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Winning!
Winning! tells the story of the remarkable past six years - an unforgettable journey that began in September 1997 and took the team from the lower ranks of international first-class rugby to the top as World Cup Champions.
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David Beckham:My Side
David Beckham is one of the world's foremost media icons, his popularity transcending sport and cultural divides. This is his own in-depth account of his career to date, for Manchester United and England, his childhood, family and personal life, and the full story of his transfer to Real Madrid. With endless newspaper column inches devoted to one of the most talked about men in the world, it seems that we know everything there is to know about David Beckham. Or do we?This is Beckham’s fascinating life story in his own words. His stormy relationship with United boss Alex Ferguson and the highs and lows of his career at Old Trafford. The England story, from being vilified by the nation before returning as the prodigal son, captain of his country and almost single-handedly guiding them to the 2002 World Cup Finals. And the full account of a turbulent 2002/03 domestic football season, when relations between Beckham and his manager hit a new low, culminating in his highly publicised transfer to Spanish giants Real Madrid.Now from Beckham himself, we gain a vivid and at times searingly honest insight into the family man behind the famous footballer, the international model and fashion leader. He describes how he first met and then married ex-Spice girl Victoria Adams, and the upbringing of their two children Brooklyn and Romeo. How his family's every step is monitored by a possee of newshounds and paparazzi, and the threats to their safety. Also, the influence of his parents, growing up as a shy youngster in the family home, and how their subsequent split created a yawning chasm in his private life.This book is an intimate and soul-searching portrayal of a massive celebrity, a family man, and an awe-inspiring footballer – the likes of which we are unlikely to see again.
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Ashes Fever: How England Won the Greatest Ever Tes
It had been 18 years since England had last won the Ashes. Since then, Australia, their fiercest rivals and the world's best test team throughout this time, had prevailed. But this time England were on a roll. They had been unbeaten for two years and had a crop of young, talented players. That the series would be closer and more competitive than usual was the general view, but no-one could have predicted that it would end so dramatically. At the end of the first test at Lords, English optimism had nosedived. Australia were supposed to be an ageing team in the twilight of their careers, but Glenn McGrath destroyed England's batsmen, save for the new kid on the block, Kevin Pietersen. Yet at the second test, England took command, first batting with carefree abandon, then setting a target that looked beyond Australia's capability when, with just two wickets left, they still needed 120 runs. On the last day of the second test England finally won by just 2 runs. During this test match a new hero was born. Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff scored two fifties, and would star again with the ball in the third test at Old Trafford which, once again ended in high drama. This time England needed just one more wicket to win. McGrath and Brett Lee survived the final 24 balls as a watching nation sat gripped. Unperturbed, England made no mistake at Trent Bridge, this time winning in four days, but even here there was more high drama. When Australia were bowled out in their second innings England needed only 129 runs to win. They got there, but lost seven wickets in doing so. Now it was official. This really was the greatest Ashes series of all time. No previous series could match this for drama, tension and excitement. England went to the Oval knowing that a draw would be enough to take home the Ashes after nine consecutive defeats to Australia. The eyes of the sporting world fell on a corner of south-east London to watch the drama unfold. ASHES FEVER relives the incredible story of how England brought the best cricket team in the world down on their knees. It tells of the tension, the twists that shaped this unforgettable series. It explains the creation of new English sporting heroes and how cricket became the media focal point. Lavishly illustrated with over 200 colour images by universally acclaimed cricket photographer Phil Brown, it relates how over three months the England cricket team created history in a manner that is unlikely ever to be repeated.
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Ashes Victory: The Official Story of the Greatest
Written from the viewpoint of the changing room and the middle of the pitch, Team England's Ashes Diary is a blow-by-blow account of England's progress in the most dramatic Ashes series in history. With England's improvement under Michael Vaughan, the 2005 Ashes series was eagerly anticipated by all sports fans; all tickets were sold out months in advance. The first day at Lord's saw Australia spectacularly bowled out for just 190, and then England were 92 for 7 in reply. It seemed as though we'd seen one of the greatest days of Test cricket ever. In fact, it was only the beginning of a remarkable series...England went on to lose that match, before winning the second Test by 2 runs (the closest Ashes victory in history), drawing the third (when they failed to dismiss Australia's last pair), and then winning the fourth amid scenes of unbearable tension to go into the last Test with an unbeatable 2-1 series lead. In this fascinating inside account, the players reveal their emotions at key moments, and explain how they set about taking on the formidable Aussies.Packed with brilliant photographs of the best action and behind-the-scenes moments, this is a book that all who have thrilled to cricket this summer will want to keep and treasure for years to come.
