Novel three years in the writing

Robert Newman has written his third novel.

The comedy pin-up turned anti-capitalist campaigner has spent three years working on Fountain At The Centre Of The World.

Research included trips to Mexico, on Welsh trawler boats and to the Harmondsworth detention centre, where Britain holds asylum-seekers.

Some of these travels were filmed by a BBC2 crew for a documentary, Scribbling, about the creative writing process, which will be screened in November.

Newman is also returning to stand-up, and has a 10-week residency at the Soho Theatre starting on October 2.

This live shows - From Caliban to Taliban - tells of 500 years of global terrorism, taking in Wordsworth, Filipino vampires and the US military campaigns in Vietnam and Iraq.

Newman's previous novels are 1994's Dependence Day and 1999's Manners. Further details of his new book are not yet known.

Published: 8 Sep 2002