Spotlight
Spotlight is a home for creative storytelling of all kinds - from memoir to gift and humour, talent-led fiction to beautifully designed books by comedy geniuses, music idols, creators, buzzy platforms, icons of TV and film and sporting heroes.
George Harrison (Author)
George Harrison's own intimate, beautiful collection of more than two hundred never-before-collected photos of the Beatles at work and at play – the vast majority published for the first time.
From 1963 to 1969, George Harrison travelled the world with his bandmates, Pentax in hand, chronicling their impossible path from Liverpool to Ed Sullivan, Adelaide to Rishikesh, the Eiffel Tower to the beaches of Tahiti and beyond.
In this extraordinary collection of George’s personal photos and 8mm film stills – curated by Olivia Harrison, George’s widow – are singular images of Paul, John, Ringo, and George and the band’s friends and entourage as they rocketed to stardom and fostered the joyful madness that came to be known as Beatlemania. This revelatory, beautifully designed book takes the reader along on their first plane ride to the US, motorcades through the Australian outback, shopping trips in Paris, and more.
The candid, unguarded photos, brimming with a Harrison’s wit, intelligence and penchant for experimentation (he was enamoured of selfies, long before the iPhone), and snapped in those rare moments out of the spotlight offer a remarkable, inside look at the human beings behind the Beatles, trying to hold onto themselves – and enjoy themselves – while standing at the centre of the storm.
The Third Eye opens a window into the world of the Beatles – and the transformative cultural moment that they sparked – through the singular artistic vision of George Harrison.
GK Barry (Author)
Chaotic, reckless and 100% unfiltered: this is the hilarious world according to hugely popular social media star, TV star and podcaster GK Barry.
Before we jump in, I should probably tell you what this book isn’t. It’s not an autobiography (I’m still too fresh out the womb) or self-development guide (er, be real). Neither does it contain a magic formula that’s going to give you the solution to surviving every plot twist life decides to throw at you. None of my ‘advice’ – and I use the term in the loosest possible sense – should be taken as gospel. Or even at all.
I’m not an expert on anything except my own life and, therefore, my own f*** ups and that’s what I’m going to be sharing with you here in order to make all of you feel better about yourselves because we’re all trying to navigate our way through life and it is wild out there. I’m going to give you the tea on losing my virginity, STIs, pubic hair, hangxiety, sexuality and why I became a raging lez. We’ll delve into body image, dating disasters, the digital world, dealing with exes, getting revenge on the pricks who made your life hell at school and how to start caring less about the opinions of others.
Expect the following pages to be full of hypocrisy and contradictions because I’m very much a work in progress and still figuring all this out myself. I’m laying every last bit of personal trauma out there for the greater good of humanity which basically makes me a saint and you can thank me later.
Louise Thompson (Author)
The number 1 Sunday Times bestseller. Now including a new chapter, with untold stories updating on Louise's life.
How do you learn to live again when you've danced with death?
Louise’s road to having a baby was far from easy, suffering a heartbreaking miscarriage during her first pregnancy and being caught in a terrifying house fire in her second. But her troubles were far from over when she gave birth. During an emergency c-section, she had severe complications and fought for her life over a number of days, whilst her son was taken into NICU. This terrifying experience impacted on Louise's mental health in a way that completely changed her life, as she has battled to come to terms with what happened to her, whilst also becoming a mother.
As Louise has rebuilt herself step by step, she has reflected back on her past – from her childhood and dynamics with her family, to her struggles with alcohol and toxic relationships, as well as the rollercoaster years of her time on Made in Chelsea.
Louise’s experience has changed the way she sees the world and redefined what's important to her. She has taken her life-shattering experience as inspiration to become a campaigner for women's health and led the charge in asking the government to appoint a maternity commissioner in the hope that other women won't suffer the same birth trauma that she did. Although it has been a challenging journey, she is determined to come out more alive than ever. Louise’s powerful story, told with raw honesty, shows the incredible human ability to overcome anything, no matter what life throws at you.