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On the Edge
Richard Hammond is one of our most in-demand and best-loved television presenters. On September 20, 2006, he suffered a serious brain injury following a high-speed car crash, and the nation held its breath. On the Edge is his compelling account of life before and after the accident and an honest description of his year of recovery, full of drama and incident. It is also, perhaps, his explanation of why, as a married man and father of two young daughters, he was prepared to risk all by strapping himself to the front of a jet engine with the power of eleven Formula One cars. A daredevil and a petrolhead long before his association with Top Gear, Richard tells the story of his life as an adrenalin junkie, from the small boy showing off with ridiculous stunts on his bicycle to the adolescent with a near-obsessive attraction to speed and the smell of petrol. After a series of jobs in local radio, he graduated to television and eventually to Top Gear, one of the world's most popular shows, upgrading his car with each step up the ladder. His insights into the personalities, the camaraderie and, of course, the stunts for which Top Gear has become famous make compulsive reading. It was whilst filming for Top Gear, driving a jet-powered dragster at speeds over 300mph, that a tyre burst and the car left the track and rolled over, burying him in the earth. He was airlifted to hospital and hovered near death for several days. His wife Mindy tells the story of the anxious hours and days of watching and waiting until he finally emerged from his coma. In an extraordinarily powerful piece of writing, she and Richard then piece together the stages of his recovery as his shattered mind slowly reformed, leaving him sometimes lucid and plausible, sometimes confused and angry, and often exhausted. The final chapter recounts his return home and his triumphant reappearance in front of the cameras.
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It's Not What You Think
Chris Evans' extraordinary career has seen him become one of the UK's most successful broadcasters and producers. Here, his autobiography is a funny and frank story of how a boy from a Warrington council estate who started work at 13 and held down 20 different jobs by the time he left school became the most widely acclaimed broadcaster of his generation. From the early death of his father that literally set him to work, to his meteoric rise in TV and radio, he talks openly about the highs and lows of his turbulent career and how his drive to succeed impacted his personal life. This is a fascinating and surprising life story from one of Britain's brightest and boldest personalities.
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Keep Smiling
Charlotte Church burst onto the music scene when she was only 12 years old. She went straight to the top of the charts with VOICE OF AN ANGEL and sang for the Pope, the US President and royalty across the world. She has released five classical albums, one pop album, hosted her own TV Chat show and received numerous accolades, yet we are still continually fascinated by this Welsh star. Candid to the last, in her autobiography Charlotte reveals herself as never before. She talks of her life, career, family and loves and impending motherhood with surprising intimacy and, being true to her outspoken reputation, complete honesty. Keeping her feet firmly on the ground, Charlotte Church is a genuine superstar of our times. She combines being a style icon and international diva with being a true family person who always makes sure she has supper with her nan every Tuesday night. Including beautiful photographic spreads and candid snapshots from behind the scenes, the book will be unique in the market and offer an insight into the managing of true talent and the demands of modern celebrity.
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Upfront and Personal: The Autobiography
Writing with the warmth and humor that have made her so popular, Coleen describes her eventful life, from joining her sisters' band" The Nolans" when she was only nine to growing up in the spotlight as they went on to chart-topping success around the world. Coleen also reveals how she coped with her tumultuous marriage to television star Shane Richie and how, after they split, she was left a single parent struggling to get through each day. She landed the job of presenter on "This Morning" and was just finding her feet when she was sacked, plunging her into depression as she lost all confidence. A way out finally came in the form of the chat show "Loose Women," where Coleen reclaimed her place in the nation's hearts. Today she is happily married and an inspiration to women everywhere who believed their best days were behind them. Entertaining, funny, and shockingly honest, this book is sure to appeal to her many fans old and new.
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Oh My God!: The Biography of Chantelle
Describing herself as a bright, blonde bimbo, Chantelle shot to fame in" Celebrity Big Brother" earlier this year. A Paris Hilton look alike, she loves shopping, lip-gloss, and all things pink but that's as close to the celebrity lifestyle she had got until the Channel four show changed her life. Successfully fooling the real celebrity contestants in the BB house that she was a pop star, Essex born Chantelle, is now living the dream. With her own TV show, she is now gracing the covers of glossy magazines and is set to marry BB co-star and Ordinary Boy front man Preston later this year.
