Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese , 11 Oct 2008
'Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese' is a stunning look at the history of both Burlesque and Fetish from the point of view of one of the most famous models and Burlesque dancers of today, Dita Von Teese. It has stunning imagery and is well presented, without being lascivious or in poor taste. This book is class all the way. The various sections focusing on the history of both arts are fascinating, with information you would never have considered and you can tell Dita is both knowledgeable and passionate about her art. If you're a fan of Dita or just interested in Burlesque or Fetish then this is an excellent place to go, and though slightly unorthodox, this would make a wonderful coffee table book.

Stunning and Beautiful, 18 Jan 2008
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book when it came out and it's only now that I am writing my own review.

I love every page of this book and recently I went to her only british book signing at Waterstones and I could not decide which page I wanted her to sign! (She is even more beautiful and amazing in person!!!) Buy it and then treasure this book forever, if you love Dita, Burlesque, old movie star glamour, lingerie....anything girly!

Stunning photography if a little sparse, 12 Jan 2008
I adore Dita, I'd love to kidnap her and keep her under my bed but alas it is not to be.
I loved that this book came in two parts, the front has dita in softer, artistic glamour poses, and the back more fetish and burlesque glamour. The book is a little basic, with bullet points which does give off a little "dummies guide" kind of feel...but over all its worth the money.


lovely, 01 Nov 2007
A great book, beautiful photographs and a real inspiration. Well worth having. Dita is a real officianado of everything glamourous and i really enjoy looking through this book whenever i need a boost of self belief and confidence to really express myself. vive le nouveux burlesque revolution!

Overpriced , Overrated and the same goes for the book as well, 29 Sep 2007
Overpriced calendar. I love burlesque , which can be witty , alluring , sexy and creative. This is a bunch of pictures with hollow commentary. If you want pictures to gawk at well there you go this book is perfect for you. If you're getting this book because you want to know more about Dita von Teese well it's pretty vacuous so are Dita's live perfomances.

Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese , 11 Oct 2008
'Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese' is a stunning look at the history of both Burlesque and Fetish from the point of view of one of the most famous models and Burlesque dancers of today, Dita Von Teese. It has stunning imagery and is well presented, without being lascivious or in poor taste. This book is class all the way. The various sections focusing on the history of both arts are fascinating, with information you would never have considered and you can tell Dita is both knowledgeable and passionate about her art. If you're a fan of Dita or just interested in Burlesque or Fetish then this is an excellent place to go, and though slightly unorthodox, this would make a wonderful coffee table book.

Stunning and Beautiful, 18 Jan 2008
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book when it came out and it's only now that I am writing my own review.

I love every page of this book and recently I went to her only british book signing at Waterstones and I could not decide which page I wanted her to sign! (She is even more beautiful and amazing in person!!!) Buy it and then treasure this book forever, if you love Dita, Burlesque, old movie star glamour, lingerie....anything girly!

Stunning photography if a little sparse, 12 Jan 2008
I adore Dita, I'd love to kidnap her and keep her under my bed but alas it is not to be.
I loved that this book came in two parts, the front has dita in softer, artistic glamour poses, and the back more fetish and burlesque glamour. The book is a little basic, with bullet points which does give off a little "dummies guide" kind of feel...but over all its worth the money.


lovely, 01 Nov 2007
A great book, beautiful photographs and a real inspiration. Well worth having. Dita is a real officianado of everything glamourous and i really enjoy looking through this book whenever i need a boost of self belief and confidence to really express myself. vive le nouveux burlesque revolution!

Overpriced , Overrated and the same goes for the book as well, 29 Sep 2007
Overpriced calendar. I love burlesque , which can be witty , alluring , sexy and creative. This is a bunch of pictures with hollow commentary. If you want pictures to gawk at well there you go this book is perfect for you. If you're getting this book because you want to know more about Dita von Teese well it's pretty vacuous so are Dita's live perfomances.

This has to be THE humour book of the year!, 29 Nov 2007
This book is a real treasure trove, containing priceless material from the great comic's secret archives. There are absolutely hilarious one-liners, monologues, surrealist letters, scripts and pictures. It has real laugh aloud material showing Dawson's comic genius.

Bruce Forsyth has been a regular guest in British living rooms since the dawn of the television age as we know it. As king of comedy and light entertainment, his appearances are part-ringmaster, part-showman, hugely professional, highly polished and practised to each perfect ad lib. While we are used to such a staged, two dimensional knowledge of Forsyth, it is refreshing to see him from behind the slap 'n' tickle veneer of the consummate performer. Bruce: The Autobiography is a fair-paced chronicle of a public figure now well into his 70s. As such, its remit is, to some extent, predictable; middle-class life in Edmonton, North London, then evacuation, the war years, and on to the theatre-land world of pier shows and music hall, egged on by an ambition to dance like Fred Astaire and later Gene Kelly, before variety show breaks on TV, and finally the honour of a starring role on the small screen. Forsyth's tone is triumphant; his unparalleled success over decades showing with bravado in his storytelling. Young ambition and statesmanlike expectation of his place in the grand scheme of showbiz shine through, and, as with many star biogs, first wives and kids get shorter shrift than those who replace them in later years. Still, the writing is entertaining, and although perhaps unintentional, a little vindictive streak against ex-agents and seaside landladies alike adds--perhaps unintentional--humour, as does his impatience with those with whom he does not quite see eye to eye.

Forsyth's career began in the WIndmill Theatre, whose revues included many a woman wearing tassels, so he was well prepared to play alongside many a glamourous Generation Game and Play Your Cards Right hostess, and more prepared (and proud) still to marry a former Miss World. Very much traditionalist in outlook, but with plenty of sparkle in the style which made him famous, Bruce: The Autobiography should delight an older generation of fans who have grown up and older in the comfortable shadow of one of the last true variety performers. The don't make 'em like this any more! --Helen Lamont

Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese , 11 Oct 2008
'Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese' is a stunning look at the history of both Burlesque and Fetish from the point of view of one of the most famous models and Burlesque dancers of today, Dita Von Teese. It has stunning imagery and is well presented, without being lascivious or in poor taste. This book is class all the way. The various sections focusing on the history of both arts are fascinating, with information you would never have considered and you can tell Dita is both knowledgeable and passionate about her art. If you're a fan of Dita or just interested in Burlesque or Fetish then this is an excellent place to go, and though slightly unorthodox, this would make a wonderful coffee table book.

Stunning and Beautiful, 18 Jan 2008
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book when it came out and it's only now that I am writing my own review.

I love every page of this book and recently I went to her only british book signing at Waterstones and I could not decide which page I wanted her to sign! (She is even more beautiful and amazing in person!!!) Buy it and then treasure this book forever, if you love Dita, Burlesque, old movie star glamour, lingerie....anything girly!

Stunning photography if a little sparse, 12 Jan 2008
I adore Dita, I'd love to kidnap her and keep her under my bed but alas it is not to be.
I loved that this book came in two parts, the front has dita in softer, artistic glamour poses, and the back more fetish and burlesque glamour. The book is a little basic, with bullet points which does give off a little "dummies guide" kind of feel...but over all its worth the money.


lovely, 01 Nov 2007
A great book, beautiful photographs and a real inspiration. Well worth having. Dita is a real officianado of everything glamourous and i really enjoy looking through this book whenever i need a boost of self belief and confidence to really express myself. vive le nouveux burlesque revolution!

Overpriced , Overrated and the same goes for the book as well, 29 Sep 2007
Overpriced calendar. I love burlesque , which can be witty , alluring , sexy and creative. This is a bunch of pictures with hollow commentary. If you want pictures to gawk at well there you go this book is perfect for you. If you're getting this book because you want to know more about Dita von Teese well it's pretty vacuous so are Dita's live perfomances.

This has to be THE humour book of the year!, 29 Nov 2007
This book is a real treasure trove, containing priceless material from the great comic's secret archives. There are absolutely hilarious one-liners, monologues, surrealist letters, scripts and pictures. It has real laugh aloud material showing Dawson's comic genius.