'Searing, truthful and compassionate. Louise Thompson might count herself Lucky but we are the lucky ones to have this book.' Elizabeth Day
'Amazing. I cried so much. It's a really important and gorgeous book that Louise has poured her heart into.' Giovanna Fletcher
Alice Cooper (Author)
The definitive autobiography from Alice Cooper, the Godfather of Shock Rock and one of the world's most iconic musicians with a career spanning six decades.
In the beginning, Alice Cooper was the name of a rock group. Then my stage name. And then a monster. Now I’ve written a book that tracks Alice’s 'evilution', how he and I became almost fatally intertwined, and how I’ve tamed him at last.
After over thirty records and sixty-plus years, the story of Alice Cooper has become a tangle of embellishments, elaborations and outright fabrications, that I think it’s time to sort reality from myth: the slaughtered chickens, the bans and record burnings, the evangelical terrors, Ouija boards and poltergeists, resurrections and revenge from the grave, the cross-dressers, thieves, drug addicts and hopeless alcoholics, the house fires and car crashes – all will be revealed for what they really were.
I’m also coming clean about the extent of my addictions, my blackout years, the creative process fuelled by alcohol, drugs and round-the-clock TV, my scramble to the top of the pile and the terrible slide back down. I want to talk about the origin of Cold Ethyl, the guillotine and the dead babies, the best and worst of my reviews, my feelings of guilt and regret after people got hurt or died, what life was like on the road until the wheels came off the bus, what a romantic I am at heart and how I’ve stayed married for half a century even after my wife came at me with a frying pan.
And I want to talk about God. Don’t worry, I’m not gonna bang you on the head with a Bible, I just want to describe how it is that I found Him dwelling in me. Alice, that inveterate liar, was a voice in my ear for so long, whispering lies and sweet nothings, pretending to be my better conscience and my inspiration, pretending to be me, that I think it’s only right to present both sides of the story: the angel on one shoulder, the devil on the other.
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‘Alice is a survivor from the early years of this crazy industry and its wildest days, and a card-carrying member of rock ‘n’ roll royalty. A bona fide original, he's been the inspiration for so many well-known artists that followed him, Guns N’ Roses included. He's also one of the most humble and unassuming people in his position, but somehow still as genuinely rock ‘n’ roll as it comes. Alice Cooper f***ing rocks.’ Slash
‘Fact: Alice is one of my oldest and dearest friends. He has a kindness and generosity that is marinated in deep faith; he’s also funny as hell, a realist, and uniquely iconic. He can spin a yarn spectacularly and have you hanging on every word. As they say, the proof is in the pudding, and this is rich dessert.’ Bernie Taupin
‘This is the tale of two fascinating characters – Vince Furnier and Alice Cooper – who, between them, took rock music to heights simultaneously shocking and sophisticated, together with a slew of top songs. But, above all, brilliantly and crazily theatrical, which is right up my alley.’ Tim Rice
‘Like many of us, Alice Cooper is a lot of people sharing one outer shell. Unlike many of us, that shell has performed on stages all over the world. I've known him for years, but I never knew the many versions of him until this revealing, honest, fascinating and sometimes raw autobiography. This book is a journey through the heart of rock ‘n’ roll, the mind of a wild disciple, and the soul of an artist trying to make sense of it all.’ Mitch Albom
Andy Serkis (Author)
‘The characters choosing the actor … Would they, I wonder? Would they choose me? If I told them my life story, what would they think? What would I even say? Where would I even start?’
When Andy Serkis was asked to write his memoir, he knew one thing for certain.
He wanted it to be a bit… different.
Sure, he’d tell the stories. He’d take the reader to his childhood divided between Ruislip and Baghdad. He’d tell them of his early days as an actor, and how he created the characters that made his name — Gollum, Caesar, Ulysses Klaue. And he’d take them behind the scenes of huge franchises like Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes, the Marvel cinematic universe and Star Wars.
