Born in 1957 in Deptford, south London, Danny’s first job after dropping out of school at the age of 15 was in One Stop Records, a small record shop in London’s West End, frequented by Elton John and Mick Jagger, a store rather like the one in High Fidelity. His career in print journalism began in 1976 when he co-founded the fanzine Sniffin’ Glue leading to an offer from the New Musical Express, where his first job was as a receptionist. Soon after, Baker was contributing regular astute articles, reviews and later interviews to the publication. Danny then began making 30-minute documentaries at LWT for the cult series 20th Century Box, and appeared in two television commercials: Daz washing powder and Mars bar chocolate. His stellar career on the radio began on BBC GLR in 1989, then moved to BBC Radio 5 where he presented sports shows including the groundbreaking 6-0-6, which still influences the media’s approach to criticism of players, managers and referees. He also worked on BBC Radio 1, back to BBC GLR, Talk Radio and later on Virgin Radio.On his return to BBC last May, Danny won ‘Sony Radio Personality of the Year’ and appeared on Desert Island Discs last July. Six months earlier he had gone public on his cancer and chemotherapy treatment, and thankfully all seems well. Danny Baker currently presents a weekday show at BBC London 94.9, which features phone-ins and discussions with his on-air team regarding music and entertainment of the 1960s and 1970s, and a Saturday morning show on BBC Radio 5. This book charts Danny’s showbiz career, the highs and lows, and everything in between, including the accusation that he killed Bob Marley…

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Born in 1957 in Deptford, south London, Danny’s first job after dropping out of school at the age of 15 was in One Stop Records, a small record shop in London’s West End, frequented by Elton John and Mick Jagger, a store rather like the one in High Fidelity. His career in print journalism began in 1976 when he co-founded the fanzine Sniffin’ Glue leading to an offer from the New Musical Express, where his first job was as a receptionist. Soon after, Baker was contributing regular astute articles, reviews and later interviews to the publication. Danny then began making 30-minute documentaries at LWT for the cult series 20th Century Box, and appeared in two television commercials: Daz washing powder and Mars bar chocolate. His stellar career on the radio began on BBC GLR in 1989, then moved to BBC Radio 5 where he presented sports shows including the groundbreaking 6-0-6, which still influences the media’s approach to criticism of players, managers and referees. He also worked on BBC Radio 1, back to BBC GLR, Talk Radio and later on Virgin Radio.On his return to BBC last May, Danny won ‘Sony Radio Personality of the Year’ and appeared on Desert Island Discs last July. Six months earlier he had gone public on his cancer and chemotherapy treatment, and thankfully all seems well. Danny Baker currently presents a weekday show at BBC London 94.9, which features phone-ins and discussions with his on-air team regarding music and entertainment of the 1960s and 1970s, and a Saturday morning show on BBC Radio 5. This book charts Danny’s showbiz career, the highs and lows, and everything in between, including the accusation that he killed Bob Marley…

Price : £ 11.39

Read more…

Born in 1957 in Deptford, south London, Danny’s first job after dropping out of school at the age of 15 was in One Stop Records, a small record shop in London’s West End, frequented by Elton John and Mick Jagger, a store rather like the one in High Fidelity. His career in print journalism began in 1976 when he co-founded the fanzine Sniffin’ Glue leading to an offer from the New Musical Express, where his first job was as a receptionist. Soon after, Baker was contributing regular astute articles, reviews and later interviews to the publication. Danny then began making 30-minute documentaries at LWT for the cult series 20th Century Box, and appeared in two television commercials: Daz washing powder and Mars bar chocolate. His stellar career on the radio began on BBC GLR in 1989, then moved to BBC Radio 5 where he presented sports shows including the groundbreaking 6-0-6, which still influences the media’s approach to criticism of players, managers and referees. He also worked on BBC Radio 1, back to BBC GLR, Talk Radio and later on Virgin Radio.On his return to BBC last May, Danny won ‘Sony Radio Personality of the Year’ and appeared on Desert Island Discs last July. Six months earlier he had gone public on his cancer and chemotherapy treatment, and thankfully all seems well. Danny Baker currently presents a weekday show at BBC London 94.9, which features phone-ins and discussions with his on-air team regarding music and entertainment of the 1960s and 1970s, and a Saturday morning show on BBC Radio 5. This book charts Danny’s showbiz career, the highs and lows, and everything in between, including the accusation that he killed Bob Marley…

Price : £ 11.39

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For an instant the two trains ran together side by side. In that frozen moment Elspeth witnessed a murder. Helplessly she stared out of her carriage window as a man remorselessly tightened his grip around a woman’s throat. The body crumpled. Then the other train drew away. ; ; But who apart from Miss Marple would take her story seriously? After all there were no suspects no other witnesses… and no corpse. ; ; This version is a Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation starring June Whitfield as the deceptively mild Miss Marple.

Price : £ 6.93

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The Mighty Boosh is unlike any show you are ever likely to see or indeed ‘hear’ and one that defies description the closest you could get to the unique style of Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding would be in the early days of Reeves and Mortimer with their cardboard props and men with sticks. But unlike Reeves and Mortimer the zany zookeepers Howard Moon (Juilan) and Vince Noir (Noel) never leave their own world. The Mighty Boosh inhabits a universe entirely of its own.

Price : £ 10.58

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Haunts of the Black Masseur is a dazzling introduction to the great swimming heroes: Byron leaping into the surf at Shelley’s beach funeral, Hart Crane, swallow-diving to his death in the Bay of Mexico, Ulysses, Leander, Weismuller and many more. In lively prose bursting with anecdote, Charles Sprawson leads us into a watery world populated by lithe demi-Gods – one that has obsessed humans from the ancient Greeks and Romans, to Yeats, Virginia Woolf, F. Scott Fitzgerald and David Hockney. Original, enticing and dripping with references to literature, film, art and Olympic history, this cult swimming classic pays sparkling tribute to water and the cultural meanings we attach to it.