A Sad Fading Srat, 07 Dec 2007
Why does Bruce Forsyth have a big chin, because a normal size one would look daft on such a big head.
I have read many hundreds of autobiographies and sadly this is the saddest I have yet come across.
This book is jam packed with 'Didn't I do Well' attitude. Bruce constantly refers to himself as a star, constantly tells us how great he is, and constantly tells us how great others think he is. Bruce certainly does not have an inferiority complex.
Bruce tells us that he would have been better than Dick van Dyke in Mary Poppins, tells us that there are no UK equivalents to Streisand, Garland and Minnelli - has he never heard of Elaine Page or Ruthie Henshall. Bruce asks why the UK has no attractive comedy performers like Lucille Ball, Mary Tyler Moore and Goldie Hawn, does he mean they were attractive because they weren't funny - they could deliver funny lines!! Has Bruce never heard of Victoria Woods.
I have always been a major fan of Bruce but this book contains the rantings of a self-serving, has-been, I was broken hearted by the end.

Not what I thought, 07 Apr 2003
Don't get me wrong I like Brucie, but the main reason that I purchased this was because I was driving a long way and wanted something to distract me and relax me whilst driving and it was the only suitable talking book available.

From start to finish I learned about Brucies life and realized he is not the persona he is on telly. Oh he is a consumate performer and an excellent one at that but more how his whole life has seen his career take on a path that he might have wanted to be different, well more variety perfomance at least.

It is worth reading if only to hear about one of TVs most loved celebrities even if you are not a big fan of Brucie.

Shame!, 26 Oct 2002
I used to love watching Bruce do his thing on TV - he gave me some good laughs, which is why I bought this book. Having read a few similar biographies before, I looked forward to learning about his ups and downs and bits of his career that I'd have never known about otherwise.

Unfortunately, the entire book is one huge pat on the back for himself. The love he has for what he does comes shining through, but it's all done in such a self-congratulatory way it made me rather dislike the man by the end of the book.

The structure is poor. I'm not saying I could do any better about MY life, but it jumps about all over the place and has many repeated thoughts and ideas.

Compared with Bob Monkhouse's "Crying With Laughter" or "Over The Limit", Bruce's book is very, very poor - and I hate to say it, 'cos I was looking forward to it immensely. But it reads as though he's done no wrong.... ever.... and that nothing remotely bad or unfortunate has happened to him apart from losing the odd TV show.

Sorry, but if this book had been written by anyone else, I'd have given it 1 star!

Didn't he do well!, 20 Oct 2001
Bruce Forsyth was born in to the family made famous in the Forsythe saga! No, I jest. But that's an example of the warm wit that glows from the page and into this reader's face as he nibbled at this book the way one would nibble a nice pie.
I've been a fervent admirer of "Sir" Bruce Forsyth ever since his patriotic "I'm Backing Britain" record was realised in 1976. In it Brucie communicated a love of country rarely articulated by centuries of poets. Well, you backed us then Bruce, now it's our turn.
Seriously, it's all here - a virtual backstage history of British showbiz 1942-2001. I loved the story about Ronnie Corbett's...well you'll have to read it yourself! Sadly Brucie isn't on our screens enough nowadays, if he's playing pro-am golf then good luck to him, but I want Brucie back! Shame on you ITV for axing Play Your Cards Right. Where else are the children of today going to be introduced to the magic of gambling, and where are the dad's of today going to get a treat like I got out of Brucie's Dollies!
Life is the name of Bruce's game and now he shares the game with us. Thanks Bruce, it's been a pleasure.

Nice To Read Him, To Read Him Nice!, 15 Oct 2001
Having always been a fan of Brucie Forsythe, I rushed to buy this book as soon as I discovered it was to be released. Unfortunately, I was a month early, and an agonising four week wait was finally over when this book finally plopped through my letterbox.
From the minute I opened the cover, I couldn't put this book down. Brucie is the UK's favourite entertainer, I'm sure (perhaps one of the world's greatest) and I knew that I was going to hear some great anecdotes from the master. I was not disappointed. One has to remember that this man has been in the business for years and has made millions smile with his fantastic humour. However, he has also done a lot of great work for charity which is often overlooked these days, as celebrities + charity = cheesy. This shouldn't be the case though, and any reader should read the accounts of Bruce's work with respect for a great man.
Of course, 'Brucie' is most well known for being a fantastic quiz show host and a regular on the celebrity pro - am golf circuit. Indeed - he excels at both! Bruce made The Generation Game his own - a tough job having to come behind Larry Grayson. But, Brucie did it. He introduced that fabulous thing he did at the beginning, where he took the pose of a muscle man, then almost tap danced down to centre stage. There was never a week that went by that he didn't do that, and he discusses this in the book. Bruce was also a presenter on You Bet! a forerunner to programmes such as Don't Try This At Home. What we must remember though is that Brucie did it FIRST and he did it BETTER. In this book, Bruce explains the driving force behind his fantastic ability to be able to do things like this, and why he continues even though many say he should have retired years ago (not me though!). Bruce is a national institution in the UK and this book is a fantastic account of why he did it and how he succeeded. If you are a fan of major celebrity biographies or Bruce, then this is the book for you.I would also recommend it if you like one or the other of the above. However, if you like neither, I would look for something else! However, I enjoyed this great read immensely and wish it had gone on for longer. Go on, give it a go!

Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese , 11 Oct 2008
'Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese' is a stunning look at the history of both Burlesque and Fetish from the point of view of one of the most famous models and Burlesque dancers of today, Dita Von Teese. It has stunning imagery and is well presented, without being lascivious or in poor taste. This book is class all the way. The various sections focusing on the history of both arts are fascinating, with information you would never have considered and you can tell Dita is both knowledgeable and passionate about her art. If you're a fan of Dita or just interested in Burlesque or Fetish then this is an excellent place to go, and though slightly unorthodox, this would make a wonderful coffee table book.

Stunning and Beautiful, 18 Jan 2008
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book when it came out and it's only now that I am writing my own review.

I love every page of this book and recently I went to her only british book signing at Waterstones and I could not decide which page I wanted her to sign! (She is even more beautiful and amazing in person!!!) Buy it and then treasure this book forever, if you love Dita, Burlesque, old movie star glamour, lingerie....anything girly!

Stunning photography if a little sparse, 12 Jan 2008
I adore Dita, I'd love to kidnap her and keep her under my bed but alas it is not to be.
I loved that this book came in two parts, the front has dita in softer, artistic glamour poses, and the back more fetish and burlesque glamour. The book is a little basic, with bullet points which does give off a little "dummies guide" kind of feel...but over all its worth the money.


lovely, 01 Nov 2007
A great book, beautiful photographs and a real inspiration. Well worth having. Dita is a real officianado of everything glamourous and i really enjoy looking through this book whenever i need a boost of self belief and confidence to really express myself. vive le nouveux burlesque revolution!

Overpriced , Overrated and the same goes for the book as well, 29 Sep 2007
Overpriced calendar. I love burlesque , which can be witty , alluring , sexy and creative. This is a bunch of pictures with hollow commentary. If you want pictures to gawk at well there you go this book is perfect for you. If you're getting this book because you want to know more about Dita von Teese well it's pretty vacuous so are Dita's live perfomances.

This has to be THE humour book of the year!, 29 Nov 2007
This book is a real treasure trove, containing priceless material from the great comic's secret archives. There are absolutely hilarious one-liners, monologues, surrealist letters, scripts and pictures. It has real laugh aloud material showing Dawson's comic genius.

A Sad Fading Srat, 07 Dec 2007
Why does Bruce Forsyth have a big chin, because a normal size one would look daft on such a big head.
I have read many hundreds of autobiographies and sadly this is the saddest I have yet come across.
This book is jam packed with 'Didn't I do Well' attitude. Bruce constantly refers to himself as a star, constantly tells us how great he is, and constantly tells us how great others think he is. Bruce certainly does not have an inferiority complex.
Bruce tells us that he would have been better than Dick van Dyke in Mary Poppins, tells us that there are no UK equivalents to Streisand, Garland and Minnelli - has he never heard of Elaine Page or Ruthie Henshall. Bruce asks why the UK has no attractive comedy performers like Lucille Ball, Mary Tyler Moore and Goldie Hawn, does he mean they were attractive because they weren't funny - they could deliver funny lines!! Has Bruce never heard of Victoria Woods.
I have always been a major fan of Bruce but this book contains the rantings of a self-serving, has-been, I was broken hearted by the end.

