Latest news and client updates

We’re delighted to have a number of clients performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer.

Reginald D Hunter celebrates his 20th Fringe while Paul Merton’s Impro Chums, co-starring Suki Webster, are back for a limited run.

Eleanor Tiernan and Chris Kent are taking up new shows.

And fresh from the Australian festivals, Brisbane-based The Travelling Sisters make their eagerly anticipated Edinburgh return.

Tickets for all these shows are on sale now.

Story updated on 6 July 2018

Julian Clary will tour the UK next year and “this might well be the final mince”.

“Are you ready for some filth?” he said. “I know I am. It’s been a while since I sallied forth to pleasure the provinces with my particular brand of saucy innuendo. Let me at them!”

In this outrageously camp new show, (that he was going to call Bed Knobs and Knee Pads but was advised might not sell too well in Harrogate), renowned homosexual Julian will bare his soul as never before in the interests of light entertainment.

He’ll murder some well known songs along the way, no doubt, read you a sneak preview from his next memoir A Night At the Lubricant and make withering remarks about punters foolish enough to sit in the front row. You know the kind of thing. It’s the only life he knows.

Born to Mince takes in 51 dates from March rounding up at the London Palladium in June.

Pre-sale tickets are available from 10am tomorrow with full details on Julian’s website.

Julian Clary’s panel show pilot Censored is on BBC Radio 2 tonight.

The game takes the sense out of censorship, bleeping everything from celebrity soundbites to TV clips and interviews with members of the public.

It’s down to Julian’s guests to work out what the bleep is going on.

The show, part of Radio 2’s Comedy Showcase, goes out at 10.30pm.

Katy Brand has announced a one-off show at the Underbelly Festival next Thursday.

In Katy Brand’s Book Group, she talks about and reads from her favourite books (good ones, bad ones, childhood ones, dirty ones…). There will be moments of sadness, madness and badness, plus a little Q&A at the end. It’s like an evening of culture, but not really, because there’s no way it’s going to stay high-brow for long.

Featuring special guests Al Murray and Natalie Haynes.

Suki Webster and Paul Merton star in a two-hander comedy play on Radio 4 tonight.

My Obsession, written by Suki, sees stand-up comic Danny Heywood wake up in his hotel room in the middle of the night to find that he is not alone. A fan on a mission has let herself into his room and is determined not to leave until she gets what she wants.

But what exactly is it that she wants?

Julian Clary is delighted to unleash The Bolds in Trouble, the fourth instalment of his best-selling children’s book series, The Bolds.

The Bolds are an extraordinary family of hyenas living in disguise as humans in south-west London. This time, they decide to keep their heads down without raising suspicion among their human neighbours… that’s until a sly fox starts making a big nuisance of himself.

The Bolds in Trouble hardback edition is released through Andersen Press today, followed by a paperback version later in the year.

Julian also published short story The Bolds’ Great Adventure for this year’s World Book Day.

Paul Merton is back on BBC One when Have I Got News For You returns on Friday.

The BAFTA-winning topical news quiz first aired in 1990 and this will be its 55th series.

Paul and fellow team captain Ian Hislop discuss the show’s longevity in the latest Radio Times.

Katy Brand has written her first play, which opens in London in May.

3 Women, starring Anita Dobson, is a comedy-drama exploring what it means to be a woman in the 21st century and the consequences of the generational gap on our attitudes, cultural expectations and family dynamic.

Katy said: “3Women is a play I have been hoping to write for several years, but now that feminism and women’s rights are at the very forefront of the global conversation, I wanted to really explore those issues from the point of view of three generations of women, and how they interact and intersect within the same family

“These movements are not so straightforward as the media would sometimes have us believe, but wrapped up in the chaotic and all-too-human lived experiences of real women, from the Suffragettes to those who currently campaign for transgender rights.

“We are all simply trying our best to be ‘modern women’ (whatever that means), making mistakes, and blundering on as best we can.”

3 Women runs at Trafalgar Studios 2 from 15 May to 9 June.

In other news, Katy has announced a show at the Underbelly Festival on 26 April. Katy Brand’s Book Group sees her discuss a few favourite books (good ones, bad ones, childhood ones, dirty ones…) and talk to celebrity guests. Tickets here.

