'It's not like other comedians' memoirs. It's funny.' Guardian

'It's not like other comedians' memoirs. It's funny.' -- Guardian 'As strange and fascinating as any fiction ... This would be excellent even if it weren't by someone famous' -- The Times 'Fascinating and hugely entertaining' -- Telegraph 'Sayle's book has charm and substance, both as memoir and history.' -- Times Literary Supplement 20101119 'If the result is like his other books, it will have a moral centre, there'll be bleak bits - and it will be very funny indeed.' -- Independent on Sunday 20101119 'A great memoir of a strange childhood. "Just let me read you this bit" funny.' -- Frank Cottrell Boyce 20101119 'If the result is like his other books, it will have a moral centre, there'll be bleak bits - and it will be very funny indeed.' -- Independent on Sunday 20101119 'The brilliant satires on modern life of Alexei Sayle (the only comedian worth his salt as a novelist) are contemporary gems.' -- Tim Lott, Independent 20101119

Born in Liverpool, the only child of Communist parents, Alexei moved to London in 1971 to attend Chelsea Art School. He became the first MC of the Comedy Store and later the Comic Strip. After years of stand-up, television, sitcoms, films and even a hit single, he published his first highly acclaimed collection of short stories. BARCELONA PLATES was followed by THE DOG CATCHER, two novels: OVERTAKEN and THE WEEPING WOMEN HOTEL and a novella, MISTER ROBERTS. This is his first work of non-fiction.