Not what I thought, 07 Apr 2003
Don't get me wrong I like Brucie, but the main reason that I purchased this was because I was driving a long way and wanted something to distract me and relax me whilst driving and it was the only suitable talking book available.

From start to finish I learned about Brucies life and realized he is not the persona he is on telly. Oh he is a consumate performer and an excellent one at that but more how his whole life has seen his career take on a path that he might have wanted to be different, well more variety perfomance at least.

It is worth reading if only to hear about one of TVs most loved celebrities even if you are not a big fan of Brucie.

Shame!, 26 Oct 2002
I used to love watching Bruce do his thing on TV - he gave me some good laughs, which is why I bought this book. Having read a few similar biographies before, I looked forward to learning about his ups and downs and bits of his career that I'd have never known about otherwise.

Unfortunately, the entire book is one huge pat on the back for himself. The love he has for what he does comes shining through, but it's all done in such a self-congratulatory way it made me rather dislike the man by the end of the book.

The structure is poor. I'm not saying I could do any better about MY life, but it jumps about all over the place and has many repeated thoughts and ideas.

Compared with Bob Monkhouse's "Crying With Laughter" or "Over The Limit", Bruce's book is very, very poor - and I hate to say it, 'cos I was looking forward to it immensely. But it reads as though he's done no wrong.... ever.... and that nothing remotely bad or unfortunate has happened to him apart from losing the odd TV show.

Sorry, but if this book had been written by anyone else, I'd have given it 1 star!

Didn't he do well!, 20 Oct 2001
Bruce Forsyth was born in to the family made famous in the Forsythe saga! No, I jest. But that's an example of the warm wit that glows from the page and into this reader's face as he nibbled at this book the way one would nibble a nice pie.
I've been a fervent admirer of "Sir" Bruce Forsyth ever since his patriotic "I'm Backing Britain" record was realised in 1976. In it Brucie communicated a love of country rarely articulated by centuries of poets. Well, you backed us then Bruce, now it's our turn.
Seriously, it's all here - a virtual backstage history of British showbiz 1942-2001. I loved the story about Ronnie Corbett's...well you'll have to read it yourself! Sadly Brucie isn't on our screens enough nowadays, if he's playing pro-am golf then good luck to him, but I want Brucie back! Shame on you ITV for axing Play Your Cards Right. Where else are the children of today going to be introduced to the magic of gambling, and where are the dad's of today going to get a treat like I got out of Brucie's Dollies!
Life is the name of Bruce's game and now he shares the game with us. Thanks Bruce, it's been a pleasure.

Nice To Read Him, To Read Him Nice!, 15 Oct 2001
Having always been a fan of Brucie Forsythe, I rushed to buy this book as soon as I discovered it was to be released. Unfortunately, I was a month early, and an agonising four week wait was finally over when this book finally plopped through my letterbox.
From the minute I opened the cover, I couldn't put this book down. Brucie is the UK's favourite entertainer, I'm sure (perhaps one of the world's greatest) and I knew that I was going to hear some great anecdotes from the master. I was not disappointed. One has to remember that this man has been in the business for years and has made millions smile with his fantastic humour. However, he has also done a lot of great work for charity which is often overlooked these days, as celebrities + charity = cheesy. This shouldn't be the case though, and any reader should read the accounts of Bruce's work with respect for a great man.
Of course, 'Brucie' is most well known for being a fantastic quiz show host and a regular on the celebrity pro - am golf circuit. Indeed - he excels at both! Bruce made The Generation Game his own - a tough job having to come behind Larry Grayson. But, Brucie did it. He introduced that fabulous thing he did at the beginning, where he took the pose of a muscle man, then almost tap danced down to centre stage. There was never a week that went by that he didn't do that, and he discusses this in the book. Bruce was also a presenter on You Bet! a forerunner to programmes such as Don't Try This At Home. What we must remember though is that Brucie did it FIRST and he did it BETTER. In this book, Bruce explains the driving force behind his fantastic ability to be able to do things like this, and why he continues even though many say he should have retired years ago (not me though!). Bruce is a national institution in the UK and this book is a fantastic account of why he did it and how he succeeded. If you are a fan of major celebrity biographies or Bruce, then this is the book for you.I would also recommend it if you like one or the other of the above. However, if you like neither, I would look for something else! However, I enjoyed this great read immensely and wish it had gone on for longer. Go on, give it a go!

This has to be THE humour book of the year!, 29 Nov 2007
This book is a real treasure trove, containing priceless material from the great comic's secret archives. There are absolutely hilarious one-liners, monologues, surrealist letters, scripts and pictures. It has real laugh aloud material showing Dawson's comic genius.

Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese , 11 Oct 2008
'Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese' is a stunning look at the history of both Burlesque and Fetish from the point of view of one of the most famous models and Burlesque dancers of today, Dita Von Teese. It has stunning imagery and is well presented, without being lascivious or in poor taste. This book is class all the way. The various sections focusing on the history of both arts are fascinating, with information you would never have considered and you can tell Dita is both knowledgeable and passionate about her art. If you're a fan of Dita or just interested in Burlesque or Fetish then this is an excellent place to go, and though slightly unorthodox, this would make a wonderful coffee table book.

Stunning and Beautiful, 18 Jan 2008
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book when it came out and it's only now that I am writing my own review.

I love every page of this book and recently I went to her only british book signing at Waterstones and I could not decide which page I wanted her to sign! (She is even more beautiful and amazing in person!!!) Buy it and then treasure this book forever, if you love Dita, Burlesque, old movie star glamour, lingerie....anything girly!

Stunning photography if a little sparse, 12 Jan 2008
I adore Dita, I'd love to kidnap her and keep her under my bed but alas it is not to be.
I loved that this book came in two parts, the front has dita in softer, artistic glamour poses, and the back more fetish and burlesque glamour. The book is a little basic, with bullet points which does give off a little "dummies guide" kind of feel...but over all its worth the money.


lovely, 01 Nov 2007
A great book, beautiful photographs and a real inspiration. Well worth having. Dita is a real officianado of everything glamourous and i really enjoy looking through this book whenever i need a boost of self belief and confidence to really express myself. vive le nouveux burlesque revolution!

Overpriced , Overrated and the same goes for the book as well, 29 Sep 2007
Overpriced calendar. I love burlesque , which can be witty , alluring , sexy and creative. This is a bunch of pictures with hollow commentary. If you want pictures to gawk at well there you go this book is perfect for you. If you're getting this book because you want to know more about Dita von Teese well it's pretty vacuous so are Dita's live perfomances.

This has to be THE humour book of the year!, 29 Nov 2007
This book is a real treasure trove, containing priceless material from the great comic's secret archives. There are absolutely hilarious one-liners, monologues, surrealist letters, scripts and pictures. It has real laugh aloud material showing Dawson's comic genius.

A Sad Fading Srat, 07 Dec 2007
Why does Bruce Forsyth have a big chin, because a normal size one would look daft on such a big head.
I have read many hundreds of autobiographies and sadly this is the saddest I have yet come across.
This book is jam packed with 'Didn't I do Well' attitude. Bruce constantly refers to himself as a star, constantly tells us how great he is, and constantly tells us how great others think he is. Bruce certainly does not have an inferiority complex.
Bruce tells us that he would have been better than Dick van Dyke in Mary Poppins, tells us that there are no UK equivalents to Streisand, Garland and Minnelli - has he never heard of Elaine Page or Ruthie Henshall. Bruce asks why the UK has no attractive comedy performers like Lucille Ball, Mary Tyler Moore and Goldie Hawn, does he mean they were attractive because they weren't funny - they could deliver funny lines!! Has Bruce never heard of Victoria Woods.
I have always been a major fan of Bruce but this book contains the rantings of a self-serving, has-been, I was broken hearted by the end.