Celebrating 20 years at the Fringe and direct from an 80-date tour of the UK and Ireland, Reginald D Hunter returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer with his highly anticipated new show.

He plays the Pleasance at the EICC and tickets are on sale now.

Reginald will also appear at numerous festivals over the coming months including Bristol Comedy Garden, the Great Yorkshire Fringe, Laugh in the Park and Festival No. 6.

We’re very pleased to announce our latest signing: Elizabeth McKenna.

Elizabeth is best known as one of the standout candidates of The Apprentice last year. She reached the interviews stage and was placed fourth.

As an accomplished florist and successful business owner, Elizabeth is available for corporate work and has other projects in development.

Julian Clary returns to the London Palladium this week when Dick Whittington opens.

He stars as Spirit of the Bells alongside Elaine Paige, Nigel Havers, Paul Zerdin, Ashley Banjo and Diversity, Gary Wilmot, and Charlie Stemp.

Julian played Dandini in last year’s pantomime, Cinderella, which broke box office records for the highest grossing week in West End theatre history and was twice nominated for an Olivier Award.

The show runs until Sunday 14 January.

Yuriko Kotani is recording a special edition of The Arts Hour at the BBC Radio Theatre in December.

She joins a line-up of hand-picked UK-based international comedians for the show, which will be broadcast on the BBC World Service on New Year’s Eve.

The programme will also be available via the Red Button.

Yuriko won the BBC Radio New Comedy Award in 2015.

Paul Merton is back on BBC1 this Friday as Have I Got News For You returns for its 54th series.

Paul is one of the original team captains for the BAFTA-winning topical news quiz, which first aired in 1990.

Alexander Armstrong hosts the first episode.

The Travelling Sisters are celebrating after scooping two awards on Saturday.

The sketch trio collected Best Comedy Show and The New Zealand Tour Ready Award at Melbourne Fringe, where they debuted new show NOO SHO.

They said: “We are so bloody happy to have won the awards… at Melbourne Fringe! Is this real life? Thank you Melbourne Fringe, we love you!”

The double win follows their best newcomer nomination at Melbourne International Comedy Festival earlier this year.

Look out for The Travelling Sisters’ UK return in 2018…

We’re excited to announce our latest signing: Yuriko Kotani.

Yuriko is a UK-based Japanese comedian, who began performing stand-up in 2014. She was named as ‘one to watch’ by Time Out and won the BBC Radio New Comedy Award in 2015.

Following a successful work-in-progress run at Edinburgh Fringe in August, Yuriko is performing Green in English, Blue in Japanese at the Museum of Comedy on Friday 6 October and makes her solo hour debut next year.

Julian Clary joins a stellar line-up of authors representing World Book Day 2018.

Following the huge success of his children’s series, The Bolds, Julian has written a special story about his much-loved hyena family, which sees them move across the ocean from African safari park to England.

The Bolds’ Great Adventure is one of the 11 official World Book Day titles available from late February, when children in the UK and Ireland will be given a £1 token to claim their chosen book.

To mark today’s launch, readers are taking part in a game on Twitter called #ShareAStoryIn10. Julian will be reading some of the day’s stories in a livestream at 4pm, with collaborator David Roberts illustrating.

World Book Day, which aims to encourage children and young people to read for pleasure, takes place on 1 March 2018 with various events leading up to the big day.

Reginald D Hunter has extended his critically acclaimed UK tour due to popular demand.

Reginald returned with his new hour, Some People v Reginald D Hunter, earlier this year, performing 40 dates around the UK before a full run at Edinburgh Fringe. He is about to take the show to Ireland.

The extra dates kick off in Evesham on 10 February, finishing in Northampton on 10 March.

Katy Brand is taking her new stand-up and storytelling hour, I Could’ve Been An Astronaut, to Soho Theatre after her month at Edinburgh Fringe.

The show, which explores Katy’s amateur and somewhat improbable love of astronomy and her crapness at maths, is the follow-up to last year’s hit, I Was a Teenage Christian.

The five-night run opens on Tuesday 19 September.

In August 2015, Jordan’s Nanna, Gwendoline Martha Brookes, passed away. She was 95. This show is a genuine attempt to pay tribute to her.

