Product Description

Paul O'Grady is one of Britain's very best loved entertainers. He is known and adored by millions, whether as the creator of the acid-tongued Blonde Bombsite, Lily Savage, or the presenter of the fantastically successful, award-winning "Paul O'Grady Show" on Channel 4. Now, in his own unique voice, Paul O'Grady tells story of his early life in Irish Catholic Birkenhead that started him on the long and winding road from mischievous altar boy to national treasure. It is a brilliantly evoked, hilarious and often moving tale of gossip in the back yard, bragging in the corner shop and slanging matches on the front doorstep, populated by larger-than-life characters with hearts of gold and tongues as sharp as razors."At My Mother's Knee" features an unforgettable cast of rogues, rascals, lovers, fighters, saints and sinners - and one iconic bus conductress. It's a book which really does have something for everyone and which reminds us that, when all's said and done, there's a bit of savage in all of us...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-24
• Released on: 2008-09-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 352 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Paul O'Grady, apart from being one of Britain's best loved entertainers, is a classic example of reinvention, as At My Mother’s Knee demonstrates. The young Liverpool entertainer, an altar boy from Irish Catholic Birkenhead, becomes the acid-tongued and outrageous drag queen Lily Savage, and moves from gay pubs to national television, creating something of a British comic institution en route (O'Grady's caustic drag character was a world away from safer predecessors such as Danny La Rue). But O'Grady (like other comic performers such as John Cleese) realised that comic creations can have a limited shelf life, and reinvented himself as ‘Paul O'Grady’, coming out from behind the false breasts and towering wigs as a toned-down (but still camp), more audience-friendly TV presenter (wisely, he retained the abrasive voice and a Scouse accent that could be cut with a knife).

At My Mother's Knee and Other Low Joints is an entertaining autobiography from someone who really does have a life that is worth writing about. Gossipy, sharp and colourful, the cast of characters in Paul O'Grady's life includes rogues and rascals galore, all of whom are evoked here with great comic skill. O'Grady was variously a boxer, a civil servant, a conman and even a cat burglar - all of these failed careers are on display here, as is a surprisingly pungent picture of the Liverpool nightclub scene. When so many showbiz autobiographies these days are written by people who have a barely had a life outside of their fame, it's refreshing to encounter one by somebody whose story would be interesting even if he were not a major TV star. --Barry Forshaw

Review
Paul speaks with warmth and hilarity about a childhood filled with poverty, and reveals a cast of characters with whom he could have created an entire comedy series. Hugely interesting and entertaining.****
--Jo Hoare, Heat Magazine

Review
At My Mother's Knee distinguishes itself on every level

Customer Reviews

Brilliant and hilarious
What can I say?...brilliant!. I havent laughed so hard for years and really couldnt put this book down, in fact I finished it 12 hours after I began reading.In many ways I could relate to Pauls early years .I was , however, rather upset to find out that the book only goes up to his 18th year!. Come on Paul, we want more!!!!.

Excellent!
This was a fantastic read and one I managed to complete very quickly. I loved the early years of Paul's life in which he describes his mother and aunts. It reminded me so much of my long missed grandmother and the things that those women of a post war era got up to.
Absolutely loved the way the book was set out, it was coherent unlike some autobiographies and gave a great insight into Paul's life that is honest and forthright. The later years were interesting and again very honest. This man has certainly lead a very interesting life (and the book ends when he is eighteen)and I can't wait to read the next installment and find out how LIly Savage came to be and what other (mis)adventures Paul got up to in the proceeding years.
Highly recommended.

Paul O'Grady at his mothers knee.
Have just finished reading this,what a fantastic read!! Very funny don't read this last thing at night as you won't be able to sleep for laughing! Buy it you won't regret it!