Not what I thought, 07 Apr 2003
Don't get me wrong I like Brucie, but the main reason that I purchased this was because I was driving a long way and wanted something to distract me and relax me whilst driving and it was the only suitable talking book available.

From start to finish I learned about Brucies life and realized he is not the persona he is on telly. Oh he is a consumate performer and an excellent one at that but more how his whole life has seen his career take on a path that he might have wanted to be different, well more variety perfomance at least.

It is worth reading if only to hear about one of TVs most loved celebrities even if you are not a big fan of Brucie.

Shame!, 26 Oct 2002
I used to love watching Bruce do his thing on TV - he gave me some good laughs, which is why I bought this book. Having read a few similar biographies before, I looked forward to learning about his ups and downs and bits of his career that I'd have never known about otherwise.

Unfortunately, the entire book is one huge pat on the back for himself. The love he has for what he does comes shining through, but it's all done in such a self-congratulatory way it made me rather dislike the man by the end of the book.

The structure is poor. I'm not saying I could do any better about MY life, but it jumps about all over the place and has many repeated thoughts and ideas.

Compared with Bob Monkhouse's "Crying With Laughter" or "Over The Limit", Bruce's book is very, very poor - and I hate to say it, 'cos I was looking forward to it immensely. But it reads as though he's done no wrong.... ever.... and that nothing remotely bad or unfortunate has happened to him apart from losing the odd TV show.

Sorry, but if this book had been written by anyone else, I'd have given it 1 star!

Didn't he do well!, 20 Oct 2001
Bruce Forsyth was born in to the family made famous in the Forsythe saga! No, I jest. But that's an example of the warm wit that glows from the page and into this reader's face as he nibbled at this book the way one would nibble a nice pie.
I've been a fervent admirer of "Sir" Bruce Forsyth ever since his patriotic "I'm Backing Britain" record was realised in 1976. In it Brucie communicated a love of country rarely articulated by centuries of poets. Well, you backed us then Bruce, now it's our turn.
Seriously, it's all here - a virtual backstage history of British showbiz 1942-2001. I loved the story about Ronnie Corbett's...well you'll have to read it yourself! Sadly Brucie isn't on our screens enough nowadays, if he's playing pro-am golf then good luck to him, but I want Brucie back! Shame on you ITV for axing Play Your Cards Right. Where else are the children of today going to be introduced to the magic of gambling, and where are the dad's of today going to get a treat like I got out of Brucie's Dollies!
Life is the name of Bruce's game and now he shares the game with us. Thanks Bruce, it's been a pleasure.

Nice To Read Him, To Read Him Nice!, 15 Oct 2001
Having always been a fan of Brucie Forsythe, I rushed to buy this book as soon as I discovered it was to be released. Unfortunately, I was a month early, and an agonising four week wait was finally over when this book finally plopped through my letterbox.
From the minute I opened the cover, I couldn't put this book down. Brucie is the UK's favourite entertainer, I'm sure (perhaps one of the world's greatest) and I knew that I was going to hear some great anecdotes from the master. I was not disappointed. One has to remember that this man has been in the business for years and has made millions smile with his fantastic humour. However, he has also done a lot of great work for charity which is often overlooked these days, as celebrities + charity = cheesy. This shouldn't be the case though, and any reader should read the accounts of Bruce's work with respect for a great man.
Of course, 'Brucie' is most well known for being a fantastic quiz show host and a regular on the celebrity pro - am golf circuit. Indeed - he excels at both! Bruce made The Generation Game his own - a tough job having to come behind Larry Grayson. But, Brucie did it. He introduced that fabulous thing he did at the beginning, where he took the pose of a muscle man, then almost tap danced down to centre stage. There was never a week that went by that he didn't do that, and he discusses this in the book. Bruce was also a presenter on You Bet! a forerunner to programmes such as Don't Try This At Home. What we must remember though is that Brucie did it FIRST and he did it BETTER. In this book, Bruce explains the driving force behind his fantastic ability to be able to do things like this, and why he continues even though many say he should have retired years ago (not me though!). Bruce is a national institution in the UK and this book is a fantastic account of why he did it and how he succeeded. If you are a fan of major celebrity biographies or Bruce, then this is the book for you.I would also recommend it if you like one or the other of the above. However, if you like neither, I would look for something else! However, I enjoyed this great read immensely and wish it had gone on for longer. Go on, give it a go!

This has to be THE humour book of the year!, 29 Nov 2007
This book is a real treasure trove, containing priceless material from the great comic's secret archives. There are absolutely hilarious one-liners, monologues, surrealist letters, scripts and pictures. It has real laugh aloud material showing Dawson's comic genius.

Best present ever!, 26 Dec 2007
I was given this beautiful book after my friend discovered I had my own wish list. It really is a wonderful collection of photographs and stories from an enchanted era. I know I will look at this book for inspiration again and again. Truly fabulous!

Pretty things indeed, 17 Nov 2007
This book is beautifully presented and contains a fantastic amount of information on the burlesque queens, their costumes and their lives.

A Beautiful Book, 21 Feb 2007
This is a beautiful book and would make a gorgeous present or look good on your coffee table- the cover itself is lovely. It is packed full of amazing pictures of burlesque queens and their costumes with great detail- copies of photos, handwritten notes and scraps of material. My only criticism is that the author sometimes appears quite naive and narcissistic- with a few photos of herself wearing the queens costumes- why? Apart from this it is a very sumptuous, glamorous, escapist book that you can loose yourself in.

Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese , 11 Oct 2008
'Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese' is a stunning look at the history of both Burlesque and Fetish from the point of view of one of the most famous models and Burlesque dancers of today, Dita Von Teese. It has stunning imagery and is well presented, without being lascivious or in poor taste. This book is class all the way. The various sections focusing on the history of both arts are fascinating, with information you would never have considered and you can tell Dita is both knowledgeable and passionate about her art. If you're a fan of Dita or just interested in Burlesque or Fetish then this is an excellent place to go, and though slightly unorthodox, this would make a wonderful coffee table book.

Stunning and Beautiful, 18 Jan 2008
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book when it came out and it's only now that I am writing my own review.

I love every page of this book and recently I went to her only british book signing at Waterstones and I could not decide which page I wanted her to sign! (She is even more beautiful and amazing in person!!!) Buy it and then treasure this book forever, if you love Dita, Burlesque, old movie star glamour, lingerie....anything girly!

Stunning photography if a little sparse, 12 Jan 2008
I adore Dita, I'd love to kidnap her and keep her under my bed but alas it is not to be.
I loved that this book came in two parts, the front has dita in softer, artistic glamour poses, and the back more fetish and burlesque glamour. The book is a little basic, with bullet points which does give off a little "dummies guide" kind of feel...but over all its worth the money.


lovely, 01 Nov 2007
A great book, beautiful photographs and a real inspiration. Well worth having. Dita is a real officianado of everything glamourous and i really enjoy looking through this book whenever i need a boost of self belief and confidence to really express myself. vive le nouveux burlesque revolution!

Overpriced , Overrated and the same goes for the book as well, 29 Sep 2007
Overpriced calendar. I love burlesque , which can be witty , alluring , sexy and creative. This is a bunch of pictures with hollow commentary. If you want pictures to gawk at well there you go this book is perfect for you. If you're getting this book because you want to know more about Dita von Teese well it's pretty vacuous so are Dita's live perfomances.

This has to be THE humour book of the year!, 29 Nov 2007
This book is a real treasure trove, containing priceless material from the great comic's secret archives. There are absolutely hilarious one-liners, monologues, surrealist letters, scripts and pictures. It has real laugh aloud material showing Dawson's comic genius.

A Sad Fading Srat, 07 Dec 2007
Why does Bruce Forsyth have a big chin, because a normal size one would look daft on such a big head.
I have read many hundreds of autobiographies and sadly this is the saddest I have yet come across.
This book is jam packed with 'Didn't I do Well' attitude. Bruce constantly refers to himself as a star, constantly tells us how great he is, and constantly tells us how great others think he is. Bruce certainly does not have an inferiority complex.
Bruce tells us that he would have been better than Dick van Dyke in Mary Poppins, tells us that there are no UK equivalents to Streisand, Garland and Minnelli - has he never heard of Elaine Page or Ruthie Henshall. Bruce asks why the UK has no attractive comedy performers like Lucille Ball, Mary Tyler Moore and Goldie Hawn, does he mean they were attractive because they weren't funny - they could deliver funny lines!! Has Bruce never heard of Victoria Woods.
I have always been a major fan of Bruce but this book contains the rantings of a self-serving, has-been, I was broken hearted by the end.