That can’t be the whole thing can it? I thought Brookes did absurdist stuff? Like bits that go on for ages and horrible physical stuff, daft faces, spitting down himself etc? Is he just going to talk about his Nan for an hour? Surely not.

This is Jordan’s third consecutive Edinburgh show, the follow-up to 2016’s critically acclaimed The Making Of.

*Jordan transfers to The Pleasance Bunker One from Tuesday 15 August. Tickets here.*
(Updated 14.08.17)

Ever wished you could start life again on a new planet? Or wondered what you’re doing right now in a parallel universe? How have your choices affected who and what you have become? Can you change them? The possibilities are endless once you get to grips with the mind-bending realities of space: time travel, worm holes and dark matter.

Katy Brand explores her amateur and somewhat improbable love of astronomy and her crapness at maths in this follow-up to last year’s hit show I Was a Teenage Christian.

Following his 40-date UK tour, Reginald D Hunter returns to Edinburgh with his highly anticipated new show.

Reg has been in the UK for two decades, and in that time he has become one of the UK Comedy industry’s best-known performers for his distinctive take on subjects including race and sexuality.

His work can be brutally honest and is often considered to be controversial but it is always meticulously thought out and he has never been afraid to face challenging issues head on, even when the focus is on his own principles or beliefs. This searingly honest material has garnered him a popular fan base that spans the generations.

While in Edinburgh, Reg will also be performing at Audible Presents and will take part in a discussion with Tanya Landman at the book festival.

Reginald D Hunter, Katy Brand, Jordan Brookes, Eleanor Tiernan and Chris Kent are taking new shows to the 70th Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer.

Reginald is currently on a UK tour with Some People v Reginald D Hunter and plays The Assembly Hall in August.

Katy returns with more autobiographical storytelling in I Could’ve Been An Astronaut, the follow-up to last year’s sell-out show, I Was A Teenage Christian.

Jordan brings Body of Work, his third consecutive hour after 2016’s critically acclaimed The Making Of.

Eleanor and Chris, who both took a break last year and doubled at Camden Fringe, make a welcome return with People Pleaser and Moving On.

Also appearing in Edinburgh: Paul Merton will guest on BBC Radio 4’s Just A Minute while Julian Clary discusses The Bolds on Holiday, the third instalment of his children’s series, at the International Book Festival.

Julian Clary’s third children’s book, The Bolds on Holiday, is now available in paperback following its hardback release in February.

Complete with illustrations by award-winning and much sought after children’s illustrator David Roberts, the series tells the story of an extraordinary family of hyenas living in disguise as humans in Teddington.

Julian’s busy promotional schedule includes upcoming appearances at Camp Bestival and the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

We’re delighted to announce our latest signing: The Travelling Sisters.

Brisbane-based Lucy Fox, Laura Trenerry and Ell Sachs combine physical and musical comedy with contemporary clowning and surreal characters.

The sketch trio’s critically acclaimed self-titled show garnered a best newcomer nomination at Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2017 and a Guardian Pick of the Fringe in Edinburgh 2016.

Now developing their first web series, The Travelling Sisters return to the UK in 2018.

Julian Clary will star as Spirit of the Bells in Dick Whittington when he returns to the London Palladium in December.

It follows his hugely successful run as Dandini in Cinderella last Christmas, which broke box office records for the highest grossing week in West End theatre history and was twice nominated for an Olivier Award.

Nigel Havers, Paul Zerdin, Elaine Paige, Ashley Banjo and Diversity, Gary Wilmot, and Charlie Stemp complete the principal cast.

Tickets are now on sale for the five-week run, which opens on Saturday 9 December.

Reginald D Hunter returns to Ireland in October with his highly anticipated new show, Some People v Reginald D Hunter.

The Irish dates, which follow his UK tour and Edinburgh Festival run, kick off in Dundalk on 12 October, rounding off in Sligo on 30 October.

Tickets are on sale from 9am Thursday 25 May.

Reginald is also appearing at Latitude and Camp Bestival this summer.

Paul Merton discusses his forthcoming Beatles documentary in today’s Radio Times as the BBC marks 50 years of Sgt Pepper.

The four-part Radio 2 series, which begins on Monday 29 May at 10pm, is Paul’s attempt to answer the ‘what ifs’ about his favourite band and to put forward a fantastical version of Beatle history.

