Backing into the Spotlight: A Memoir

2017 | Biography

Backing into the Spotlight is Michael Whitehall's hilarious memoir. The book covers Michael's early life growing up in suburban London in the 1940s and 1950s with his social climbing mother Nora (who coined the phrase 'a la carte' to describe people who were posher than her and whose company she craved); Whitehall family stories from the Putney ghetto; a successful career as an agent and producer (of course actors can be egotistical, greedy and vain, but they're not half as bad as agents and producers); and then the surprise twist in the tale when thanks to his comic genes and his wife Hilary's acting talents, Jack Whitehall becomes, much to their surprise, a successful comedian and actor. Fortunately Michael manages to seize Jack's considerable shirt tails and forge the beginnings of a modest career in front of the camera. Fame has come at a sedate pace: The Million Pound Drop, The One Show Best Dad in Comedy Award 2013, dictionary corner on Countdown with his new best friend Nick Hewer, Celebrity Antiques Roadtrip and eighth place in Heat Magazine's Weird Crush Awards 2016, and of course BBC2's Backchat.

Michael Whitehall (Author)