Not what I thought, 07 Apr 2003
Don't get me wrong I like Brucie, but the main reason that I purchased this was because I was driving a long way and wanted something to distract me and relax me whilst driving and it was the only suitable talking book available.

From start to finish I learned about Brucies life and realized he is not the persona he is on telly. Oh he is a consumate performer and an excellent one at that but more how his whole life has seen his career take on a path that he might have wanted to be different, well more variety perfomance at least.

It is worth reading if only to hear about one of TVs most loved celebrities even if you are not a big fan of Brucie.

Shame!, 26 Oct 2002
I used to love watching Bruce do his thing on TV - he gave me some good laughs, which is why I bought this book. Having read a few similar biographies before, I looked forward to learning about his ups and downs and bits of his career that I'd have never known about otherwise.

Unfortunately, the entire book is one huge pat on the back for himself. The love he has for what he does comes shining through, but it's all done in such a self-congratulatory way it made me rather dislike the man by the end of the book.

The structure is poor. I'm not saying I could do any better about MY life, but it jumps about all over the place and has many repeated thoughts and ideas.

Compared with Bob Monkhouse's "Crying With Laughter" or "Over The Limit", Bruce's book is very, very poor - and I hate to say it, 'cos I was looking forward to it immensely. But it reads as though he's done no wrong.... ever.... and that nothing remotely bad or unfortunate has happened to him apart from losing the odd TV show.

Sorry, but if this book had been written by anyone else, I'd have given it 1 star!

Didn't he do well!, 20 Oct 2001
Bruce Forsyth was born in to the family made famous in the Forsythe saga! No, I jest. But that's an example of the warm wit that glows from the page and into this reader's face as he nibbled at this book the way one would nibble a nice pie.
I've been a fervent admirer of "Sir" Bruce Forsyth ever since his patriotic "I'm Backing Britain" record was realised in 1976. In it Brucie communicated a love of country rarely articulated by centuries of poets. Well, you backed us then Bruce, now it's our turn.
Seriously, it's all here - a virtual backstage history of British showbiz 1942-2001. I loved the story about Ronnie Corbett's...well you'll have to read it yourself! Sadly Brucie isn't on our screens enough nowadays, if he's playing pro-am golf then good luck to him, but I want Brucie back! Shame on you ITV for axing Play Your Cards Right. Where else are the children of today going to be introduced to the magic of gambling, and where are the dad's of today going to get a treat like I got out of Brucie's Dollies!
Life is the name of Bruce's game and now he shares the game with us. Thanks Bruce, it's been a pleasure.

Nice To Read Him, To Read Him Nice!, 15 Oct 2001
Having always been a fan of Brucie Forsythe, I rushed to buy this book as soon as I discovered it was to be released. Unfortunately, I was a month early, and an agonising four week wait was finally over when this book finally plopped through my letterbox.
From the minute I opened the cover, I couldn't put this book down. Brucie is the UK's favourite entertainer, I'm sure (perhaps one of the world's greatest) and I knew that I was going to hear some great anecdotes from the master. I was not disappointed. One has to remember that this man has been in the business for years and has made millions smile with his fantastic humour. However, he has also done a lot of great work for charity which is often overlooked these days, as celebrities + charity = cheesy. This shouldn't be the case though, and any reader should read the accounts of Bruce's work with respect for a great man.
Of course, 'Brucie' is most well known for being a fantastic quiz show host and a regular on the celebrity pro - am golf circuit. Indeed - he excels at both! Bruce made The Generation Game his own - a tough job having to come behind Larry Grayson. But, Brucie did it. He introduced that fabulous thing he did at the beginning, where he took the pose of a muscle man, then almost tap danced down to centre stage. There was never a week that went by that he didn't do that, and he discusses this in the book. Bruce was also a presenter on You Bet! a forerunner to programmes such as Don't Try This At Home. What we must remember though is that Brucie did it FIRST and he did it BETTER. In this book, Bruce explains the driving force behind his fantastic ability to be able to do things like this, and why he continues even though many say he should have retired years ago (not me though!). Bruce is a national institution in the UK and this book is a fantastic account of why he did it and how he succeeded. If you are a fan of major celebrity biographies or Bruce, then this is the book for you.I would also recommend it if you like one or the other of the above. However, if you like neither, I would look for something else! However, I enjoyed this great read immensely and wish it had gone on for longer. Go on, give it a go!

This has to be THE humour book of the year!, 29 Nov 2007
This book is a real treasure trove, containing priceless material from the great comic's secret archives. There are absolutely hilarious one-liners, monologues, surrealist letters, scripts and pictures. It has real laugh aloud material showing Dawson's comic genius.

Best present ever!, 26 Dec 2007
I was given this beautiful book after my friend discovered I had my own wish list. It really is a wonderful collection of photographs and stories from an enchanted era. I know I will look at this book for inspiration again and again. Truly fabulous!

Pretty things indeed, 17 Nov 2007
This book is beautifully presented and contains a fantastic amount of information on the burlesque queens, their costumes and their lives.

A Beautiful Book, 21 Feb 2007
This is a beautiful book and would make a gorgeous present or look good on your coffee table- the cover itself is lovely. It is packed full of amazing pictures of burlesque queens and their costumes with great detail- copies of photos, handwritten notes and scraps of material. My only criticism is that the author sometimes appears quite naive and narcissistic- with a few photos of herself wearing the queens costumes- why? Apart from this it is a very sumptuous, glamorous, escapist book that you can loose yourself in.

gorgeous, 03 Jun 2008
a real treat of a picture book. lovely black and white photography, a little useful info and lots of Lily StCyr, excellent and truly inspiring.

Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese , 11 Oct 2008
'Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese' is a stunning look at the history of both Burlesque and Fetish from the point of view of one of the most famous models and Burlesque dancers of today, Dita Von Teese. It has stunning imagery and is well presented, without being lascivious or in poor taste. This book is class all the way. The various sections focusing on the history of both arts are fascinating, with information you would never have considered and you can tell Dita is both knowledgeable and passionate about her art. If you're a fan of Dita or just interested in Burlesque or Fetish then this is an excellent place to go, and though slightly unorthodox, this would make a wonderful coffee table book.

Stunning and Beautiful, 18 Jan 2008
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book when it came out and it's only now that I am writing my own review.

I love every page of this book and recently I went to her only british book signing at Waterstones and I could not decide which page I wanted her to sign! (She is even more beautiful and amazing in person!!!) Buy it and then treasure this book forever, if you love Dita, Burlesque, old movie star glamour, lingerie....anything girly!

Stunning photography if a little sparse, 12 Jan 2008
I adore Dita, I'd love to kidnap her and keep her under my bed but alas it is not to be.
I loved that this book came in two parts, the front has dita in softer, artistic glamour poses, and the back more fetish and burlesque glamour. The book is a little basic, with bullet points which does give off a little "dummies guide" kind of feel...but over all its worth the money.


lovely, 01 Nov 2007
A great book, beautiful photographs and a real inspiration. Well worth having. Dita is a real officianado of everything glamourous and i really enjoy looking through this book whenever i need a boost of self belief and confidence to really express myself. vive le nouveux burlesque revolution!

Overpriced , Overrated and the same goes for the book as well, 29 Sep 2007
Overpriced calendar. I love burlesque , which can be witty , alluring , sexy and creative. This is a bunch of pictures with hollow commentary. If you want pictures to gawk at well there you go this book is perfect for you. If you're getting this book because you want to know more about Dita von Teese well it's pretty vacuous so are Dita's live perfomances.

This has to be THE humour book of the year!, 29 Nov 2007
This book is a real treasure trove, containing priceless material from the great comic's secret archives. There are absolutely hilarious one-liners, monologues, surrealist letters, scripts and pictures. It has real laugh aloud material showing Dawson's comic genius.