Using facts and recordings, he imagines the concert that the Beatles could have given, and follows it up with the album that they could have made.

He said: “I’ve had great fun selecting tracks from John, Paul, George and Ringo’s solo careers to firstly create a magical live ‘Beatles’ concert, and secondly a new ‘Beatles’ double album.

“I am immensely looking forward to sharing my choices with the Radio 2 listeners.”

Jordan Brookes, Eleanor Tiernan and Chris Kent are performing at the much-loved Machynlleth Comedy Festival in Wales this weekend.

All three are doing work-in-progress hours ahead of Edinburgh Fringe and Jordan is performing his critically acclaimed 2016 show, The Making Of, too.

Jordan is on the bill for experimental night The Paddock while Eleanor is doing two extra shows: Arriva Late Night Lock In and The Quarry.

And Eleanor is appearing on BBC Radio Wales/4 Extra’s showcase, which goes out on BBC Radio 4 Extra (Monday 1 May, 10.35pm) then BBC Radio Wales (Saturday 6 May, 1pm).

Paul Merton is back on BBC1 tonight for the 53rd series of Have I Got News For You.

Paul is one of the original team captains for the topical news quiz, which first aired in 1990 and won the BAFTA for Comedy and Comedy Entertainment Programme last year.

The first of the nine-episode run is guest hosted by former Star Trek actor Patrick Stewart.

Katy Brand’s East African road trip for Comic Relief is documented on BBC1 tonight.

The Red Nose Convoy, completed by Russell Kane, Hugh Dennis, David Baddiel, Michaela Coel and Reggie Yates, delivered crucial supplies and visited projects such as Mothers2Mothers, which helps pregnant women who are living with HIV.

“I had a long chat with the woman in charge, Beatrice, who told me all about her life and rather amazingly all about her sex life too,” said Katy. “Despite my slightly middle-class coyness, she was happy to talk as it was relevant to her important work.”

The Red Nose African Convoy airs at 9pm and will be available on iPlayer.

Katy also makes a guest appearance on Red Nose Day tomorrow and joins the panel for Let’s Sing and Dance for Comic Relief on Saturday night.

Julian Clary pays tribute to the life and works of his idol Noël Coward for the new Passions series tonight. 

The opening episode features interviews with Dame Joan Collins, Twiggy and Sir Derek Jacobi, and sees Julian travel to Firefly in Jamaica, where Coward was laid to rest.

Noël Coward by Julian Clary airs on Sky Arts at 9pm.

Writer Max Davis’ debut sitcom, starring Romesh Ranganathan, kicks off Radio 2’s Comedy Showcase tonight.

Parental Guidance centres around a couple living in Crawley with their two children. Roshan (Ranganathan) is a cost-benefits analyst for the airline industry, Kate (Amanda Abbington) is a stay-at-home mum. Roshan’s overbearing mother, Anusha (Meera Syal), lives nearby and is constantly disappointed that her son didn’t marry a Sri Lankan girl.

Max is a regular contributor to BBC Radio with credits including The News Quiz, Dead Ringers and Spotlight Tonight with Nish Kumar. And he recently script edited BBC Radio 4’s Rashid Goes to Hollywood.

The pilot airs on BBC Radio 2 at 10.30pm and will be available online shortly after broadcast.

Julian Clary is delighted to unleash The Bolds on Holiday, the third instalment of his children’s book series, The Bolds.

The Bolds are an extraordinary family of hyenas living in disguise as humans in south-west London. Britain’s much-loved, wildest and hairiest family will be vacating the leafy suburbia of Teddington next year for a new adventure.

Julian said: “Are you ready for a third instalment of The Bolds? Then I have some more hyena hilarity for you: The Bolds On Holiday sees our furry friends on a camping holiday by the seaside.

“Do you think they have any idea how to put up a tent? Do you think the twins, Bobby and Betty, get up to some serious mischief in the sand dunes? Do you think Uncle Tony turns out to be a cool surfing dude? Does Mr Bold tell more of his ridiculous jokes at inappropriate moments? Well, you really need to read this book of animal nonsense as soon as possible!”

The Bolds on Holiday hardback edition is released through Andersen Press on 2 February, followed by a paperback version in summer 2017.

Julian and The Bolds’ award-winning illustrator, David Roberts, will be making a number of personal appearances over the summer too.

