Celia Imrie – författare

___________________'A funny, spirited read' - Daily Mail'A hugely enjoyable romp of a novel' - Katie Fforde'Utterly delicious in every way' - Joanna Lumley___________________Forced into early retirement, fed-up of babysitting her grandchildren and desperate to shake-up her life, Theresa sells up and leaves London behind for the sun-drenched, picture-perfect town of Bellevue-sur-Mer, just outside Nice.Once the hideaway of artists and writers, Bellevue-sur-Mer is now home to the odd movie star, and as Theresa soon discovers, a close-knit set of foreign expats. Surrounded by beautiful villas, bustling cafes and shimmering cerulean sea, she falls headfirst into new found friendships and freedom. But first impressions can be deceiving. And as skeletons start to fall out of several closets, Theresa finds herself wondering whether life on the French Riviera is really quite as nice as it seems…___________________ Praise for the Nice series…‘Her work has definite joie de vivre’ - Wendy Holden, Daily Mail‘Hugely enjoyable’ - Katie Fforde‘Utterly delicious’ - Joanna Lumley‘Warm, light-hearted, fast-paced’ - Joanne Harris‘Hugely entertaining’ - Julian Fellowes‘Such a charming romp’ - Fern Britton‘A shaft of early summer sunshine’ - Daily Mail'A delicious piece of entertainment' - The Times

'Days seem so exhilarating aboard a ship: surrounded by water, an ever-changing spectrum of blues, greys and black, the sky surrounds you like a great bowl. The colours change from Prussian blue, speckled with turquoise, white horses, to fifty shades of grey, with the horizon a thin silver line and a Biblical display of golden sunrays, spilling down.'For Celia Imrie, travel is not simply a passion, it's a way of life. She is never happier than when on the move.Jump on board with Celia as she journeys back in time and shares the most memorable adventures of her life, riding ocean waves and iconic railways around the world. From tours across Australia with Glenda Jackson, Arctic quests in search of the Northern lights and chaotic cross-country journeys through Europe; to rolling through America's sweeping plains on Amtrak, glamorous voyages on the Queen Mary 2, and unforgettable trips on India's legendary trains.All told with Celia's signature wit and humour, the journeys may be long, but they are never dull - especially when her travel companion Fidelis Morgan is in tow. Drama seems to follow the two actors wherever they go.Richly observed and full of charm, this is a love letter to adventure, friendship and the enduring joy that rewards curiosity.

'Days seem so exhilarating aboard a ship: surrounded by water, an ever-changing spectrum of blues, greys and black, the sky surrounds you like a great bowl. The colours change from Prussian blue, speckled with turquoise, white horses, to fifty shades of grey, with the horizon a thin silver line and a Biblical display of golden sunrays, spilling down.'For Celia Imrie, travel is not simply a passion, it's a way of life. She is never happier than when on the move.Jump on board with Celia as she journeys back in time and shares the most memorable adventures of her life, riding ocean waves and iconic railways around the world. From tours across Australia with Glenda Jackson, Arctic quests in search of the Northern lights and chaotic cross-country journeys through Europe; to rolling through America's sweeping plains on Amtrak, glamorous voyages on the Queen Mary 2, and unforgettable trips on India's legendary trains.All told with Celia's signature wit and humour, the journeys may be long, but they are never dull - especially when her travel companion Fidelis Morgan is in tow. Drama seems to follow the two actors wherever they go.Richly observed and full of charm, this is a love letter to adventure, friendship and the enduring joy that rewards curiosity.

___________________'A delicious piece of entertainment' - The Times'A very witty novel by a very witty woman. Hugely entertaining' - Julian Fellowes'If you're not already on holiday reading this, it will make you want to pack your bags!' - Best___________________Nestled between the glitz and glamour of Monte Carlo and Cannes, lies the quaint little town of Bellevue-Sur-Mer. It’s home to a group of expat friends who, having found freedom from tiresome families and bad weather, have grand plans to open a bustling new restaurant in this slice of heaven by the sea. All appears to be going swimmingly but as the buzz of the nearby Cannes Film Festival spills over into Bellevue-Sur-Mer, the friends soon find themselves at the centre of complex love triangles and conflicting business interests, which could spell disaster for everything they’ve worked for.Racing to get the restaurant open on time, the friends soon realise they can no longer tell whose nasty… and whose nice.___________________Praise for the Nice series…‘Her work has definite joie de vivre’ - Wendy Holden, Daily Mail‘Hugely enjoyable’ - Katie Fforde‘Utterly delicious’ - Joanna Lumley‘Warm, light-hearted, fast-paced’ - Joanne Harris‘Hugely entertaining’ - Julian Fellowes‘Such a charming romp’ - Fern Britton‘A shaft of early summer sunshine’ - Daily Mail'A delicious piece of entertainment' - The Times

