Another bestseller almost guaranteed

Peter Kay is to release a follow-up to his bestselling memoirs The Sound Of Laughter this autumn.

Publishers Century have confirmed that the book will be released in time for the lucrative Christmas market – but have not released any further information.

Released in 2006, Kay’s first book has sold more than a million copies to date, so the follow-up is likely to feature high on the bestseller lists.

But he is not the only comedian to be releasing an autobiographical tome this autumn. Jack Dee sold the rights to his story to publishers Transworld for a ‘substantial’ sum after a ‘hotly contested’ auction.

At the time the deal was struck by his agent Addison Cresswell, Dee said: ‘I’m delighted to be associated with Transworld. Especially now I know that they are a prestigious publishing house and not a dodgy sex shop in King’s Cross.’

And Dara O Briain – also represented by Cresswell – will be releasing a book based on his experiences as ‘an anglicised Irishman with baggage’ living and touring in England.

Penguin acquired the rights to Tickling The English for a six-figure sum.

O Briain said: ‘Sadly, I have no battle with heroin or nightmarish locked-in-an-attic childhood memories with which to pad my book out, so Penguin will just have to nag me into writing some jokes’.

Published: 13 Mar 2009