Biographies

Discover the brand new, inspirational autobiography from the Only Fools and Horses star and national treasure. 'This time next year, we'll be millionaires' So said Sir David’s iconic Only Fools character, Derek Trotter. But such a dream was almost unimaginable for David growing up in a working-class family in North Finchley in the rubble of the Blitz. Throughout his remarkable career, David's north star for navigating life's challenges has been his positive outlook and his resilience. From a trainee electrician to national treasure, David’s bumpy journey to success has overcome obstacle after obstacle. Candidly revealing the ups, the downs, and the roundabout turns, David’s latest volume of memoirs, This Time Next Year, is an uplifting, entertaining, and inspirational book offering an essential and unvarnished primer to leading a good life. Told with his characteristic warmth and humour, David reveals the hard-won wisdom of a life doggedly led getting through one day, looking to the next, and always chasing what's new on the horizon. Product Information: • ISBN: 9781529944198 • Author: David Jason • Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd • Format: Hardback • Pages: 304 • Dimensions: 24.2 x 16.6 x 3.1cm

The first memoir from the national treasure, critically acclaimed actress and much-loved Gavin and Stacey star. Candice Marie in Nuts in May. Beverly in Abigail’s Party. Mrs Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Betty in Fat Friends. Sue in Here We Go and Pamela in Gavin & Stacey – we can all name a beloved, iconic character brought to life by the magnificent Alison Steadman. Growing up in post-war, working-class Liverpool, the young Alison – ever the entertainer – would address the world from the stage of her bedroom window, until she got a taste for performing in front of an actual audience at her progressive 1960s drama school. By the time she left, her mind was made up: she was going to be an actress! If only she could conquer the onstage giggling … Always pushing boundaries – reclining naked on a sofa in her first role, embracing groundbreaking female characters from day one – Alison has deservedly found acclaim and recognition, succeeding in her TV and theatre career while juggling family life – a difficult feat for any working mother, but particularly for an actress in the twentieth century. From the nervy Mrs Bennet to the robo-dancing Pam-el-aah, Alison has proved herself again and again to be a comedy genius. Here, with her distinctive warmth and humour, she vividly recalls all the must-read moments of a life spent in and out of character. Product Information: • ISBN: 9780008665401 • Author: Alison Steadman • Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers • Format: Hardback • Pages: 320 • Dimensions: 24 x 15.9cm

The explosive new book from Britain’s leading investigative biographer, Tom Bower As one of the most famous and influential couples in the world, David and Victoria Beckham have attained iconic status. The ultimate power couple have together built a multi-billion-dollar global brand. For decades, adoring fans have been captivated by the glamorous world they have created, while their unrivalled fusion of showbiz, fashion, football and celebrity has been cultivated alongside the image of a strong marriage. When the much-trailed Netflix documentary Beckham aired in 2023, viewers were offered an even more intimate insight into their private lives. Produced by the Beckhams themselves, the series raised many questions, not only about their success and personal relationship, but also about the ruthlessly successful management of their image in the media. Are their lives really as perfect as the Beckhams would like the world to believe? Through extensive research, expert sourcing and interviews with insiders, Britain’s most celebrated investigative biographer, Tom Bower, has unearthed a succession of revelations that give surprising insight into the reality of ‘Brand Beckham’. Exploring the couple’s relationship, and the truth about their football and fashion careers, their finances and their new life in Miami, The House of Beckham unravels the extraordinary reality of the business-savvy cultural icons to tell an engrossing, often astonishing story of money, sex and power. Product Information:  • ISBN: 9780008638870 • Author: Tom Bower • Publisher: HarperCollins • Format:  Hardcover • Pages: 384 • Dimensions: 15.9 x 3.8 x 24 cm

The extraordinary life of Cher can be told by only one person … Cher herself. After more than seventy years of fighting to live her life on her own terms, Cher finally reveals her true story in intimate detail, in a two-part memoir. Her remarkable career is unique and unparalleled. The only woman to top Billboard charts in seven consecutive decades, she is the winner of an Academy Award, an Emmy, a Grammy and a Cannes Film Festival Award, and an inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame who has been lauded by the Kennedy Center. She is a longtime activist and philanthropist. As a dyslexic child who dreamed of becoming famous, Cher was raised in often-chaotic circumstances, surrounded by singers, actors and a mother who inspired her in spite of their difficult relationship. With her trademark honesty and humour, Cher: The Memoir traces how this diamond in the rough succeeded with no plan and little confidence to become the trailblazing superstar the world has been unable to ignore for more than half a century. Cher: The Memoir, Part One follows her extraordinary beginnings through childhood to meeting and marrying Sonny Bono – and reveals the highly complicated relationship that made them world-famous, but eventually drove them apart. Cher: The Memoir reveals the daughter, the sister, the wife, the lover, the mother and the superstar. It is a life too immense for only one book. Product Information: • ISBN: 9780008355340 • Author: Cher • Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers • Format: Hardback • Pages: 432 • Dimensions: 24 x 15.9 x 4.3 cm

