Awight Now: Setting the Record Straight - Rilegato

Barrymore, Michael

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 0743295544 ISBN 13: 9780743295543

Casa editrice: Simon & Schuster Ltd, 2006

Riassunto

Michael Barrymore is one of Britain's favourite entertainers. His appearances on Saturday night TV in the 1980s and 90s were unforgettable and the relationship he built with the audience unique. However, following the tragic death of Stuart Lubbock in Michael's swimming pool in 2001, his career ground to a halt. AWIGHT NOW is Michael's story. He takes us through his rollercoaster life, from his poor London childhood, his work as a Butlin's Redcoat, through to TV and tabloid fame. At the height of his popularity, he suffered increasing alcohol problems and split from his wife of twenty years, Cheryl. In the fall-out, he admitted that he was homosexual and endured horrendous press intrusion into his private life. Then in 2001, came the terrible death of Stuart Lubbock. Michael tells of his despair following the tragedy and how his world fell apart. Despite tabloid rumours, Michael had no involvement with the death and has never been arrested or charged. Since 2001, Michael has endured some dark moments but through determination and the love of his friends, he is now picking up the pieces. His remarkable TV comeback on Celebrity Big Brother has catapulted him back into the spotlight and assured him that the British public want him back. Michael is touring the UK in autumn 2006 as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.

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Recensione

'I read Michael Barrymore's book all in one go. He describes his life as if watching himself in a car crash, and it's riveting. As compelling a study as any of showbusiness Babylon. The book is something he can be proud of'
Observer
'A really big rollercoaster ride'
Sharon Osbourne
'It is hard to imagine a more dramatic fall from showbiz grace. The litany of Michael Barrymore's disgraces makes for compelling reading: his clumsy 'self-outing,' messy divorce, drink and drug addictions, accusations of rape... oh, and the corpse, according to the pathologist's report, with 'severe wounding around its anus', found floating in his swimming pool. With materila like this, a memoir was never going to be dull.
Awight Now is pretty much what you would expect. At its best, it is as morbidly fascinating as the decline of his career. The account of his public persona growing out of control is arfully told. At its worst, it's a self-indulgent and lightly embarrassing outpouring - a 300-page transcription of one of the AA confessions Barrymore documents. However, this is one of the rare books of its genre actually written by its subject, a fact we are reminded of by repeeated references to the healing powers of writing. As such, its strength lies in an engaging sincerity that acts as a counterpoint to the hyper-active comedian we know so well'
Observer 12/11
'A grimly compelling trip to hell and back that begins in Bermondsey, south London, and ends in New Zealand'
Sunday Telegraph 26/11

'Has all the ingredients you need for a celebrity memoir. The crises keep coming: he discovers that he's gay in good time, but marries anyway; his wife is an extraordinary character in her own right; the situation leads him to drink and drugs; he has to win his public back after this; and then one night Stuart Lubbock, a man he'd never met before, is found dead in his swimming pool....as Barrymore said to Galloway in the Big Brother house, "I've been called everything. But whatever you say, you can't hurt me any more than I've been hurt." I believe him'
Daily Telegraph 9/12

Dalla seconda/terza di copertina

Michael Barrymore is one of Britain's favourite entertainers. His regular appearances on Saturday night TV were unforgettable and the rapport he built with audiences remains unique. Following those heady days, Michael's life and career has been a rollercoaster ride. Much has been written about his rise and fall but now, for the first time, Michael tells his breathtakingly honest story in his own words.
In AWIGHT NOW, Michael takes us from his humble London childhood with an alcoholic father, his work as a Butlin's Redcoat, through his marriage to Cheryl, to the peak of his extraordinary TV fame. Michael's big break came in 1975 when he won the TV talent show New Faces. From then on, he became a familiar and well-loved face and attracted huge ratings with his shows Barrymore, Strike it Lucky (which ran for nine series and attracted seventeen million viewers), My Kind of People, My Kind of Music and Kids Say the Funniest Things. He has won thirteen National Television Awards including a Special Recognition Award and a raft of other awards including Most Popular Comedy Performer, Best Entertainment Show and Top ITV Entertainment Presenter for three years running at the British Comedy Awards.
Despite phenomenal success, Michael began suffering increasing alcohol and drug problems. In 1997 he finally split from Cheryl, his wife of eighteen years. In the fall-out, he admitted that he was gay and endured horrendous press intrusion into his private life. Then, in 2001, a tragic accident at his home finally forced him to overcome his personal demons and change his life forever. Michael tells of his despair following the tragedy and how his world fell apart. Despite tabloid questions into his role in the incident, it was found that Michael was not involved.

Since 2001, Michael has endured some dark moments but through sheer determination and the love of his family and friends, he is back. His successful return to TV on Celebrity Big Brother in 2006 catapulted him back into the spotlight and the continued loyal support from the public has encouraged him to revive his career.
In AWIGHT NOW, Michael Barrymore reveals the true highs of wealth, fame and adulation as well as the desperate lows of addiction, tragedy and depression. It is the revealing inside story of one of Britain's best-loved and most popular entertainers.
ichael Barrymore was born in Bermondsey, London, in 1952. His award-winning TV shows, Barrymore, My Kind of People and Strike It Lucky ensured his status as one of Britain's most endearing comedy geniuses. Michael Barrymore lives in London and New Zealand.

Dettagli dell?edizione

• Editore: Simon & Schuster Ltd
• Data di pubblicazione: 2006
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0743295544
• ISBN 13: 9780743295543
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Numero di pagine: 304
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: Simone Casetta; 0039 275422215; casetta@mondadori.it; ; Via Mondadori 1,; Segrate Milano; 20090; Italia