Julian Clary – författare

''Been reading this on m''olidays. It''s perfectly ridiculous & also v funny...'' DAWN FRENCH ''Curtain Call To Murder positively explodes with the double-entendres and vicious wit that has become his trademark.'' DAILY EXPRESS ''Utterly hilarious & thrillingly disgusting'' MIRIAM MARGOYLESA murder on stage. A cast full of suspects. Can dresser Jayne unravel the mystery? It is opening night at the London Palladium, and tensions are running high amongst the feuding cast of "Leopard Spots." Amongst them are an ageing lothario, a national treasure, an amateur psychic and a comedian-turned actor all vying for the spotlight.When an on-stage accident forces an unexpected intermission, it is clear only to dresser Jayne that the drama has turned deadly. Can she step out of the wings and identify the killer before it is too late? Or will murder make an encore...Discover the year''s most entertaining, devious and fabulous mystery from author, actor and comedian Julian Clary

The Bold family seems fairly normal: they live in a nice house, the parents have good jobs, and they all love to have fun. One slight difference: they''re hyenas. That''s right—they''re covered in fur, have tails tucked into their clothes, and really, really like to laugh. For years, the Bolds have kept their true identities under wraps. But now the neighbors are getting suspicious, and the Bolds are getting homesick. During a trip to the local wildlife park, they meet an old hyena who is going to be put down, and the Bolds have to act fast to save him—without revealing their secret!

From one of Britain''s best-loved comedians comes this wonderfully funny, sharp and touching memoir and a celebration of the bond between man and dog - an autobidography, if you will.''I loved The Lick of Love. It''s often insightful, sometimes hilarious, frequently filthy - I''m a cat person, but if anything were ever to convince me to get a dog, it would be this'' Joanne Harris''. . . wise and perceptive, and funny and moving. Each dog you meet marks a different chapter of your life and Julian writes about it so BEAUTIFULLY'' Joanna Cannon''A quirky and witty excavation of memory lane in the company of his furry canine friends'' Dame Joan CollinsThe Lick of Love takes us on a tour of Julian''s colourful life - and wherever life has taken him, Julian has had a dog by his side. Fanny the Wonder Dog, who came into Julian''s life when he was somewhat adrift, propelled him up the ranks of the alternative comedy circuit and onto television. Valerie, the whippet cross-breed escorted Julian through his forties, the Germaine Greer to his Bernard Manning. Albert, a jaunty geezer type who was sent to acclimatise Julian to middle age and helped him seduce his now husband, before being joined by naughty but nice Gigi, an unpredictable fur bullet of a dog. These canine characters have been there, bearing witness, on and off stage. Whether writing about encounters in seedy London nightclubs, finding success on television with Sticky Moments, the death of his partner, that Normant Lamont joke, a narrow squeak with a thwarted eastern European plot to kidnap him, his move to the country, or finally settling down, falling in love and getting married, Julian''s unique voice bounces off the page. Ultimately, The Lick of Love is the story of a fascinating life and a love letter to the dogs that have played a loving and near constant part of it. Told with humour and great honesty, this promises to be one of the best memoirs of the year. ''Whatever else is going on, it is the water bowl in the kitchen, the dog hair on my jumper, the knowing gaze from the dog in the basket beside me that comforts me and tells me that all is well.'' JC

It''s summertime, and the Bolds are going camping by the sea, where new adventures await them. Uncle Tony becomes a surfing sensation. The family befriends a chatty puffin with lung trouble and a cougar with a dark past. Bobby must assume yet another disguise, pretending to be the family''s pet dog! But it''s not long before trouble sniffs them out, and Bobby goes missing. Can the Bolds come to the rescue and salvage their vacation, while maintaining their human masquerade?

For once, Teddington''s wildest family have decided to stay at home and keep their heads down. It isn''t always easy hiding tails and fur under clothes, and it''s important not to raise suspicion among their human neighbors. But when a very sly fox starts making a big nuisance of himself, it''s up to the Bolds to stop him.