Katy Brand takes the lead role of Winnie in Winnie and Wilbur, which makes its UK premiere on Channel 5’s MILKSHAKE! on Christmas Eve at 7.50am.

The animation special, based on the bestselling Winnie the Witch books by Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul, features the episodes Wilbur’s Big Clean and Winnie’s Tricky Tights.

Jessica Symons, Head of Children’s at Channel 5, said: “We couldn’t have wished for a better person to play Winnie. Not only is Katy a fan of the books but she also embodies the happiness, optimism and adventurous spirit of the character.”

Katy Brand is delighted to announce a UK tour of her acclaimed show I Was a Teenage Christian, opening in Bristol on 4 May.

The tour follows her run at Soho Theatre in January and a sell-out Edinburgh Fringe 2016.

Katy performed her first professional comedy gig in a London pub in 2004, before joining acclaimed sketch comedy troupe Ealing Live! and touring around the country with her own show.

Katy Brand brings her stand-up debut to Soho Theatre in January following a highly successful run at this year’s Edinburgh Festival.

I Was a Teenage Christian sees Katy reliving the glory days of certainty and judgement as a fundamentalist Christian, while trying to figure out what the hell was going on in her own head.

Paul Merton is back on BBC1 tonight for the 52nd series of Have I Got News For You.

Paul is one of the original team captains for the show, which first aired in 1990 and won the BAFTA for Comedy and Comedy Entertainment Programme earlier this year.

Reginald D Hunter returns in 2017 with his highly anticipated new show, Some People v. Reginald D. Hunter.

During the 15 years in which he has lived in the UK, Reginald’s searingly honest material has garnered him a popular fanbase that spans the generations. In the past 12 months, he has appeared in a critically acclaimed tour of Ireland as well as performing across Europe.

The UK tour begins in Tiverton on 26 April, finishing in London on 24 June.

We’re pleased to announce our latest signing: Stephen Tries.

Stephen is a writer and performer, who has been producing comedy since May. Through his weekly sketches on You Tube, he is fast growing a dedicated online following.

Julian Clary has announced extra UK dates following overwhelming demand for his sold-out spring tour. The Joy of Mincing continues in Hoddesdon on 11 October, rounding off in Bromley on 6 November.

He said: “How delightful to be mincing around more of the UK and bestowing my special MBEs [Mincer of the British Empire] upon worthy audience members as I go.

“It’s marvellous to be getting stuck into some smut and innuendo once again.”

Julian Clary will star as Dandini in Cinderella when pantomime returns to the London Palladium for the first time in nearly 30 years this Christmas.

Tickets are now on sale for the five-week run, which opens on Friday 9 December.

Rising stand-ups Eleanor Tiernan and Chris Kent are doubling for a short run at Camden Fringe from 22 August.

The two Irish comedians, who are now based in the UK, each present a work in progress, Starting from Scratch.

Joe Jacobs presents his debut solo hour, Orthodox Joe, as part of Edinburgh Festival’s Free Fringe in August.

Not even Jews, booze or Vanessa Feltz will stop Joe in this stand-up comedy show and scumbag musical that charts his attempts at rap stardom.

Joe was Leicester Square New Comedian of the Year finalist 2015, Jewish Comedian of the Year finalist 2014 and Laughing Horse New Act of the Year finalist 2014.

He’s also through to the BBC Radio New Comedy Award semi-finals, which take place in Edinburgh.

Katy Brand is set to take the lead role of Winnie in Winnie and Wilbur, a brand new animation series set to air on Channel 5. Based on the bestselling Winnie the Witch books by Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul, Winnie and Wilbur is currently in production.

Katy Brand said: “I am utterly delighted to be giving Winnie the Witch a voice and to help bring her to life. She is funny, flighty and full of the joys of life; always up for an adventure and most importantly, a good laugh, which is why I, and so many others, love her.”

Jessica Symons, Head of Children’s at Channel 5 said: “We couldn’t have wished for a better person to play Winnie. Not only is Katy a fan of the books but she also embodies the happiness, optimism and adventurous spirit of the character. Katy is going to be a brilliant Winnie and fans of the books as well as those new to the character will love her performance.”