But soon he realised that his story wasn’t just about his own life. It was intertwined with the countless lives of extraordinary people, both real and imaginary, as well as strange creatures and emotional animals.
So, in this book, Andy invites us into a genre-defying conversation between actor and character, imagination and reality. And he provides an answer to a question that has been on his mind since the day he watched his cat coughing up a fur ball and making a noise that sounded very much like gollum…
What would Andy’s most iconic characters make of the man who brought them to life?
Greg James (Author)
With a brand new exclusive chapter for this paperback edition!
Hilarious and life-affirming, All the Best for the Future urges you not to sleepwalk into life, always remember to find the fun in the everyday, and to embrace your inner child as you navigate how to grow up without growing old.
'If only more people thought like this.' Sunday Times
'Delightful, warm, reassuring and so much kindness. Very funny.' Joe Lycett
Mark Cavendish (Author)
The final word on a record-breaking career from cycling's most formidable sprinter.
Mark Cavendish is the stand-out British cyclist of our most golden generation. With his 35th Tour de France win in 2024, he became the outright all-time record holder for the most stage victories at the world's greatest cycling event. Breaking the record that had lasted for 48 years, Cavendish carved his name into history.
In this definitive autobiography, he provides an intimate account of his exhilarating career, transporting readers to his most unforgettable racing moments. With incredible photographic accuracy and insight, Cavendish recalls his final poignant victories of the Tour de France, sealing his legacy as one of the greatest road racers of all time.
Yet for all the once-in-a-generation talent and success, Mark has always been candid about the personal battle that it has taken to achieve greatness, and his story is one of struggle, sacrifice and the power of human determination. This compelling autobiography offers a rare perspective into the true psyche of a champion. Giving his definitive account with a fully reflective perspective, Mark tells the whole truth about himself and the era of cycling that he has graced.
Paloma Faith (Author)
***THE INSTANT NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER***'The most raw, funny and liberating look at what it is to be a woman.' – FEARNE COTTON
‘Paloma is a storyteller like no other. Empowering and healing – a whole generation of women are about to feel SEEN!’ – GIOVANNA FLETCHER
'Gritty, funny, poetic and freeing.' – ANNA MATHUR, Psychotherapist and bestselling author
'A tremendous book, both entertaining and important' – The i newspaper
Can women 'have it all'?
What does it mean to be a woman and a mother in the modern age?
In this passionate, funny and fierce polemic, Paloma Faith delves deep into the
issues that face women today, from puberty and sexual awakenings, to battling
through the expectations of patriarchy and the Supermum myth.
Infused with Paloma's characteristic humour, and raw honesty about the
challenges of IVF and the early years of motherhood, this book is a beautiful
celebration of women's work and the invisible load women carry. Moving from
questions around identity and how motherhood impacts on that, to what it even
means to be a 'good mother', how we need to embrace messiness,
imperfection and the bittersweet pleasures of being 'selfish', and putting
ourselves first.
Paloma invites us into her own coming of age and relationship with her mum, to
explore how our bonds with our children evolve into adulthood. We see a
glimpse of the complexities and joys of Paloma's experience of juggling
romantic love, heartbreak and dating with the demands of motherhood.
Published by Happy Place Books
Kevin Rowland (Author)
SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
A searingly honest memoir from Dexys’ iconic frontman, one of the great mavericks and creative geniuses of British music.
At home, the prayerful eight-year-old altar boy was planning to attend college to train to be a priest. Elsewhere, he was thieving, lying, swearing, fighting and rarely out of trouble.
In this astonishing memoir, Kevin takes us from the juvenile courts of his troubled teenage years to the early days of the New Romantic scene in the late ’70s. An unwavering passion for music and highly tuned sense of fashion and style ignited an unstoppable drive within him, compelling him down a path that led to his huge chart successes with Dexys Midnight Runners in the early 1980s. However, despite being celebrated as a creative genius, inner turmoil was never far away, and a terrifying series of self-sabotaging events were to follow – including a serious cocaine addiction – leaving him in the wilderness in the 1990s, bankrupt, living in a bedsit, on the dole.
