Mel and Sue's anger at unauthorised biography

Mel and Sue have hit out at an unauthorised new biography about them.

Former News Of The World journalist Tina Campanella is hoping to cash in on the comedy duo's soaring popularity as hosts of The Great British Bake-Off with a book out next month.

However agents for both Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc have slammed the title, which has a cover price of £18.

Debi Allen, who represents Sue, said: 'I'd hate for fans to be ripped off by this. Tina Campanella hasn't spoken to anyone as far as we can tell, this is just a cheap cuttings job.'

Samira Higham, of Independent Talent, represents Mel and added: 'I'd hate for anybody to pay up to £18 just to read recycled bits of interviews they've given over the years. It's going to be a terribly superficial book. And there's nothing on the cover to suggest this is not an authorised biography.'

Perkins has her own memoirs out next year; while Giedroyc published some 'momoirs' about her pregnancy in 2005.

The new book, published by John Blake Publishing on October 2, is billed as 'the first biography of the cake-loving stars'. The melodramatic blurb suggests Campanella is taking a tabloid approach, breathlessly teasing that after their first flush of success: 'It would take ten years of hard work and setbacks before the revival of their old partnership would shoot them once more to the top - and cement their place in the nation's heart.'

Campanella – whose News Of The World scoops included 'Prem star's night with Oompa Loompa dwarf' – has previously written a similar biography of Sarah Millican, which left many readers disappointed by the 'cliches' and the 'impression that the book had been hurriedly cobbled together'. And at least one reader posting on Amazon, apparently unaware the book was unauthorised, said the book had tarnished Millican's reputation in her eyes.

A spokesman for John Blake Publishing said: ‘This is a highly affectionate biography written by a genuine fan of Mel and Sue. It will be clearly labelled as an unauthorised biography so there can be no confusion about the contents.'

Mel and Sue are soon to return to daytime TV, too, after signing a deal with ITV for a chat show destined for the 4pm slot.

• Click here for Chortle's comments on Campanella's Millican book.

• Story amended 9/11/14 with publisher's comment

Published: 8 Sep 2014