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Alan Davies was always a hoarder. Not much that came out of his bedroom made it into the bin, never mind the uninvented bin liner. But this ‘rubbish’ sums up an era… Nostalgic and laugh-out-loud funny, My Favourite People and Me is an affectionate trip through a surburban childhood and an Eighties education. Blending genuine enthusiasm with touching personal revelations, this is an intimate portrait of one of Britain’s leading comedians.

From a wartime beach in Wales to the gleaming skyscrapers of 21st century Manhattan, the extraordinary career of Fleet Street legend Harold Evans has spanned five decades of tumultuous social, political and creative change. This moving memoir from the editor of the Sunday Times delivers a penetrating insight into some of the major events in post-war Britain and charts the incredible rise of a working class boy who failed the 11-plus but achieved so much in a lifetime.

Arguably the greatest English batsman of his generation, Mark Ramprakash is among an elite group of players who have scored 100 First Class centuries, yet his international career fluctuated between ecstatic highs and intense lows. In Strictly Me, Ramprakash covers his cricket career - from the cricketing prodigy who made his Test debut at the age of 21, to finally being cast aside by his country, and his newfound celebrity status.

This is the book everyone has been waiting for: national heroes Ant and Dec, Britain’s most successful television duo, have invited their millions of fans into their world. From youth clubs to blind school, pubs to jungles, there’s a wealth of behind-the-scenes anecdotes that have never been told until now. Ant and Dec met when they were thirteen on the set of Byker Grove in Newcastle. They didn’t warm to each other immediately, but soon enough they became best mates and have been inseparable both on and off screen ever since. Bad rap, stunts going wrong, schoolboy pranks and off-screen antics are just some of the experiences they write about in this wonderfully entertaining memoir, full of vivid observations, colourful reminiscence and charming digressions, “Ooh! What a Lovely Pair” will give millions of fans an insight into the genuine intimacy and refreshing sense of humour that the two TV icons share.

Winifred Foley grew up in the 1920s, a bright, determined miner’s daughter in a world of unspoilt beauty and desperate hardship, in which women were widowed at 30 and children died of starvation. Living in a tumbledown cottage in the Forest of Dean, bread had to be begged from kindly neighbours and ‘our Poll’ never had a new pair of shoes. But most terrible of all, at fourteen, she had to leave her beloved forest for the city, bound for a life in service among London’s grey terraces.

The author was the first celebrity chef, the swashbuckling cook who crossed the high seas, on a BBC budget, communicating his love of food to millions of viewers. This memoir focuses on the ups and downs of his career, and the fortunes won and lost. It also presents an analysis of fame and how it can destroy.

Follow the hottest new pop act on their rollercoaster ride to fame. Since their huge success on The X Factor and finalists’ tour, JLS are well on their way to becoming one of the biggest boy bands the UK has ever seen. In their very first book, Aston, Oritse, Marvin and JB each tell the story of their amazing journey from X Factor hopefuls to pop smashes. Beautifully designed, the book contains 125 exclusive never-before-seen photographs of the band including sexy portraits and captured private moments which can’t fail to excite the thousands of loyal JLS fans. With their first single a massive number 1 seller and their first album due in October, 2009 looks set to be the year of JLS!

In Fathers & sons, Richard looks back at his own family to illustrate just how far British men’s relationships with their sons have moved.
Richard’s grandfather had a childhood of almost unimaginable betrayal and sadness. His family abandoned him as a child to older relatives and emigrated without telling him. He grew up in a miserable situation and without any positive parenting role models yet managed to marry and have a son of his own. Richard’s father was aware of his own father’s discomfort and occasional frustration and anger, and grew to understand that this was due to his upbringing. He remembers no affection, or endearments from his dad and was packed off to a desolate boarding school in an echo of his own father’s betrayal. In a bucking of the family trend, Richard’s mother, a Canadian, introduced more loving and demonstrative relationships which Richard has continued with his own son and step-sons. Both a family story and a wide-ranging look at Britain’s evolving social character, Fathers & Sons is a uniquely honest and touching exploration of how our families operate.

When Frank McCourt published his first memoir, Angela’s Ashes, it went on to win the Pulitzer Prize and to sell tens of millions of copies. His extraordinary story continued with the pacy and gripping sequel ‘Tis and McCourt now brings his story further up to date as he reminisces on the tales of a teaching career that spanned 30 fascinating and unpredictable years. This stunning set features all three memoirs in beautiful hardback editions, and will make a stunning gift for Frank McCourt fans everywhere.

Sir Bobby Robson was the Toon’s favourite son. Universally loved and respected, his popularity embraced the town as much as Newcastle United, a football club he managed with great distinction. His book is an inspiring portrait in words and pictures of a large vibrant city in the north east, proud of it’s history, it’s architecture, it’s culture and it’s great football club. Bobby Robson’s association with Newcastle goes back to his early childhood and in this beautifully illustrated book he comments with passion about the local people and places that have meant so much to him throughout his life - from Jackie Milburn via Bryan Robson to Kevin Keegan, from the early coal mining culture and music halls to the radical architecture of modern Tyneside.