Always resilient in the face of adversity, after a massive upheaval Kevin found his way back. He charts his return journey, from shocking audiences with his pioneering embrace of gender fluidity with My Beauty, right through to Dexys’ triumphant appearance at Glastonbury in 2024.
Vividly detailed, and with a truly rare degree of self-insight, this is Kevin's own, deeply personal account of an extraordinary life, raw and unvarnished. A remarkable memoir, as compelling and original as you would expect from one of the pioneering icons of music history.
Geoff Hurst (Author)
And here comes Hurst. He's got... Some people are on the pitch. They think it's all over. It is now. It's four!
Geoff Hurst's extraordinary hat trick turned him into a global superstar overnight. There is no player in the history of the game so universally identified with a single match.
But the full story of the nation's biggest ever sporting victory is about much more than those final moments. Here Geoff remembers his teammates, the times they spent on and off the pitch, the extraordinary journey they went on together, what football meant to each of them, their work ethic, their culture of team loyalty, their continued bond over the decades.
The enormous salaries paid to today's Premier League stars means that when they finish playing, few will ever have to work again. The 1966 team never had that option. They were payed £60 per match, and received a £1,000 bonus for winning. Most tried, and failed, to become successful managers, with Jack Charlton being a notable exception. Twenty years after they scored the England goals in the final, Geoff and Martin Peters were selling motor insurance. Ray Wilson was an undertaker.
Yet all remained aware they achieved something on 30th July 1966 which may never be repeated, and did so staying close to their roots. The day after the final Alan Ball stopped at a motorway cafe on the M6. One or two people asked to see his winner's medal, then left him to his egg and chips. Geoff mowed the lawn. 'That's what you did on a Sunday'.
In Last Boy of 66 our 1966 hat-trick hero takes us back to those very different days. A definitive and important eye-witness account, to be treasured by fans and historians for generations to come.
Molly-Mae Hague (Author)
A revealing and honest first book from one of the UK's biggest trendsetters and star of the Amazon Prime series Molly-Mae: Behind It All. This is the real Molly-Mae, in her own words.
Molly-Mae Hague is no stranger to the limelight, having found fame on TV and online. But behind the polished exterior there is a young woman with a unique story. It's the Molly not everyone gets to see.
In Becoming Molly-Mae she unravels herself completely for the first time to open up about how she nurtured her creativity from a young age, took ownership of her body image, battle self-doubt and built a happy life. Along the way she shares the moments, relationships and life lessons that have made her who she is. From the energetic child who loved Irish dancing and pageants, to the teenager holding down a job at Boots whilst building her dreams at fashion school, her journey to Love Island and how she copes with fame today.
By sharing these parts of herself, Molly-Mae gives a fresh take on finding beauty and balance in a busy world.
Guy Martin (Author)
Guy’s been pushing himself to the outer limits, as usual. There's no medals, no big ceremony at the end of it all. He's just driven by putting himself through the misery. And coming out smiling.
In search of suffering, Guy went to Colombia for the TV job, where he was kidnapped, tortured and shot at. He's also been to the Arctic to join the Royal Marines at their winter training centre, taking on the most James Bond exercises he's ever done while still seriously injured from a motorbike crash that knocked him unconcious.
Off the telly, Guy's gone on two epic bike rides, spanning over a dozen countries, led by his sat nav along multi-lane motorways and up remote goat tracks, sleeping on the roadside. He's been to Mablethorpe Beach, the destination for racing things that shouldn't be raced; he's entered one of the toughest motorcycle endurance events in the world (twice); and he's been working on the '300mph job' - that's the world record he's going for and he's building a bike to get him there.
Read on, and let Guy Martin take you with him on his travels to the brink.
