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Backing into the Spotlight
- A Memoir
- Narrated by: Michael Whitehall, Jack Whitehall, Hilary Whitehall
- Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins
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Publisher's summary
Read by Michael Whitehall, featuring Jack Whitehall and Hilary Whitehall.
Standing in front of a full-length mirror in my dressing room at ITV studios, waiting to go on to the set of Backchat, I had a brief conversation with my reflection.
'Michael, what the f*** do you think you're doing?'
Theatrical agent Michael Whitehall spent a career pushing others into the spotlight. He had been involved behind the scenes with the careers of many prominent actors, including Colin Firth, Richard Griffiths, Daniel Day-Lewis, Tom Courtenay, Ian Ogilvy, Judi Dench, Edward Fox, Michael Fassbender, Angela Thorne and Nigel Havers.
But then, much to his surprise, his son Jack becomes a successful comedian and actor and decides that his new comedy partner should be his father. Whitehall Snr. finds himself reluctantly appearing on stage and then television, cast as the archetypal grumpy old man and thrust, in his early 70s, into a whole new career in front of the camera. Minor fame comes at a sedate pace: one of the highlights being a record £300,000 win for charity with Jack on Channel 4's The Million Pound Drop.
In this enchanting memoir, Whitehall looks back on his life, from growing up in suburban London in the 1940s and '50s with his saintly father and social climbing mother, who coined the phrase 'à la carte' to describe people who were posher than she was and whose company she craved, to falling into a career as a successful theatrical agent and producer. As he says, 'Actors can be egotistical, greedy and vain, but they're not half as bad as agents and producers'.
Charming, gossipy and above all very funny, Backing into the Spotlight is no ordinary show business memoir.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio on our desktop site.
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Journalist, presenter, broadcaster, husband, father, vigorous all-rounder – Alan Partridge – a man with a fascinating past and an amazing future. Gregarious and popular, yet Alan’s never happier than when relaxing in his own five-bedroom, south-built house with three acres of land and access to a private stream. But who is this mysterious enigma? Alan Gordon Partridge is the best – and best-loved – radio presenter in the region. Born into a changing world of rationing, Teddy Boys, apes in space and the launch of ITV, Alan’s broadcasting career began as chief DJ of Radio Smile....
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An Anglican giant among pygmies
- By John on 06-20-12
By: Alan Partridge
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Toast on Toast
- Cautionary tales and candid advice
- By: Steven Toast
- Narrated by: Matt Berry - as Steven Toast
- Length: 3 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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In Toast on Toast - part memoir, part "how to act" manual - Steven Toast draws on his vast and varied experiences, providing the reader with an invaluable insight into his journey from school plays to RADA and from "It's a Right Royal Knockout" to the Colony Club. Along the way he reveals the secrets of his success. He discloses how to brush up on and expand your technical and vocal skills, how to nail a professional voiceover, and how to deal with difficult work experience staff in a recording studio....
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Glorious performance from Matt Ber-Ray.
- By Stanley McHale on 11-18-16
By: Steven Toast
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Dear Fatty
- By: Dawn French
- Narrated by: Liza Tarbuck
- Length: 6 hrs and 36 mins
- Abridged
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With a sharp eye for comic detail and a wicked ear for the absurdities of life, Dawn French shows just how an RAF girl from the west country with dreams of becoming a ballerina/bridesmaid/thief rose to become one of the best-loved comedy actresses of our time.
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If you like Dawn French - You will love this book!
- By Pamela on 01-22-09
By: Dawn French
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How It All Began
- By: Penelope Lively
- Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren
- Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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When Charlotte Rainsford, a retired schoolteacher, is accosted by a petty thief on a London street, the consequences ripple across the lives of acquaintances and strangers alike. A marriage unravels after an illicit love affair is revealed through an errant cell phone message; a posh yet financially strapped interior designer meets a business partner who might prove too good to be true.
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Wonderful and beautifully written
- By Molly-o on 02-15-12
By: Penelope Lively
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By Myself and Then Some
- By: Lauren Bacall
- Narrated by: Lauren Bacall
- Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins
- Abridged
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The epitome of grace, independence, and wit, Lauren Bacall continues to astound generations with her audacious spirit and on-screen excellence. Together with Humphrey Bogart, she produced some of the most electric scenes in movie history, and their romance on and off screen made them Hollywood's most celebrated couple.
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Wish it had been unabridged
- By Grace on 04-28-14
By: Lauren Bacall
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Dropped Names
- Famous Men and Women As I Knew Them
- By: Frank Langella
- Narrated by: Frank Langella
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Captured forever in a unique memoir, Frank Langella's myriad encounters with some of the past century's most famous human beings are profoundly affecting, funny, wicked, sometimes shocking, and utterly irresistible. With sharp wit and a perceptive eye, Mr. Langella takes us with him into the private worlds and privileged lives of movie stars, presidents, royalty, literary lions, the social elite, and the greats of the Broadway stage.