__________________'Anything written by Celia Imrie is guaranteed to put a smile on our faces and her latest book is no exception' - Good Housekeeping'A dashing roller coaster. She is extraordinary' - Joanna Lumley'A very witty woman. Hugely entertaining' - Julian Fellowes__________________The deliciously witty, irresistible new novel from the top ten Sunday Times bestselling author of Not Quite Nice follows the exploits of two women on an Atlantic cruise ship.The phone hasn’t rung for months. Suzy Marshall is discovering that work can be sluggish for an actress over sixty – even for the former star of a 1980s TV series. So when she’s offered the plum role of Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest in Zurich, it seems like a godsend. Until, that is, the play is abruptly cancelled in suspicious circumstances, and Suzy is forced to take a job on a cruise ship to get home.Meanwhile Amanda Herbert finds herself homeless in rainy Clapham. Her flat purchase has fallen through, and her children are absorbed in their own dramas. Then she spots an advertisement for an Atlantic cruise, and realises a few weeks on-board would tide her over – and save her money – until the crisis is solved.As the two women set sail on a new adventure, neither can possibly predict the strange characters and dodgy dealings they will encounter – nor the unexpected rewards they will reap.Vividly evoking the old-world glamour of a cruise ship – and the complex politics of its staff quarters – Sail Away is at once a hilarious romp and a thrilling tale of intrigue, from the acclaimed pen of Celia Imrie.

___________________‘Anything written by Celia Imrie is guaranteed to put a smile on your face’ - Good Housekeeping___________________The beautiful town of Bellevue-sur-Mer, tucked between glitzy Monte Carlo and the plush red carpets of Cannes, is home to Theresa, Carol, William, Benjamin and Sally: five retired expats who have pooled their resources to set up La Mosaïque, a divine little restaurant.But there is trouble in paradise: the friends are desperately struggling to make ends meet, and when the much hoped for sale of their Picasso mosaic falls through they realise it will take every bit of their talent and gumption to save La Mosaïque…The witty and enchanting third novel from the well-loved actress and Sunday Times­-bestselling author of Not Quite Nice and Nice Work (If You Can Get It), perfect for fans of Katie Fforde and Fern Britton___________________Praise for the Nice series…‘Her work has definite joie de vivre’ - Wendy Holden, Daily Mail‘Hugely enjoyable’ - Katie Fforde‘Utterly delicious’ - Joanna Lumley‘Warm, light-hearted, fast-paced’ - Joanne Harris‘Hugely entertaining’ - Julian Fellowes‘Such a charming romp’ - Fern Britton‘A shaft of early summer sunshine’ - Daily Mail'A delicious piece of entertainment' - The Times

THE ENTERTAINING, UPLIFTING STORY OF CELEBRITY TRAITORS STAR CELIA IMRIE'S ACTING LIFE: A MUST-READ Readers LOVE The Happy Hoofer:'Very interesting book from the beginning to the end, witty, funny, entertaining' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Full of pieces that make you giggle out loud . . . hard to put down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A highly interesting read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ -------'I've always been wilful... I've always been stubborn and always determined'One of our best-loved actors, Celia Imrie would rather have been a dancer. As a child she planned to join the Royal Ballet and marry Rudolf Nureyev. Now she has become one of our finest and funniest performers, on stage, TV and screen - adored for her roles in Acorn Antiques and dinnerladies, as well as films including Calendar Girls and Nanny McPhee.In her hugely entertaining autobiography Celia Imrie recounts a life hurtling (not always intentionally) into adventures both on stage and off. Whether it's finding herself on stage with half the scenery stuck to her cardigan, or being kidnapped on her way to location, somehow she emerges from the chaos unscathed.Acting, she admits, is a mad, chaotic profession and it is her refreshing honesty, sense of mischief, fun and almost unruffled determination in the face of it all that makes this autobiography a never-ending delight.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERThe story of a mother's quest to find her children against all odds, set against the epic backdrop of the sinking of the legendary Titanic.‘Smashing . . . I was hooked on page one and literally could not put it down. I loved all that she wrote about the true story behind this thrilling tale’ JOANNA LUMLEYNice, France, 1911: After three years of marriage, young seamstress Marcela Caretto has finally had enough. Her husband, Michael, an ambitious tailor, has become cruel and controlling and she determines to get a divorce.But while awaiting the judges’ decision on the custody of their two small boys, Michael receives news that changes everything.Meanwhile fun-loving New York socialite Margaret Hays is touring Europe with some friends. Restless, she resolves to head home aboard the most celebrated steamer in the world – RMS Titanic.As the ship sets sail for America, carrying two infants bearing false names, the paths of Marcela, Michael and Margaret cross - and nothing will ever be the same again.From the Sunday Times-bestselling author, Celia Imrie, Orphans of the Storm dives into the waters of the past to unearth a sweeping, epic tale of the sinking of the Titanic that radiates with humanity and hums with life._____________________'Gripping . . . An epic adventure' ROSIE GOODWIN'A gripping read' DAILY MIRROR, Summer reads

