Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27582 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-01
• Binding: Hardcover
• 272 pages

Zoo Magazine, 12 Oct 07
"Whale's been the subject of many a Watchdog enquiry, death threats and at least one arrest... an entertaining read"

Synopsis
"Almost a Celebrity" is the no-holds-barred autobiography of radio megastar James Whale, a man who, for over thirty years, has never been afraid to say the unsayable. In his typically deadpan style, "Almost a Celebrity" charts James' rise to the top - with plenty of trademark rants along the way - from his Surrey childhood, where he avoided school by hanging out in Soho strip joints, through his humble beginnings in local radio, via the self-titled TV show which made his name, to his current status as late-night king of the airwaves. Throughout his life, James has never been a stranger to controversy. His outspoken opinions have led to numerous TV and radio watchdog enquiries, death threats, and even his arrest. In 2000, he confronted his toughest opponent so far, when he was diagnosed with cancer and given only months to live. An inspiration to millions, James Whale is a genuine man of the people. And - as usual - there's no stopping him from telling his story in his own entertaining, inimitable way.

Customer Reviews

Funny & Moving Story
A fantastic read. The James Whale autobiography is the second best book I have read this year.
James is a Northern version of Cheeky cockney Garry Bushell. Both men are the true voice of a generation.
Both men are the voice of Joe Public and the men that Talksport presenter Jon Gaunt wished he was.
A very funny read and a great book that is only bettered by Bushell Off The Box by Garry Johnson.

Whaley came to town....
When I bought this book, I made a date with myself to read it by the pool, when I was next able to go on holiday.

It's as well I took two books for the week - I hate running out of reading material!

Whaley's book was the first one that I attacked, and I was pretty antisocial for the day that I decided to start reading it. And finish it! You tend to want to go from page to page, chapter to chapter, until you've polished it off.

I used to watch and tape all of James' TV shows - it was the highlight of my TV watching week as a young adult. So to find out a bit more about that time, and what happened leading up to that time, was something that I had a genuine interest in.

Before I go on, I must add that I have recently found myself in a really nice position, where I have been able to get to know James a little in person. What strikes you, when you begin to get to know him, is what a thoroughly lovely and kindly chap he is. That's possibly not always the most obvious side of his character that you glean from watching him on the television, or listening to him on the radio!

After reading this book, this feature of his character becomes obvious to all, and I'm dead chuffed that it does. It does exactly what this kind of book should do, and that is to give a sneak peek into the real person behind the public face.

For those of you who want to learn about the man behind the voice....you won't be left wanting. This is one of those books that will annoy the hell out any person that you may be with while you're reading it, as you will constantly be tempted to inform them of the latest nugget that you've digested.

But this book does other stuff. It makes you realise just how aware of his own fallibilities James is; and how having a life threatening illness led him (and this is my interpretation) to become so aware of those that love him and those he loves, and to show more care about them than about himself.

Some of the words that he writes about his clearly devoted wife, Melinda, made me gulp.

This book's got brutal honesty, chuckles, blubs, moments of deep reflection, and "break" style rants, which was a clever little device to weave in.

And wait until you get to the line "...which is the reason I wrote this book". Not the motive one would imagine for a celeb to write a book, and one that will challenge even the hardest of men not to make some kind of un-masculine response; even on a packed commuter train.

And I hope that they do read it one day, James. They'll be glad they did.

I know I am.

WHALES NOW EXTINCT !
Sorry whalies - you've all been had!
I've been a fan for over 25 years;watched the man on ITV, listened to the original shows on pirate etc. Bottom line for me is he knows his time is almost up as a 'part-time celeb' and he's doing the 'cashing-in' part of the ''shock-jock'' role.
Don't know who ghost wrote this book - James, you need to have a word with the author though!!
I ain't a Judas - but I am a realist and this smacks of being a last-ditch attempt to source a pension (problem we fans have is that no-one is going to buy our book, if we even got it published). James has for as long as I remember advocated we all live life to the full and fe*k the pension cos it ain't worth anything . . .