. But what were the formative experiences that sent him on the path to such culinary acclaim? In Egg and Soldiers, Damien opens up for the first time about his childhood - from the blissful early years playing with wooden cookery sets at 'Tiny Steps' nursery, to adolescent struggles (The Swiss Cottage Poo incident and subsequent therapy, a panic attack in a petting zoo, having a clever older sister), to catering college and falling in love with food.

Along the way there are postcards from the present, as Damien relates astute observations on the trials of modern life, illuminating conversations with his partner Anthony, and thought-provoking anecdotes from food festivals and the like. At last, the lid has been lifted on one of the most interesting voices in modern cookery writing. (And there are recipes, too.)

First published: Thursday 7th September 2017

  • Publisher: Headline
  • Pages: 304
  • Catalogue: 9781472239914

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  • Published: Thursday 8th February 2018
  • Publisher: Headline
  • Pages: 304
  • Catalogue: 9781472239907

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Not in the UK?

Fear not! Many items can still be ordered. Amazon in the UK delivers to many international territories, whilst their Australia, USA and Canada stores also supply many equivalent or imported items.

If you are in the North America, look out for US/Canadian flag icons on popular product listings for direct links.

If you order from a UK store, please note that the UK is in Region 2 and B, respectively, for DVDs and Blu-rays - check your player's compatibility, or look for multi-region products if you are located in another region.

If you are in Australia or New Zealand (DVD Region 4), note that almost all DVDs distributed in the UK by the BBC and 2entertain are encoded for both Region 2 and Region 4. The UK and Australasia are in the same Blu-ray region (B).

Miles Jupp - History

A satirical, tragicomic story about a man on the edge, from actor and comedian Miles Jupp. For readers of Jonathan Coe, Mark Watson, Michael Frayn and David Nicholls.

Clive Hapgood is feeling stuck. The private school he teaches at is consuming his life, no thanks to wretched headteacher Timothy Crouch. The gentle country life Clive envisaged has stifled him and left his marriage on the brink. What he needs is a holiday - something to remind him and Helen what life used to be like. But when things don't go to plan, and an incident at school begins to weigh heavy on his head, Clive's life starts to unravel in front of him. Has he got it in him to turn things around, whatever the cost? After all, it's his own time he's wasting...

First published: Thursday 19th August 2021

  • Publisher: Headline
  • Pages: 320
  • Catalogue: 9781472239952

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BCG may earn commission on sales generated through the links above.

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Not in the UK?

Fear not! Many items can still be ordered. Amazon in the UK delivers to many international territories, whilst their Australia, USA and Canada stores also supply many equivalent or imported items.

If you are in the North America, look out for US/Canadian flag icons on popular product listings for direct links.

If you order from a UK store, please note that the UK is in Region 2 and B, respectively, for DVDs and Blu-rays - check your player's compatibility, or look for multi-region products if you are located in another region.

If you are in Australia or New Zealand (DVD Region 4), note that almost all DVDs distributed in the UK by the BBC and 2entertain are encoded for both Region 2 and Region 4. The UK and Australasia are in the same Blu-ray region (B).

Published: Wednesday 19th October 2016

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