This amazing series tells the childhood spent in the slums of Liverpool during the Depression of the ’30s and the long years story of a of WWII. Helen’s untiring struggles make this a story of amazing courage and perserverance.
Discover Sir Ranulph Twistelton-Wykham-Fiennes’s personal expedition to trace his extraordinary family through the twists and turns of history. From Charlemagne - himself a direct ancestor of the author - to the count who very nearly persuaded William the Conqueror to retreat at Hastings, many members of this unique clan have lived close to the nerve centre of the ruler of their day. They number in their ranks a murderer, a wife poisoner, a poacher, England’s greatest female traveller of the 17th century, and an extortionist Lord High Treasurer, teen cousins who eloped, a noble lord hanged for manslaughter, another hanged for adultery with the King’s wife, and many who, as admirals or major-generals, won famous battles.
Writing with the warmth and humor that have made her so popular, Coleen describes her eventful life, from joining her sisters’ band The Nolans when she was only nine to growing up in the spotlight as they went on to chart-topping success around the world. Coleen also reveals how she coped with her tumultuous marriage to television star Shane Richie and how, after they split she was left a single parent struggling to get through each day. She landed the job of presenter on “This Morning” and was just finding her feet when she was sacked, plunging her into depression as she lost all confidence.
A way out finally came in the form of chat show “Loose Women”, where Coleen reclaimed her place in the nation’s hearts. Today she is happily married and an inspiration to women everywhere who believed their ‘best days’ were behind them. Entertaining, funny and shockingly honest, this book is sure to appeal to her many fans old and new.
‘People ask me how come I’m still alive, and I don’t know what to say. When I was growing up, if you’d have put me up against a wall with the other kids from my street and asked me which one of us was gonna make it to the age of sixty, with five kids and four grandkids and houses in Buckinghamshire and California, I wouldn’t have put money on me, no f**king way. But here I am: ready to tell my story, in my own words, for the first time. A lot of it ain’t gonna be pretty. I’ve done some bad things in my time. But I ain’t the devil. I’m just John Osbourne: a working class kid from Aston, who quit his job in the factory and went looking for a good time.’
Sir Bobby Charlton is widely acknowledged as the greatest player ever to wear an England shirt. He won a record number of caps and scored a record number of goals. Here, in the second volume of his bestselling autobiography, Sir Bobby talks in detail about his phenomenal career with England.
During the 22 years he played for his country, he was involved in some of the greatest England games of all time, the 9-3 thrashing of Scotland, the 1962 and 1970 World Cup games against the Brazilians, the classic 1970 World Cup quarter-final against West Germany and, of course, the triumph of the 1966 World Cup.
Here, for the very first time, Sir Bobby talks openly about his international career and his views on the game. From breaking into the squad at 21, to the highs of ‘66 and the lows of ‘70, his story encompasses drama, passion, goals, controversies, classic matches, world-class players, and moments of footballing genius. A truly inspirational story from a true football legend.
Take That have acheived the biggest comeback in British pop history and it seems they are only just beginning. In November 2008, Take That announced a summer tour for 2009 - yet even by their own remarkable standards, the frenzy for tickets was almost hysterical. Within three hours, all 700,000 tickets had been sold, forcing stadiums across Britain to be re-booked for extra dates. This was nothing new - the reformed ‘man band’ had already broken British records for DVD sales, single sales and released the fastest selling album of 2008 with Circus.
They are re-writing all the record books, literally! How have they done it? Why does Britain adore Take That? Take That - Now and Then explores this phenomenon while this new, fully updated edition is also a vast visual bible for all Take That fans. From the band’s first ‘comeback album’, Beautiful World, Take That’s story is brought right up to the present day with full coverage of new singles, new albums, TV appearances, Ivor Novello and Brit Awards, growing families and spectacular stadium gigs. Further, the book will be hugely expanded with scores of colour and black and white photos, as well as rare and unseen memorabilia, ticket stubs, backstage passes, snap shots and studio snippets - taking fans from the early 90s and Robbie all the way to Take That’s current ‘man band’ status. Take That are the UK’s biggest pop band - Now and Then: The Illustrated Story will be a must-have book for their millions of fans.
Lynne Truss, bestselling author of Eats, Shoots and Leaves, spent four years as an unlikely sports writer for The Times. It was a job that took her around the world and introduced her to some of the greatest living sportsmen. This is the hilarious, perceptive and, at times, moving account of those four years and is perfect for those for whom sport is a matter of life and death… and for those who have no idea what all the fuss is about.
Ken Bruce’s morning show on Radio 2 is a national institution, and fans will love reading the story of the man behind the microphone. Featuring stories about hilarious technical mishaps and some of the eccentric characters Ken has come across during his long career, this is a warm and witty read.
In an era of cricketing superstars, ‘Freddie’ Flintoff outshines the rest. His magnificent spell of fast bowling at Lord’s and his electrifying run out of Ricky Ponting at The Oval were major turning points in the recapture of the Ashes by England in 2009. It was victory in the 2005 Ashes series that cemented Flintoff’s place in the nation’s heart, when his match-winning performances helped England regain the Ashes after eighteen years. In Ashes to Ashes he writes not only of his many highlights but also reveals his feelings of frustration during his periods out of the game through ankle and knee injuries, and the anxiety that has followed the major operations he has had to undergo.
Combining both his Manchester United and England playing days, this book focuses on the key incidents in Bobby’s football story - the famous and the less well-known - and is illustrated throughout by rare photographs that bring these stories to life. Providing a remarkable visual commentary, this is a fitting celebration of one of the most popular sporting icons of our time.