A Sad Fading Srat, 07 Dec 2007
Why does Bruce Forsyth have a big chin, because a normal size one would look daft on such a big head.
I have read many hundreds of autobiographies and sadly this is the saddest I have yet come across.
This book is jam packed with 'Didn't I do Well' attitude. Bruce constantly refers to himself as a star, constantly tells us how great he is, and constantly tells us how great others think he is. Bruce certainly does not have an inferiority complex.
Bruce tells us that he would have been better than Dick van Dyke in Mary Poppins, tells us that there are no UK equivalents to Streisand, Garland and Minnelli - has he never heard of Elaine Page or Ruthie Henshall. Bruce asks why the UK has no attractive comedy performers like Lucille Ball, Mary Tyler Moore and Goldie Hawn, does he mean they were attractive because they weren't funny - they could deliver funny lines!! Has Bruce never heard of Victoria Woods.
I have always been a major fan of Bruce but this book contains the rantings of a self-serving, has-been, I was broken hearted by the end.

Not what I thought, 07 Apr 2003
Don't get me wrong I like Brucie, but the main reason that I purchased this was because I was driving a long way and wanted something to distract me and relax me whilst driving and it was the only suitable talking book available.

From start to finish I learned about Brucies life and realized he is not the persona he is on telly. Oh he is a consumate performer and an excellent one at that but more how his whole life has seen his career take on a path that he might have wanted to be different, well more variety perfomance at least.

It is worth reading if only to hear about one of TVs most loved celebrities even if you are not a big fan of Brucie.

Shame!, 26 Oct 2002
I used to love watching Bruce do his thing on TV - he gave me some good laughs, which is why I bought this book. Having read a few similar biographies before, I looked forward to learning about his ups and downs and bits of his career that I'd have never known about otherwise.

Unfortunately, the entire book is one huge pat on the back for himself. The love he has for what he does comes shining through, but it's all done in such a self-congratulatory way it made me rather dislike the man by the end of the book.

The structure is poor. I'm not saying I could do any better about MY life, but it jumps about all over the place and has many repeated thoughts and ideas.

Compared with Bob Monkhouse's "Crying With Laughter" or "Over The Limit", Bruce's book is very, very poor - and I hate to say it, 'cos I was looking forward to it immensely. But it reads as though he's done no wrong.... ever.... and that nothing remotely bad or unfortunate has happened to him apart from losing the odd TV show.

Sorry, but if this book had been written by anyone else, I'd have given it 1 star!

Didn't he do well!, 20 Oct 2001
Bruce Forsyth was born in to the family made famous in the Forsythe saga! No, I jest. But that's an example of the warm wit that glows from the page and into this reader's face as he nibbled at this book the way one would nibble a nice pie.
I've been a fervent admirer of "Sir" Bruce Forsyth ever since his patriotic "I'm Backing Britain" record was realised in 1976. In it Brucie communicated a love of country rarely articulated by centuries of poets. Well, you backed us then Bruce, now it's our turn.
Seriously, it's all here - a virtual backstage history of British showbiz 1942-2001. I loved the story about Ronnie Corbett's...well you'll have to read it yourself! Sadly Brucie isn't on our screens enough nowadays, if he's playing pro-am golf then good luck to him, but I want Brucie back! Shame on you ITV for axing Play Your Cards Right. Where else are the children of today going to be introduced to the magic of gambling, and where are the dad's of today going to get a treat like I got out of Brucie's Dollies!
Life is the name of Bruce's game and now he shares the game with us. Thanks Bruce, it's been a pleasure.

Nice To Read Him, To Read Him Nice!, 15 Oct 2001
Having always been a fan of Brucie Forsythe, I rushed to buy this book as soon as I discovered it was to be released. Unfortunately, I was a month early, and an agonising four week wait was finally over when this book finally plopped through my letterbox.
From the minute I opened the cover, I couldn't put this book down. Brucie is the UK's favourite entertainer, I'm sure (perhaps one of the world's greatest) and I knew that I was going to hear some great anecdotes from the master. I was not disappointed. One has to remember that this man has been in the business for years and has made millions smile with his fantastic humour. However, he has also done a lot of great work for charity which is often overlooked these days, as celebrities + charity = cheesy. This shouldn't be the case though, and any reader should read the accounts of Bruce's work with respect for a great man.
Of course, 'Brucie' is most well known for being a fantastic quiz show host and a regular on the celebrity pro - am golf circuit. Indeed - he excels at both! Bruce made The Generation Game his own - a tough job having to come behind Larry Grayson. But, Brucie did it. He introduced that fabulous thing he did at the beginning, where he took the pose of a muscle man, then almost tap danced down to centre stage. There was never a week that went by that he didn't do that, and he discusses this in the book. Bruce was also a presenter on You Bet! a forerunner to programmes such as Don't Try This At Home. What we must remember though is that Brucie did it FIRST and he did it BETTER. In this book, Bruce explains the driving force behind his fantastic ability to be able to do things like this, and why he continues even though many say he should have retired years ago (not me though!). Bruce is a national institution in the UK and this book is a fantastic account of why he did it and how he succeeded. If you are a fan of major celebrity biographies or Bruce, then this is the book for you.I would also recommend it if you like one or the other of the above. However, if you like neither, I would look for something else! However, I enjoyed this great read immensely and wish it had gone on for longer. Go on, give it a go!

This has to be THE humour book of the year!, 29 Nov 2007
This book is a real treasure trove, containing priceless material from the great comic's secret archives. There are absolutely hilarious one-liners, monologues, surrealist letters, scripts and pictures. It has real laugh aloud material showing Dawson's comic genius.

Best present ever!, 26 Dec 2007
I was given this beautiful book after my friend discovered I had my own wish list. It really is a wonderful collection of photographs and stories from an enchanted era. I know I will look at this book for inspiration again and again. Truly fabulous!

Pretty things indeed, 17 Nov 2007
This book is beautifully presented and contains a fantastic amount of information on the burlesque queens, their costumes and their lives.

A Beautiful Book, 21 Feb 2007
This is a beautiful book and would make a gorgeous present or look good on your coffee table- the cover itself is lovely. It is packed full of amazing pictures of burlesque queens and their costumes with great detail- copies of photos, handwritten notes and scraps of material. My only criticism is that the author sometimes appears quite naive and narcissistic- with a few photos of herself wearing the queens costumes- why? Apart from this it is a very sumptuous, glamorous, escapist book that you can loose yourself in.

gorgeous, 03 Jun 2008
a real treat of a picture book. lovely black and white photography, a little useful info and lots of Lily StCyr, excellent and truly inspiring.

Brilliant!, 05 Dec 2006
An incisive and well researched guide, suitable for both the hardened expert and the complete novice. Everything you could ever possibly want to know about british comedy is covered. And lots more you never knew you wanted to know. Buy it now or regret it!

Ooh! you are (far from) awful!, 21 Nov 2006
A truly informative guide; what Mr Hall doesn't know about British cult comedy could be written on a very small postage stamp. Very authorititative and written in a clear, honest style, the book does well not to fall into the trap of parodying its own subject matter. And like the best of books, I found myself chortling to myself at some of the passages.

One small criticism - why oh why is there no entry for Rod Hull and Emu, quite possibly the best post-modern bird-man routine the world has ever known? That shocking omission has cost Mr Hall a star.

Laughing matters, 13 Nov 2006
This is a template for everything a good guide should be. It is an excellent starting point for comedy virgins at the same time as being a great reference source for the initiated. The Rough Guide to British Cult Comedy is an invaluable aid for anyone who is thinking of venturing into, regularly attends or lives in a UK comedy club. It's a pretty comprehensive guide to the very best of television comedy too


A cult book about cult comedy!, 13 Nov 2006
I have always followed comedy and love nothing else than going to my local comedy club on a Saturday night...but i realised my knowledge of classic cult British comedy was severly lacking when i read this book!

It's incredibly well written, well thought out and informative...and i've learnt loads of interesting facts and info on some of my favourite British comedians! Eddie Izzard being mine and my boyfriends favourite stand-up.