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With prose that is every bit as raw, intense and bitingly honest as the world it depicts, Barry Hines’ “A Kestrel for a Knave” contains a new afterword by the author in “Penguin Modern Classics”. Life is tough and cheerless for Billy Casper, a troubled teenager growing up in the small Yorkshire mining town of Barnsley. Treated as a failure at school, and unhappy at home, Billy discovers a new passion in life when he finds Kes, a kestrel hawk. Billy identifies with her silent strength and she inspires in him the trust and love that nothing else can, discovering through her the passion missing from his life. Barry Hines’ acclaimed novel continues to reach new generations of teenagers and adults with its powerful story of survival in a tough, joyless world. Ken Loach’s renowned film adaptation, “Kes”, has achieved cult status and in his new afterword Barry Hines discusses his work to adapt the novel into a screenplay, and reappraises the legacy of a book that has become a popular classic. Barry Hines (b. 1939) was born in the mining village of Hoyland Common, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire.Leaving Ecclesfield Grammar School without any qualifications, Hines worked as an apprentice mining surveyor for the National Coal Board before entering Loughborough Training College to study Physical Education. Working as a teacher in Hoyland Common, he wrote novels in the school library after work, later turning to writing full-time. If you enjoyed “A Kestrel for a Knave”, you might like “The Call of the Wild, White Fang, and Other Stories” by Jack London, published in “Penguin Classics”.

Price : £ 6.29

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Diana Dors is a legend. Not only has she become embedded in the U.K. psyche but is very much alive in the U.K. imagination. Her fame has survived from the adored celebrity of the 50’s to the cult figure of today’s younger generation. Not surprising as she is arguably the biggest star the U.K. has produced. Not only has she appeared in 75 films, written four books, released an L.P. and had her own newspaper columns and television shows but her generosity, incredible bravery, lack of airs and graces, her warmth and compassion and her wit and intelligence have endeared her to millions.From the age of eight Diana Dors had a huge passionate dream. She was determined to become a wealthy, famous, film star. It was a dream that challenged the seemingly impossible being an ordinary looking child, coming from an ordinary family, living in an ordinary town. Yet, against the odds she made her dream come true. The story of how this happened is a fascinating one. “Connecting Dors” not only tells that story but explores the consequences of that celebrity/stardom not only on herself but on her son, Jason.It discusses the impact of “celebrity” on human dynamics, on family dynamics, especially on motherhood. It examines the pitfalls and rewards of being the child of a famous celebrity. Jason’s story is not only a continuation of the Diana Dors story but an integral part of that story that relies not only on Jason himself but on the people who were close to the Dors family, some of whom, celebrities in their own right I have been privileged to meet. “Connecting Dors” is both informative and entertaining. It recounts incidents and anecdotes from Diana Dors’ life – wild tales involving her friends – Hollywood stars, villains, rogues and rascals. It recounts tales which are poignant, hilarious, shocking and disturbing both from Diana’s life and from Jason’s star-studded life and beyond. It contains both humour and pathos. It explores the legacy of Diana Dors both national, social and personal. It is an important story which has never been told.

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A sassy romantic comedy to delight fans of Sophie Kinsella Freya North and Helen Fielding. You couldn’t wish for a better book! ‘I wish I could get a seat on the tube…I hadn’t eaten that entire bag of Maltesers…I could meet a man whose hobbies include washing up and monogamy…’ Heather Hamilton is always wishing for things. Not just big stuff – like world peace or for a date with Brad Pitt – but little everyday wishes made without thinking. With her luck she knows they’ll never come true…Until one day she buys some heather from a gypsy. Suddenly the bad hair days stop; a handsome American answers her ad for a housemate; and she starts seeing James – The Perfect Man who sends her flowers excels in the bedroom and isn’t afraid to say ‘I love you’…But are these wishes-come-true a blessing or a curse? And is there such a thing as too much foreplay?

Price : £ 6.91

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Diana Dors is a legend. Not only has she become embedded in the U.K. psyche but is very much alive in the U.K. imagination. Her fame has survived from the adored celebrity of the 50’s to the cult figure of today’s younger generation. Not surprising as she is arguably the biggest star the U.K. has produced. Not only has she appeared in 75 films, written four books, released an L.P. and had her own newspaper columns and television shows but her generosity, incredible bravery, lack of airs and graces, her warmth and compassion and her wit and intelligence have endeared her to millions.From the age of eight Diana Dors had a huge passionate dream. She was determined to become a wealthy, famous, film star. It was a dream that challenged the seemingly impossible being an ordinary looking child, coming from an ordinary family, living in an ordinary town. Yet, against the odds she made her dream come true. The story of how this happened is a fascinating one. “Connecting Dors” not only tells that story but explores the consequences of that celebrity/stardom not only on herself but on her son, Jason.It discusses the impact of “celebrity” on human dynamics, on family dynamics, especially on motherhood. It examines the pitfalls and rewards of being the child of a famous celebrity. Jason’s story is not only a continuation of the Diana Dors story but an integral part of that story that relies not only on Jason himself but on the people who were close to the Dors family, some of whom, celebrities in their own right I have been privileged to meet. “Connecting Dors” is both informative and entertaining. It recounts incidents and anecdotes from Diana Dors’ life – wild tales involving her friends – Hollywood stars, villains, rogues and rascals. It recounts tales which are poignant, hilarious, shocking and disturbing both from Diana’s life and from Jason’s star-studded life and beyond. It contains both humour and pathos. It explores the legacy of Diana Dors both national, social and personal. It is an important story which has never been told.

Price : £ 14.99

Read more…