***FROM CELIA IMRIE: STAR OF CELEBRITY TRAITORS ON BBC ONE!***‘Walking in time with the beat, clapping her hands, clicking her fingers. How could anyone resist the urge to dance? Dot swirled her Red Cross cape in time with the rhythm.’London, 1944. The air raid sirens are blaring, bombers are hovering. The war with Germany has been raging for four years and there’s no sign of peace coming.Dot Gallagher is newly arrived from Liverpool and working as a nurse. During an air strike, she encounters an enthralling group of American GIs who tell her all about Rainbow Corner, a social club for US troops in Piccadilly – it’s a wartime oasis where they can forget their fears, fall in and out of love and dance the nights away.It’s here that Dot finds a new best friend in Lilly. And together, against the stark realities of war, they must learn to face their fears, uncover secrets and discover the true meaning of love.Praise for Meet Me At Rainbow Corner:'From the first to the last page, I was captivated by this brilliant novel, and simply didn't want it to end' - Jenny Ashcroft'Hugely enjoyable and meticulously researched… A must for anyone who likes wartime novels with a difference' - Rosie Goodwin'A beautiful book about friendship, romance and courage set against a background of war and peril. I loved it' - Sue Cleaver'Utterly charming and engrossing' - Joanna Lumley‘A deeply evocative snapshot of the experiences of a group of feisty and determined women, who became GI Brides in World War 2' - Fiona Valpy

London, 1944. The air raid sirens are blaring, the bombers are hovering. England has been at war with Germany for four years, and there's no sign of peace coming. Dot Gallagher, newly arrived from Liverpool to offer her services as a nurse, hurries from her Red Cross hostel to the tube station to join the crowds of people taking shelter. A group of GIs have started dancing around a wind-up gramophone, and it doesn't take long for Dot to join them. As she jives along with one of the American soldiers, he tells her about Rainbow Corner, a social club in Piccadilly for US troops. There is always a demand for dance hostesses there, women who know how to jitterbug and rock'n'roll, to dance with the soldiers. Would Dot like to apply? As Dot discovers, Rainbow Corner is like no other place, an oasis in London where, once inside, the constraints of wartime Britain disappear. There is no rationing, all luxuries are available, including a constant stream of donuts, chewing gum and cola. There are restaurants and cafes, boxing matches and movies, and, much to Dot's delight, a huge dance hall. Rather like an Embassy, Rainbow Corner is essentially a plot of America in central London. It is there that Dot becomes firm friends with many of the other hostesses, and in particular with Lilly, who works for the Colonel. Meet Me at Rainbow Corner follows the lives of Dot, Lilly and their friends, as they dance the nights away, fall in and out of love, and navigate the horrors of war. Lilly goes on a secret mission with her Colonel to France, and Dot becomes pregnant and returns to Liverpool. When the war is over, they are re-united, having travelled by boat to the US with countless other war brides to meet their repatriated fiances again. Along the way, they uncover a case of inside espionage and learn the true meaning of love.

***FROM CELIA IMRIE: STAR OF CELEBRITY TRAITORS ON BBC ONE!***‘Walking in time with the beat, clapping her hands, clicking her fingers. How could anyone resist the urge to dance? Dot swirled her Red Cross cape in time with the rhythm.’London, 1944. The air raid sirens are blaring, bombers are hovering. The war with Germany has been raging for four years and there’s no sign of peace coming.Dot Gallagher is newly arrived from Liverpool and working as a nurse. During an air strike, she encounters an enthralling group of American GIs who tell her all about Rainbow Corner, a social club for US troops in Piccadilly – it’s a wartime oasis where they can forget their fears, fall in and out of love and dance the nights away.It’s here that Dot finds a new best friend in Lilly. And together, against the stark realities of war, they must learn to face their fears, uncover secrets and discover the true meaning of love.Praise for Meet Me At Rainbow Corner:'From the first to the last page, I was captivated by this brilliant novel, and simply didn't want it to end' - Jenny Ashcroft'Hugely enjoyable and meticulously researched… A must for anyone who likes wartime novels with a difference' - Rosie Goodwin'A beautiful book about friendship, romance and courage set against a background of war and peril. I loved it' - Sue Cleaver'Utterly charming and engrossing' - Joanna Lumley‘A deeply evocative snapshot of the experiences of a group of feisty and determined women, who became GI Brides in World War 2' - Fiona Valpy