Danny Baker memoirs turned into a BBC comedy drama
The BBC making a comedy drama about the early life of broadcaster Danny Baker.
The radio and TV presenter told The Express newspaper that the first volume of his autobiography - Going To Sea In A Sieve - is being adapted for television.
Baker said: "I'm making a TV show of the first book. It'll be a comedy drama on the BBC and out later this year."
The programme will follow the story of Baker's early years, up to his first jobs in radio. He added: "I'm not sure if I'm going to star in it myself yet."
The presenter currently hosts a show on Radio 5 Live. Prior to that he ran an award-winning show on BBC London, however the programme was axed in November 2012 leading to Baker sounding off live on air about the decision, a monologue in which he called the station's BBC executives "pinheaded weasels".
Baker, who is familiar to TV viewers having appeared as a guest on shows including Have I Got News For You and presented various game shows, revealed in 2010 that he had been diagnosed with cancer. In June 2011 he announced his treatment was successful and he had been given the all clear.
Going To Sea In A Sieve was first released in 2012. The sleeve notes for the book say: "Born in 1957 in Deptford, south London, Danny's first job after dropping out of school at the age of 15 was in One Stop Records, a small record shop in London's West End, frequented by Elton John and Mick Jagger, a store rather like the one in High Fidelity. His career in print journalism began in 1976 when he co-founded the fanzine Sniffin' Glue leading to an offer from the New Musical Express, where his first job was as a receptionist. Soon after, Baker was contributing regular astute articles, reviews and later interviews to the publication. Danny then began making 30-minute documentaries at LWT for the cult series 20th Century Box, and appeared in two television commercials: Daz washing powder and Mars Bar chocolate.
"His stellar career on the radio began on BBC GLR in 1989, then moved to BBC Radio 5 where he presented sports shows including the groundbreaking 6-0-6, which still influences the media's approach to criticism of players, managers and referees. He also worked on BBC Radio 1, back to BBC GLR, Talk Radio and later on Virgin Radio. On his return to BBC last May, Danny won 'Sony Radio Personality of the Year' and appeared on Desert Island Discs last July. Six months earlier he had gone public on his cancer and chemotherapy treatment, and thankfully all seems well."
Baker is now working on a second book, with a third planned. The next instalment - titled Going To Sea - is out later this year. Baker told The Express: "The second will be out in September this year - I was supposed to do it last year but making the TV show of the first one has taken up my time."
More details on the new TV programme are expected to be released by the BBC nearer the time.