Watching Neighbours Twice a Day...: How '90s TV (Almost) Prepared Me For Life

Description

'This is a book about growing up in the '90s told through the thing that mattered most to me, the television programmes I watched. For my generation television was the one thing that united everyone. There were kids at my school who liked bands, kids who liked football and one weird kid who liked the French sport of petanque, however, we all loved Gladiators, Neighbours and Pebble Mill with Alan Titchmarsh (possibly not the third of these).' In his first memoir, Josh Widdicombe tells the story of a strange rural childhood, the kind of childhood he only realised was weird when he left home and started telling people about it. From only having four people in his year at school, to living in a family home where they didn't just not bother to lock the front door, they didn't even have a key. Using a different television show of the time as its starting point for each chapter Watching Neighbours Twice a Day... is part-childhood memoir, part-comic history of '90s television and culture. It will discuss everything from the BBC convincing him that Michael Parkinson had been possessed by a ghost, to Josh's belief that Mr Blobby is one of the great comic characters, to what it's like being the only vegetarian child west of Bristol. It tells the story of the end of an era, the last time when watching television was a shared experience for the family and the nation, before the internet meant everyone watched different things at different times on different devices, headphones on to make absolutely sure no one else could watch it with them.

Josh Widdicombe tours nationwide as one of the UK's finest stand-up comedians as well as co-hosting The Last Leg, and has starred on Have I Got News For You, Live At The Apollo, Taskmaster and numerous other TV comedy shows. He also hosts one of the country's most popular podcasts - Lockdown Parenting Hell - with fellow comedian Rob Beckett and Quickly Kevin Will He Score, a podcast about football in the '90s.

You know when your mate does something really impressive, and you look at them with a renewed sense of admiration? That's how I feel about Josh's book. Beautifully written, cleverly crafted and charmingly funny. -- Adam Hills If you read only one book by Josh Widdicombe this year, make it this one -- Jack Dee A wonderful blend of nostalgia, hilarity and personal anecdotes that only Josh Widdicombe could deliver -- James Acaster Brilliantly observed -- Romesh Ranganathan Warmth, wit and Widdicombe - with big laughs and pure nostalgia at its heart. Made me want to watch Neighbours with him. Twice.' -- Danny Wallace This book is genius -- Dawn O'Porter Fantastic -- David Baddiel A '90s TV throwback dream -- Katherine Ryan Annoyingly very funny -- Sean Walsh Retro heaven -- Alan Carr Brilliantly funny and nostalgic -- Russell Kane