Jilly Cooper

We don't need writers. Not in the sense that we need farmers, plumbers or even estate agents. Consequently, many of history's greatest wordsmiths - all of whom had bills to pay - put their literary flair to some surprising uses before finding success.

Ian Leslie presents this new comedy show uncovering the surprising nine-to-fives of our literary idols' formative years. With Mathew Baynton and John Finnemore among the guests, the show exposes the bizarre early writings of extraordinary authors and poets, from Jilly Cooper's abortive foray into war reporting to Hunter S Thompson's unlikely stint in customer relations for a major American airline.

Frolics, romance and a VERY frothy farce

Thomas Hardy was not exactly a merry old soul, but this film turns his period romance Far From The Madding Crowd into a sexy frolic that's like a frenzied coupling of Richard Curtis and Jilly Cooper.