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Delightful
- By Kathy on 04-03-12
By: Frank Langella
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44 Scotland Street
- By: Alexander McCall Smith
- Narrated by: Robert Ian Mackenzie
- Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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The brilliant Alexander McCall Smith became an international sensation with his New York Times best-selling No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels. His award-winning wit, made famous through that series, is fully on display in 44 Scotland Street.
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Smith's answer to Maupin
- By Amazon Customer on 10-23-05
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Corduroy Mansions
- A Novel
- By: Alexander McCall Smith
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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In London’s Pimlico neighborhood lies a tenement described in architectural guides as “a building of no interest whatsoever.” But the residents of Corduroy Mansions—including a literary agent, a wine merchant, a thoroughly unpleasant member of Parliament, and a vegetarian dog—are a rather fascinating lot.
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Oedipus Snark, MP
- By connie on 04-25-12
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Talking It Over
- By: Julian Barnes
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey, Alex Jennings, Clare Higgins
- Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Introducing Stuart, Gillian and Oliver. One by one they take their turn to speak straight out to the camera - and give their side of a contemporary love triangle. What begins as a comedy of misunderstanding slowly darkens and deepens into a compelling exploration of the quagmires of the heart.
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The Narrative Gimmick Works
- By Alan on 11-22-11
By: Julian Barnes
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A Fine Romance
- By: Candice Bergen
- Narrated by: Candice Bergen
- Length: 14 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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A Fine Romance begins with Bergen's charming first husband, French director Louis Malle, whose huge appetite for life broadened her horizons and whose occasional darkness never diminished their love for each other. But her real romance begins when she discovers overpowering love for her daughter after years of ambivalence about motherhood.
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up the speed to 1.5 and Candace sounds way better
- By Susan M. Mitchell on 06-03-15
By: Candice Bergen
What listeners say about Backing into the Spotlight
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Celeste184530
- 03-15-18
Charming, funny, enjoyable a bit unrelateable
Great and engaging performance with a peek at Whitehall’s charmed life. Definitely entertaining but I worry that it is a bit unrelateable for some.
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- gojaw12
- 12-01-20
Charming and Witty
Michael Whitehall is the perfect narrator to bring to life his humor and perspective in this book. A genuine look into the people and experiences that shaped the author, peppered with his trademark wit.
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- Kim Velk
- 11-15-17
Lots of Fun
its 6:53 in the morning and I've just finished listening to this book despite my intention to get back to sleep sometime before I had to get up and out for work. I resent this slightly. It's Michael Whitehall's fault for being so winning. He's got great charisma and is a gifted narrator. The book wanders a little, here and there, but who cares. Lots of references and names dropped may be lost on an American audience but you get the point, even if you've never heard of Sir Rupert Skirting-Board or Penelope Chipping Cleghorn or whatever. I came for the personality and the voice and stayed for that and enjoyed it all. I'm glad Michael stuck his head over the parapet and became an entertainer.
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- Sharon
- 12-29-23
Entertaining
The Whitehall family are just funny people! You will be entertained throughout this story of Whitehalls life.
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- Cathy Luby
- 10-23-18
omg
I loved it omg, so good. Def was a good read.
We’re some of the stories in his first book? Yeah, sure but who cares. Such a life filled with happiness and exploration. Makes you appreciate the journey which is life.
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- ForeverFreddiesGirl
- 09-08-22
Hilarious!
I could listen to Michael over and over and probably will. His story is so funny and his delivery so smooth. I'm glad that England is finally sharing him with the United States. We need more like him here.
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- Conner Quinn
- 11-03-18
best audiobook out there
Michael Whitehall has the perfect voice for this medium. he should do the narration to every story out there. I would seriously pay to hear him read anything. not to mention the fact that the story is quite interesting and well told. love it.
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2 people found this helpful
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- J, Ali
- 09-24-21
So enjoyable!
I recently started watching Travels with My Father and while Jack is hilarious (and a stud), the real star of the show is Michael. His deadpan, "no. f***g. WAY" atitude makes me so happy. This book is a joy to listen to and had me smiling and laughing out loud. I agree with others that MW could have a third act career as an audio book narrator, despite his son saying that his narration could "break a terrorist". I wish his first book Shark Infested Waters was also avaliable!
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1 person found this helpful
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- V. C. Noble
- 02-13-20
Such fun listen
I loved the stories of Mr. Whitehall’s life and it was wonderful to hear it in his voice. Loved the cameos from Mrs. Whitehall and Jack.
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- Anonymous User
- 07-10-22
Fantastic Narration!
Magnificent voice performance by Michael Whitehall. I enjoyed listening to him and his stories.
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