The perfect stocking filler! I couldn't recommend it highly enough!

compact, informative and funny book, 08 Nov 2006
"I think that the most important thing about this book is that it bigs up some of the unsung heroes of the comedy circuit and not just the well-known names. I really enjoyed the anecdotes in the book and I only wish there were more!"

This thorough and thoroughly enjoyable biography of Britain's best- loved double act opens with the phenomena that was their 1977 Christmas Day television show. An unequalled audience of 29 million viewers watched Eric and Ernie do their stuff while Angela Rippon high kicked, Eddie Waring turned back flips, and a confused Elton John complained of having been "all over the place" looking for the studio. "In that suit?", replied an incredulous Eric. This was the last great flowering of the music halls transported to nearly every sitting room in the UK. Graham McCann evocatively recreates the now lost world of entertainment where the young Eric Barthlomew and Ernie Wiseman learned their trade. But it was when they escaped sharing a bill with unicyclists and paper tearers and got on the box that they were finally crowned as a national institution.

McCann does not hide the exhausting hard work that went into their shows, or stint in his praise for their scriptwriters, but it is in recalling their genius for making people of all classes laugh--apparently including the Queen who watched in 1977--that this book is a most affectionate and fitting tribute to two men who really did bring sunshine to millions. --Nick Wroe

Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese , 11 Oct 2008
'Burlesque and the Art of the Teese / Fetish and the Art of the Teese' is a stunning look at the history of both Burlesque and Fetish from the point of view of one of the most famous models and Burlesque dancers of today, Dita Von Teese. It has stunning imagery and is well presented, without being lascivious or in poor taste. This book is class all the way. The various sections focusing on the history of both arts are fascinating, with information you would never have considered and you can tell Dita is both knowledgeable and passionate about her art. If you're a fan of Dita or just interested in Burlesque or Fetish then this is an excellent place to go, and though slightly unorthodox, this would make a wonderful coffee table book.

Stunning and Beautiful, 18 Jan 2008
I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book when it came out and it's only now that I am writing my own review.

I love every page of this book and recently I went to her only british book signing at Waterstones and I could not decide which page I wanted her to sign! (She is even more beautiful and amazing in person!!!) Buy it and then treasure this book forever, if you love Dita, Burlesque, old movie star glamour, lingerie....anything girly!

Stunning photography if a little sparse, 12 Jan 2008
I adore Dita, I'd love to kidnap her and keep her under my bed but alas it is not to be.
I loved that this book came in two parts, the front has dita in softer, artistic glamour poses, and the back more fetish and burlesque glamour. The book is a little basic, with bullet points which does give off a little "dummies guide" kind of feel...but over all its worth the money.


lovely, 01 Nov 2007
A great book, beautiful photographs and a real inspiration. Well worth having. Dita is a real officianado of everything glamourous and i really enjoy looking through this book whenever i need a boost of self belief and confidence to really express myself. vive le nouveux burlesque revolution!

Overpriced , Overrated and the same goes for the book as well, 29 Sep 2007
Overpriced calendar. I love burlesque , which can be witty , alluring , sexy and creative. This is a bunch of pictures with hollow commentary. If you want pictures to gawk at well there you go this book is perfect for you. If you're getting this book because you want to know more about Dita von Teese well it's pretty vacuous so are Dita's live perfomances.

This has to be THE humour book of the year!, 29 Nov 2007
This book is a real treasure trove, containing priceless material from the great comic's secret archives. There are absolutely hilarious one-liners, monologues, surrealist letters, scripts and pictures. It has real laugh aloud material showing Dawson's comic genius.

A Sad Fading Srat, 07 Dec 2007
Why does Bruce Forsyth have a big chin, because a normal size one would look daft on such a big head.
I have read many hundreds of autobiographies and sadly this is the saddest I have yet come across.
This book is jam packed with 'Didn't I do Well' attitude. Bruce constantly refers to himself as a star, constantly tells us how great he is, and constantly tells us how great others think he is. Bruce certainly does not have an inferiority complex.
Bruce tells us that he would have been better than Dick van Dyke in Mary Poppins, tells us that there are no UK equivalents to Streisand, Garland and Minnelli - has he never heard of Elaine Page or Ruthie Henshall. Bruce asks why the UK has no attractive comedy performers like Lucille Ball, Mary Tyler Moore and Goldie Hawn, does he mean they were attractive because they weren't funny - they could deliver funny lines!! Has Bruce never heard of Victoria Woods.
I have always been a major fan of Bruce but this book contains the rantings of a self-serving, has-been, I was broken hearted by the end.

Not what I thought, 07 Apr 2003
Don't get me wrong I like Brucie, but the main reason that I purchased this was because I was driving a long way and wanted something to distract me and relax me whilst driving and it was the only suitable talking book available.

From start to finish I learned about Brucies life and realized he is not the persona he is on telly. Oh he is a consumate performer and an excellent one at that but more how his whole life has seen his career take on a path that he might have wanted to be different, well more variety perfomance at least.

It is worth reading if only to hear about one of TVs most loved celebrities even if you are not a big fan of Brucie.

Shame!, 26 Oct 2002
I used to love watching Bruce do his thing on TV - he gave me some good laughs, which is why I bought this book. Having read a few similar biographies before, I looked forward to learning about his ups and downs and bits of his career that I'd have never known about otherwise.

Unfortunately, the entire book is one huge pat on the back for himself. The love he has for what he does comes shining through, but it's all done in such a self-congratulatory way it made me rather dislike the man by the end of the book.

The structure is poor. I'm not saying I could do any better about MY life, but it jumps about all over the place and has many repeated thoughts and ideas.

Compared with Bob Monkhouse's "Crying With Laughter" or "Over The Limit", Bruce's book is very, very poor - and I hate to say it, 'cos I was looking forward to it immensely. But it reads as though he's done no wrong.... ever.... and that nothing remotely bad or unfortunate has happened to him apart from losing the odd TV show.

Sorry, but if this book had been written by anyone else, I'd have given it 1 star!

Didn't he do well!, 20 Oct 2001
Bruce Forsyth was born in to the family made famous in the Forsythe saga! No, I jest. But that's an example of the warm wit that glows from the page and into this reader's face as he nibbled at this book the way one would nibble a nice pie.
I've been a fervent admirer of "Sir" Bruce Forsyth ever since his patriotic "I'm Backing Britain" record was realised in 1976. In it Brucie communicated a love of country rarely articulated by centuries of poets. Well, you backed us then Bruce, now it's our turn.
Seriously, it's all here - a virtual backstage history of British showbiz 1942-2001. I loved the story about Ronnie Corbett's...well you'll have to read it yourself! Sadly Brucie isn't on our screens enough nowadays, if he's playing pro-am golf then good luck to him, but I want Brucie back! Shame on you ITV for axing Play Your Cards Right. Where else are the children of today going to be introduced to the magic of gambling, and where are the dad's of today going to get a treat like I got out of Brucie's Dollies!
Life is the name of Bruce's game and now he shares the game with us. Thanks Bruce, it's been a pleasure.

Nice To Read Him, To Read Him Nice!, 15 Oct 2001
Having always been a fan of Brucie Forsythe, I rushed to buy this book as soon as I discovered it was to be released. Unfortunately, I was a month early, and an agonising four week wait was finally over when this book finally plopped through my letterbox.
From the minute I opened the cover, I couldn't put this book down. Brucie is the UK's favourite entertainer, I'm sure (perhaps one of the world's greatest) and I knew that I was going to hear some great anecdotes from the master. I was not disappointed. One has to remember that this man has been in the business for years and has made millions smile with his fantastic humour. However, he has also done a lot of great work for charity which is often overlooked these days, as celebrities + charity = cheesy. This shouldn't be the case though, and any reader should read the accounts of Bruce's work with respect for a great man.
Of course, 'Brucie' is most well known for being a fantastic quiz show host and a regular on the celebrity pro - am golf circuit. Indeed - he excels at both! Bruce made The Generation Game his own - a tough job having to come behind Larry Grayson. But, Brucie did it. He introduced that fabulous thing he did at the beginning, where he took the pose of a muscle man, then almost tap danced down to centre stage. There was never a week that went by that he didn't do that, and he discusses this in the book. Bruce was also a presenter on You Bet! a forerunner to programmes such as Don't Try This At Home. What we must remember though is that Brucie did it FIRST and he did it BETTER. In this book, Bruce explains the driving force behind his fantastic ability to be able to do things like this, and why he continues even though many say he should have retired years ago (not me though!). Bruce is a national institution in the UK and this book is a fantastic account of why he did it and how he succeeded. If you are a fan of major celebrity biographies or Bruce, then this is the book for you.I would also recommend it if you like one or the other of the above. However, if you like neither, I would look for something else! However, I enjoyed this great read immensely and wish it had gone on for longer. Go on, give it a go!