When 'Never Gonna Give You Up’ propelled Rick Astley into the pop stratosphere, it changed his life forever. Nothing could have prepared the young, unassuming boy from Lancashire for what was in store for him. This is Rick's story – in his own words. At just nineteen, Rick agreed to sign with legendary music producer Pete Waterman – under the wings of music powerhouse Stock Aitken Waterman. Unpredictable, outlandish adventures followed, giving him a peek into the mechanics of the music industry – all of which would eventually take Rick from the shadows of local bands to international stardom. From platinum-selling albums to worldwide tours, the world was at Rick’s feet. And then, suddenly, at what seemed like the height of fame, it wasn’t. At twenty-seven, Rick retired himself from the industry that had brought him much success and financial stability. Behind the hits and the glitz and glamour was a young man coming to terms with his new-found fame, the realities of life in the pop-music machine and the pressures of life on the road, not to mention reconciling with his childhood spent between his divorced parents in a volatile family dynamic. Time out of the industry offered Rick room for much-needed reflection and therapy – and unknowingly helped to set the stage for his triumphant return to music. Balancing nostalgia, fresh perspectives and introspection, with a good dose of northern humour, Never is an intimate look at the man behind the hits – and is a portrait of truth, artistic evolution and the astounding power of contentment. Product Information: • ISBN: 9781035049394 • Author: Rick Astley • Publisher: Macmillan Distribution Limited • Format: Hardback • Pages: 304 • Dimensions: 24.3 x 16.3 x 3cm

Introducing our Book of the Week! Each week we personally recommend a trending title that we're super excited about. Want to find a bestselling book worthy of a spot on your bookshelf? Then look no further… An inspirational and hilarious autobiography by music chart-topping, social media sensations LadBaby, AKA Mark and Roxanne Hoyle, telling the unbelievable, drama-filled story of how they became the nation’s favourite family and the rollercoaster highs and lows of their life. LadBaby have millions of fans around the world, but the journey to success has been anything but easy. For the first time ever, LadBaby will pull back the curtain to share the truth about how they came from nothing, raised millions for charities and achieved success – against all odds. A working-class family who started off living on £20 a week and ultimately became record-breaking musicians, household celebrities and bestselling children’s authors, together Mark and Roxanne have overcome dyslexia, music industry rejection, death threats, betrayal and more – and now they’re ready to tell their sausage roll-filled story. From childhood stories, Mark and Rox’s first meeting, their reaction when Mark’s first video went viral, and the moment they learned they had a Christmas no 1 single; to becoming parents and discussing sausage rolls with Ed Sheeran and Elton John – LadBaby share all the major moments in their lives to date, including the crazy highs and tumultuous lows. Now is the perfect time for fans to hear their full story for the first time, in their own words, along with never-before-seen photos. Product Information: • ISBN: 9781408734186 • Author: Mark Hoyle & Roxanne Hoyle • Publisher: Little Brown • Format: Hardback • Pages: 352 • Dimensions: 24.2 x 15.8 x 4.2 cm

'This book is my love letter to the UK, and a celebration of all of the things that I have come to adore, from its food and wine to its history and villages. Vive les Anglais!' This is what (a lot of) the French think about the UK: the food is bland and boring the wine is undrinkable it's always raining and grey the British don't have sex they're meek, mild and reserved they've got no sense of style they're arrogant And anyway, who would want to swap a juicy steak au poivre for deep fried cod and chips? Fred Sirieix would. Ever since he boarded a P&O ferry bound for Dover with a one-way ticket and just two suitcases, he has been in love with the UK. Working as a waiter at the famous three-Michelin-starred restaurant La Tante Claire in Chelsea aged just 20, he learned English, met people from all walks of life, and went dancing until dawn. It was glorious madness. His appetite for life propelled him to sample everything this country could offer: culture, travel, drink and food… always food. From the pastel-coloured beach huts on the Southwold Promenade to the coast of Oban; from stumbling across Stonehenge to strolling past St Paul's Cathedral; from the explosive first taste of salt and vinegar crisps to being introduced to Indian curries; and from deciphering regional expressions to loving a woman say 'je t'aime' like Jane Birkin – this is Fred's mission to debunking French myths about the Brits. Product Information: • ISBN: 9781526678690 • Author: Fred Sirieix • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc • Format: Hardback • Pages: 288 • Dimensions: 23.42 x 15.32 x 1.45cm