Paul Merton is working on his autobiography
Have I Got News For You star Paul Merton is to write his autobiography.
The comedian has begun working on chapters, with the book set to be released in the shops this autumn. He will cover his childhood in South London, his early jobs and his eventual move into performing comedy.
Merton's life has also featured some difficult moments. In 1990 he checked himself into the Maudsley Hospital for psychiatric health after suffering from paranoid delusions; his marriage to sitcom actress Caroline Quentin ended in divorce in 1997; and his second wife, producer and actress Sarah Parkinson, died of breast cancer in 2003. All of these topics are expected to be discussed in the book.
Merton says: "Until I sat down to write my autobiography I had no idea my life story was so fascinating - what with its tremendous ups and downs both in and out of showbusiness. I can't wait to see what happens next."
Jake Lingwood from Ebury Publishing adds: "It is no exaggeration to say that I have been talking to Paul about this book for at least a decade. Paul is something of a national treasure. People really love him and instinctively know that his story will of course be witty and amusing but will also have real depth. This is what will make it a great read and I'm sure it will be one of the non-fiction books of the year."
This will not be Merton's first book. In 1995 he published Paul Merton's History of the Twentieth Century, a book in which famous photos were doctored to make them more comical, and in 1996 he published a spoof showbiz autobiography called My Struggle. He has also written a non-fiction book about silent comedy, one of his life-long passions.
The new autobiography - which does not yet have a title - is expected to be released on 26th September 2013. It is one of a number of memoirs from famous comedians in the works. John Cleese and Jennifer Saunders are amongst the other people currently preparing their memoirs.
Merton continues to star in Have I Got News For You on Friday nights, Radio 4's Just A Minute on Mondays, and also tours with the show Paul Merton's Impro Chums.
Here is Merton performing on last Friday's Have I Got News For You:
And here is an animated audio clip linked to Just A Minute, in which Merton talks nonsense for 60 seconds on the subject of 'Sudoku':
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