Julian Clary - Böcker

This is Julian Clary's story, in his own words - the tale of an awkward schoolboy who became a huge worldwide success on stage and screen.After a sheltered suburban upbringing, Julian was sent to St Benedict's, where beatings from 'holy' men gave him some brutal life lessons, and other 'unholy' boys his first awakenings of sexuality. He had just one true friend and ally, Nick - to his other school peers, Julian's aloof demeanour made him an enigma or simply a figure of ridicule. In school he was just another pained adolescent, but inside Julian was a new Jean Genet or Quentin Crisp bursting to get out.Leaving St Benedict's thankfully behind him, Julian went on to college where he found his true vocation as an entertainer with a peculiar comic brand of smut and glamour. At the same time, he was finding as much sex as he could, sometimes with remarkably less-than-glamorous characters.Periods in community theatre and the singing telegram industry followed before Julian hit the big time with cabaret co-star Fanny the Wonder Dog as The Joan Collins Fan Club. Soon, the world was his oyster. But fame came at a price, as Julian struggled not only with the reality of being a high-profile gay man in the 1980s but also the pain of losing his lover to terminal illness.Far more than just another celebrity autobiography or 'funny book', this is a touching, beautifully written and wryly witty account of a unique progression from shy child to comedy icon.

Whoever said the afterlife would be easy...? The new inhabitants of an old house in deepest darkest Kent are about to discover the previous owner - a certain Mr Noel Coward - never quite left the building...It is a wickedly dark ghost story about love, scandals and things that go bump in the night.

'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 to the stars and true crime obsessive 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 foul-mouthed national treasure, 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 to the stars Jayne that the backstage 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.

'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 to the stars and true crime obsessive 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 foul-mouthed national treasure, 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 to the stars Jayne that the backstage 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.

'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

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

New edition with a BOLD new look and featuring exclusive new contentMr and Mrs Bold are just like you and me: they live in a nice house, they have jobs, and they love to have a bit of a giggle. One slight difference: they're hyenas. Yes, that's right - they're covered in fur, have tails tucked into their trousers, and they really, really like to laugh. So far, the Bolds have managed to keep things under wraps, even when their children Bobby and Betty were born. But the nosy man next door smells a rat (or a hyena), and a trip to the local wildlife park, and the brilliantly wacky heist that results, could be the end of Teddington's best-kept secret. Whatever will the neighbours think?

The Bolds are a family of hyenas living as humans in a suburban house. But now their kindness to animal waifs and strays has become legendary - more and more animals keep turning up to stay! Roger the sheep flocks to their house, and Fifi the poodle turns up to learn some new tricks, whilst Sheila the crocodile decides to stay for a while.But have the Bolds bitten off more they can chew when they take in a couple of race horses who are on the run?

It's the summer holidays, and the hairiest family in Teddington decide to take a holiday by the seaside. But it's never long before trouble sniffs these hyenas out, and Bobby is mistaken for a pup and snatched by a wicked dognapper. The Bolds will need all their ingenuity to hunt her down. But can these hyenas-in-disguise save the day, without letting the cat out of the bag...?‘I wish we lived next door to the Bolds!’ Davina McCall

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 amongst their human neighbours. But trouble soon comes skulking when a very sly fox starts making a big nuisance of himself. It's up to the Bolds to try and stop him - but the solution has them foxed...

The Bolds are visited by Fred's mother, Granny Imamu. She's travelled all the way from the Serengeti, she does not approve of what she finds: hyenas, living as people! Granny Imamu starts to stir up mischief with the twins, encouraging them to get in touch with their beastly side at school. And then the twins' teacher comes to the Bolds with a rather unusual problem: her grown-up son Jeffrey just isn't like other people. He's rather hairy, doesn't much like to talk, and loves to monkey about. If animals can become people, could it happen the other way around . . . ?

Enjoy a festive treat from Teddington's wildest family - packed with jokes, puzzles and activities!Who hides in the bakery at Christmas?A mince spy!What happened to the hyena who swallowed an Oxo cube?He made a laughing stock of himself!Merry Christmas! The Bolds are back with a bumper book of jolly japes. It's packed with rib-tickling jokes and puzzles including wordsearches, crosswords, mazes, riddles and spot the differences to keep kids entertained long after the Christmas presents are unwrapped!