Paul Merton’s Impro Chums have added two more festival dates to their summer diary. The collective, comprising Paul Merton, Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch, Suki Webster and Mike McShane, will appear at the Platform Festival in Pocklington, York on Thursday 14 July and Comedy in the Stables at Petworth Festival on Friday 22 July.

The show also calls at Latitude festival in July and returns to Edinburgh Fringe for its 13th consecutive year in August.

Katy Brand returns to Edinburgh Fringe for the first time in a decade with her stand-up debut, I Was A Teenage Christian.

One Sunday, aged 13, Katy went to a local church service and became a fundamentalist Christian. From then on she attended church four times a week. For seven years she put the ‘fun’ into fundamentalism. And the ‘mental’. She was an obnoxious, self-important dick but at least she knew she was going to heaven. Now she’s not so sure.

In her first live show in six years, Katy relives her glory days of certainty and judgement, whilst trying to figure out what the hell was going on in her own head.

Paul Merton, Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch, Suki Webster and Mike McShane return to the Fringe for their 13th consecutive year presenting Paul Merton’s Impro Chums.

The collective improvisational experience embodied in the Chums is enough to stun an elephant. They flex their improvisational muscles to delight and entertain audiences in this country and abroad, and now they return to Edinburgh.

Creating a new show every afternoon based entirely on suggestions from the audience, the Impro Chums, using their finely honed improvisational skills and an almost manic compulsion to show off, generate cascades of tumbling laughter.

Paul Merton and his Impro Chums – Mike McShane, Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch and Suki Webster – are heading to Latitude’s comedy arena in July while Eleanor Tiernan is also making her debut at the Suffolk-based festival.

Fresh from his mini Europe tour, Reginald D Hunter is taking The Aluminum Negro to Ireland. The 11-date run officially opens in Limerick on 1 June, finishing up in Belfast on 12 June.

The tour includes a show at Cat Laughs festival in Kilkenny, where Chris Kent, Eleanor Tiernan and Tara Flynn are also appearing.

Reginald D Hunter is taking Makem’ Shoot You in the Ass to Europe, opening in Paris on 16 May. The tour calls at Amsterdam, Antwerp and Brussels too.

As one of the UK comedy scene’s best-known performers for his distinctive take on subjects including race and sexuality, Reginald is also a familiar face on television and fronted the hugely popular BBC documentary series Reginald D Hunter’s Songs Of The South.

Have I Got News For You, which last year celebrated 25 years and is presented by Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, won the BAFTA for Comedy and Comedy Entertainment Programme.

We would like to congratulate our client Paul Merton.

Paul Merton’s new Channel 4 series, which explores the history of Britain’s unusual railway stations, sees him travelling around the country by train and only getting off at request stops. The first episode is at 8pm on Sunday.

Julian Clary, national trinket, author, TV and radio star is coming up your way…

The Joy of Mincing is Julian Clary’s celebration of 30 years as a camp comedian. There is so much to tell you; the ups and downs of his sordid love life, the true and heart stopping account of how he saved Dame Joan Collins’ life, and don’t start him on the perils of his DIY electrical home enema kit.

On stage Julian will proudly wear his well-deserved M.B.E (Mincer of the British Empire). It was the last thing he expected to receive when he knelt down in front of Prince Charles in the scullery at Buckingham Palace…

And because Julian gives and gives (until it hurts) he will be handing out honours to the lucky few in the audience too. This is Julian at his filthy best. Live and unplugged.

‘He never falters. You think knob jokes are easy? Clary makes them flow like cheap German wine. It’s absolute fluff, but he pulls it off.’ Dominic Maxwell. The Times.

‘Outrageously funny. A master comedian at the top of his game.’ Andrew Edwards What’s On Stage.

We are delighted to announce that Julian will be publishing his second children’s novel, The Bolds to the Rescue, on 3 March 2016.

Tara Flynn has published her second book, Giving Out Yards.

In Giving Out Yards, Tara puts paid to the long-debated question of what makes us Irish, nailing it in one collective and hilarious grumble-fest. Her razor-sharp wit and keen analysis of those topics that bring us out in a rash – and running to the phone/laptop/neighbour for a healthy dose of spleen-venting – leaves no moan unturned.

‘Very, very, very funny… This brilliant book of first-class satire is a must-read for everyone interested in the strange psychology of Ireland’ Marian Keyes