This has to be THE humour book of the year!, 29 Nov 2007
This book is a real treasure trove, containing priceless material from the great comic's secret archives. There are absolutely hilarious one-liners, monologues, surrealist letters, scripts and pictures. It has real laugh aloud material showing Dawson's comic genius.

Best present ever!, 26 Dec 2007
I was given this beautiful book after my friend discovered I had my own wish list. It really is a wonderful collection of photographs and stories from an enchanted era. I know I will look at this book for inspiration again and again. Truly fabulous!

Pretty things indeed, 17 Nov 2007
This book is beautifully presented and contains a fantastic amount of information on the burlesque queens, their costumes and their lives.

A Beautiful Book, 21 Feb 2007
This is a beautiful book and would make a gorgeous present or look good on your coffee table- the cover itself is lovely. It is packed full of amazing pictures of burlesque queens and their costumes with great detail- copies of photos, handwritten notes and scraps of material. My only criticism is that the author sometimes appears quite naive and narcissistic- with a few photos of herself wearing the queens costumes- why? Apart from this it is a very sumptuous, glamorous, escapist book that you can loose yourself in.

gorgeous, 03 Jun 2008
a real treat of a picture book. lovely black and white photography, a little useful info and lots of Lily StCyr, excellent and truly inspiring.

Brilliant!, 05 Dec 2006
An incisive and well researched guide, suitable for both the hardened expert and the complete novice. Everything you could ever possibly want to know about british comedy is covered. And lots more you never knew you wanted to know. Buy it now or regret it!

Ooh! you are (far from) awful!, 21 Nov 2006
A truly informative guide; what Mr Hall doesn't know about British cult comedy could be written on a very small postage stamp. Very authorititative and written in a clear, honest style, the book does well not to fall into the trap of parodying its own subject matter. And like the best of books, I found myself chortling to myself at some of the passages.

One small criticism - why oh why is there no entry for Rod Hull and Emu, quite possibly the best post-modern bird-man routine the world has ever known? That shocking omission has cost Mr Hall a star.

Laughing matters, 13 Nov 2006
This is a template for everything a good guide should be. It is an excellent starting point for comedy virgins at the same time as being a great reference source for the initiated. The Rough Guide to British Cult Comedy is an invaluable aid for anyone who is thinking of venturing into, regularly attends or lives in a UK comedy club. It's a pretty comprehensive guide to the very best of television comedy too


A cult book about cult comedy!, 13 Nov 2006
I have always followed comedy and love nothing else than going to my local comedy club on a Saturday night...but i realised my knowledge of classic cult British comedy was severly lacking when i read this book!

It's incredibly well written, well thought out and informative...and i've learnt loads of interesting facts and info on some of my favourite British comedians! Eddie Izzard being mine and my boyfriends favourite stand-up.

The perfect stocking filler! I couldn't recommend it highly enough!

compact, informative and funny book, 08 Nov 2006
"I think that the most important thing about this book is that it bigs up some of the unsung heroes of the comedy circuit and not just the well-known names. I really enjoyed the anecdotes in the book and I only wish there were more!"


Everything I wanted to know...and more!, 13 Feb 2008
I never did this before, but I wanted to let people know about this book and my love for Morecambe and Wise. Being probably the only dutch fan in The Netherlands, I have become to rely on the internet on information about this famous double-act. So after I bought every tape/DVD I could get my hands on (including all volumes of Two A Kind-serie), my hunger was not stilled, that's why I bought my very first book here at Amazon.Co.UK. It was a very revealing-experience for me. I must admit that some of the words I did not know, but reading around them I learned a lot about those two I love so much. I know I don't have the emotional attachment you people have with Morecambe & Wise seeing them "live" on TV, when you grew up, but they found their place in my life and now and again I need a shot of Morecambe and Wise and play of their tapes. Fortunately for me, they are re-releasing all of the complete original series in the right running order on DVD and I intend to buy the all and play the often. On the first DVD set I watched I only saw 2 minutes of material I recognised, everything else was completely new for me.
Having read this book I understand them so much better. Where they came from, what their impact has been (or maybe still is) on people living the UK, how difficult their early years have been, the little did-you-know-facts about routines I know so well, why they worked together so well, how much the relied on their writers and what made them so incredibly funny.
My advise? Buy this book, when you think you know them already from your childhood and want to learn more about them. Buy this book when you know nothing about them, because you were simply born in the "wrong country". Or buy beacause this book is almost mandatory reading material, when you love good timeless comedy.
The book is tells their stories from their birth, untill the second half of double-act has passed away. It sometimes makes small detoures, but makes them understandably and they always enriches the general flow of the story instead of confusing things. And because Morecambe And Wise were so funny, this book is also at times very funny. I found meself laughing out loud on several places, because it would recall routines I know by heart. (like the Andre Preview-sketch).
Thanks to this book I know my heroes so much better and appriciate them so much more. Thanks!

Spanjeganger

What Do You Think Of It So Far?, 17 Mar 2006
I grew up with Eric and Ern; the tall one with the specs and the little one with 'short, hairy legs'. Drawing on years of interviews with 'the boys' as well as scriptwriter Eddie Braben, producers John Ammonds and Ernest Maxin, head of light entertainment Bill Cotton and many others, this book is an Aladdin's cave of information and manages to be wonderfully entertaining in the process.

From their humble origins as club comics in the pre and post-war years, McCann takes the reader through the '50's - and their disastrous television debut 'Running Wild' - to the '60's - when they struck gold at A.T.V. - beyond into the '70s - their golden years at the B.B.C. - and the '80's when they committed professional suicide by moving to Thames. 'Night-Train To Murder' was an unqualified disaster.

Eric's death in 1984 ( Ernie passed away in 1999 ) ended a memorable chapter in British comedy. No-one will ever take their place. They were the best.

Their unsuccessful attempts at cracking America and the movies they made for Rank are analysed but the highlight of this book for me was the chapter devoted to their legendary Christmas shows. The 1977 one alone was viewed by a staggering 28 million viewers! I'm glad I was one of them.

excellent, 21 Jan 2002
I didn't know too much about this great British double act,but a friend introduced me to them via video a few years ago during a stay in London and I became hooked.This book really hits the spot.The research is really awesome.It tells a fascinating story,and tells it very well.Now I appreciate so much more of the comedy.

Plenty of detail, but lacking in atmosphere, 08 Dec 2001
This is an enjoyable enough book if you are willing to go along with the idea that comedy can be intellectualized, as opposed to simply enjoyed for what it is. As in previous books with McCann, much time and effort appears to have been spent by his researchers in dedicating one-third of the book to index. But it's interesting stuff, even if the spirit of comedy comes second best to the clinical approach of the work. I didn't sense the era from which this mighty double-act emerged, and I didn't come away singing Bring Me Sunshine. And, sadly, I doubt that the author would have wanted me too! But it's worth the price and can only add to the many other books written about Eric and Ernie.

Excellently researched, 19 Mar 2001
Morecambe and Wise have been very well served by this excellently-researched book. It is rare for comedians to be given an academic approach (e.g. a large section of endnotes), but the writing is far from dry even though - a most refreshing change - sources for all important information are given.

What comes through above all is that Morecambe and Wise, a brilliant partnership, were unbelievably conscientious in preparing their performances. Their genius and hard work (quite apart from their singing and dancing skills) made them the best-loved comic team in British history.