Tommy Cooper: Always Leave Them Laughing: The Definitive Biography of a Comedy Legend

Description

The first ever intimate portrait of Britain's best-loved, but little known, comedy entertainer. Fully authorised, and written by Cooper's friend and colleague John Fisher. More than just a comedian, Tommy Cooper was a born entertainer. Working in a golden age of British comedy, Cooper stood - literally - head and shoulders above the crowd, and had a magical talent for humour that defied description. But there was a man behind the laughter that few people saw. John Fisher was Cooper's friend and colleague and witnessed first-hand the moments of self-doubt and inadequacy that contrasted with the genial exterior. Until his tragic death on live television in 1984, Tommy Cooper lived in constant fear of the day he would be found out by his audience. He could never accept the accolades that came so thick and fast from every direction, and died to the sounds of laughter that he never really believed. Supplementing his own intimate knowledge with material accessed for the first time from the archives of Cooper's agent and manager, Miff Ferrie, and with the full co-operation of the Cooper family, John Fisher's warm, honest and insightful writing skilfully brings alive the man behind the comedic mask in this definitive biography of a comedy legend.

John Fisher was born in 1945 and educated at King Edward VI School, Southampton and Magdalen College, Oxford. His long and distinguished career as a television producer and executive working in light entertainment for both the BBC and Thames Television has embraced shows as diverse as 'Parkinson,' 'The Bob Monkhouse Show,' 'The Ken Dodd Show,' 'Wogan,' 'Joan Rivers: Can We Talk?,' 'The Best of Magic,' 'This Is Your Life,' 'Des O'Connor Tonight,' 'The Paul Daniels Magic Show,' with which he won the Golden Rose of Montreux, and specials with names ranging from Spike Milligan, Max Wall and Bruce Forsyth to Paul Merton, David Copperfield and Tommy Cooper. His most recent work has included the critically acclaimed series 'Heroes of Comedy' for Channel 4 and its sister show 'Heroes of Magic'. An authority on the history of popular entertainment, he includes amongst his published works 'Funny Way To Be A Hero', regarded as the seminal work on British variety comedians and described by The Times as 'the best book about twentieth-century British entertainers I have ever read,' and 'Call Them Irreplaceable,' an analysis of star quality as seen through the performances of the great solo entertainers of the twentieth century. 'Jus' Like That!' - his celebration for the stage of the life of Tommy Cooper - has enjoyed recent success at London's Garrick Theatre and on tour throughout the United Kingdom. He shares with Tommy Cooper the distinction of being a Gold Star Member of The Inner Magic Circle. An authority on magic and magicians, he is a past recipient of The Magic Circle's 'Magician of the Year' award and was the first person to receive the Houdini Award for services to international magic on American television's prestigious 'World Magic Awards.'

'A monumental and masterly biography of the great Cooper.' Daily Mail 'A masterful work that will deservedly find its way into the Christmas stockings of anyone interested in showbiz.' The Stage 'It's a measure of how funny he (Cooper) was that this book had me on the floor even when reading about gags I've never seen. Yet this is no hagiography. While it has chapter and verse on how Cooper's comic chaos came into being, it also tells how one of our country's greatest bringers of joy was a boozy, tight-fisted, foul-mouthed, faithless old misery.' The Sunday Times. 'This book is an accolade to a truly talented and complex man who was much more than just a comic.' The Sun ' "The definitive biography of a comedy legend" - for once a book lives up to its blurb.' Michael Parkinson 'John Fisher's biography admirably captures the Cooper magic.' The Oldie 'A moving and illuminating showbiz biography. The book deserves a standing ovation.' Irish Examiner 'A book with unrivalled access to (and knowledge of) its elusive subject.' The Independent 'Not the least of the pleasures in John Fisher's fine biography is that he describes many of the routines in loving detail, so that they come to life again in the theatre of the mind's eye.' Sunday Telegraph 'An affectionate and informative memorial to by far the greatest of all the surrealists.' Mail on Sunday 'Fisher's research and sources are impeccable.' The Guardian 'There have been other memoirs of the gentle giant of an entertainer, but acclaimed TV producer Fisher is well placed as a friend and colleague to present this as the definitive biography - warts and all.' Manchester Evening News 'This exhaustive study is never less than sympathetic and contains many illuminating insights into the craft of comedy, the vital importance of visual technique and movement, and the sheer slog of showbiz.' The Spectator 'The flyleaf describes Fisher's book as being the "definitive biography" of Cooper. I wouldn't disagree.' Yorkshire Evening Post 'Fans of more old-fashioned biography (and comedy) will prefer Tommy Cooper: Always Leave Them Laughing, a book with unrivalled access to (and knowledge of) its elusive subject.' The Independent. 'For all his popularity as one of Britain's best-loved post-war entertainers, Tommy Cooper's life away from stage and screen is little known. John Fisher's excellent new book, Tommy Cooper: Always Leave Them Laughing, does much to change that.' Yorkshire Post. 'A superb read and it will make you laugh and cry.' Belfast News Letter 'This entertaining, heroically researched biography isn't a labour of love, it's a labour of adoration.' Eastern Daily Press 'This is a wonderful book that will be devoured and treasured by Tommy Cooper's legions of fans.' Magic Week 'I don't think that I have ever read a book, written about a star, with more love and understanding by the author. John Fisher has caught him exactly, in all his many moods.' Bobby Bernard Praise for Tommy Cooper: 'Everyone wanted to imitate him didn't they. That was the true accolade I think. And he was funny as soon as he came on, he didn't have to say anything he was just ! FUNNY.' Ronnie Barker 'Tommy was amazing. He looked like Mount Rushmore on legs. He never said anything about real life so he never dates.' Barry Cryer 'Absolutely fantastic. No other comic would work with him, he was too good. He had this fantastic expression. A giant of comedy, a British WC Fields and he will be irreplaceable.' Eric Morecambe