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Sharon Osbourne Extreme: My Autobiography
Sharon Osbourne is a devoted wife and mother, businesswoman, TV star and award-winning producer. This autobiography takes the reader from her extraordinary childhood as the daughter of infamous rock manager Don Arden, to managing and marrying rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, to her own rising fame on shows such as "The Osbournes" and "The X Factor".
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Survivor: My Story - The Next Chapter
Sharon Osbourne's life has always been tumultuous, full of both heartbreak and passion. When she completed her bestselling first book "Sharon Osbourne Extreme" she had hoped to find some peace and stability after her rollercoaster years. It was not to be. In her brand new memoir she reveals what really happened next--from famous celebrity feuds, to her eventful experiences on "The X Factor," to her turbulent relationship with her father and the tragic impact of his death, Sharon remains as frank and insightful as ever. Never afraid to admit her own problems, she is brutally honest about her weight issues and plastic surgery. She also describes movingly how her husband's unconditional love finally brought her true happiness, even amid all the chaos of her life.
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Red Carpet & Other Banana Skins
An element of drama has always attended Rupert Everett, even before he swept to fame with his outstanding performance in 'Another Country'. He has spent his life surrounded by extraordinary people, and witnessed extraordinary events. He was in Moscow during the fall of communism; in Berlin the night the wall came down; and in downtown Manhattan on September 11th. By the age of 17 he was friends with Andy Warhol and Bianca Jagger, and since then he has been up close and personal with some of the most famous women in the world: Julia Roberts, Madonna, Sharon Stone and Donatella Versace. Whether sweeping the floor for the Royal Shakespeare Company or co-starring with Faye Dunaway and an orang-utan in 'Dunstan Checks In' (they both took ages to get ready), Rupert Everett always brings as much energy and talent to his life as he does to his career. His memoir swoops from the eccentricities of the British upper classes to the madness of Hollywood, from the Russian steppes to an Easter egg hunt in Elizabeth Taylor's garden.
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Nobbut a Lad
One of the best-loved men in Britain, Alan Titchmarsh, brilliantly recalls his childhood in 1950s Yorkshire. Alan Titchmarsh grew up, and developed his passion for nature in the wild and beautiful landscape of Yorkshire. A real treat for his millions of fans, the ever-popular presenter vividly depicts a childhood of simple pleasures like climbing trees and fishing in streams, in a time of post-war austerity. It was not a deprived childhood, yet neither was the garden eternally rosy and Alan's colourful portrait of a bygone era brings poignant moments and others that leave you aching with laughter. Alan's sharp eye for detail brings to life various family members and their memorable quirks, as well as local characters, childhood haunts and significant events that have shaped his life.
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By Any Means: His Brand-New Expedition from Wicklo
Charley Boorman has arranged himself a new challenge: he must travel from his home town in England all the way to Sydney, Australia, and he must use any means available to reach his destination, including steam train, horse, boat, kayak, motorcycle, and tuk-tuk. Whether crossing the Black Sea, trekking through Tibet, riding an elephant in India, or hiking through the forests of Papua New Guinea, this thrilling travelogue follows Charley's travels through extraordinary places via unusual transports. With trademark enthusiasm, dedication, and good humor, Charley tackles his most challenging voyage to date with astounding results.
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Fern- My Story
For years now, Fern Britton has been widely loved as the presenter of Ready Steady Cook, and, more recently, co-presenter of This Morning with Philip Schofield. Never one to shy away from a good laugh or cry on national TV, she has none-the-less never talked about herself to the public, preferring to keep her private life private. Her warmth and humour, empathy and compassion, have made her feel like a best friend to millions on a daily basis, but no one knows the woman behind the sparkling smile. Now, for the first time, she is going to tell her story. And it is one that will strike a chord with women everywhere. Life as a child was not always easy, and she faced private and public challenges with her personal life, appearance and her career as she climbed the ladder to fame. Now a full-time working mum, with a very happy marriage to her second husband Phil Vickery, she is at the top of her game, and ready to tell it like it is. So put your feet up and get ready for a great read.
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The Privilege of Youth: The Inspirational Story of
For Dave Pelzer, standing on the threshold of adulthood in 1970’s America,his adolescence formed a crucial bridge between the shocking abuse of hischildhood and the worrying world of responsibility ahead. In ThePrivilege Of Youth, he tells the story of those years with his uniqueinsight and sensitivity. Whilst recounting the relentless physical andemotional attacks of the high school bullies, he also recalls the joy ofexploring a new neighbourhood and encountering true friendship for the firsttime. Through his adventures with his new ‘brothers’ and theirdiscovery of cars, girls and themselves, Pelzer introduces a fascinating cast ofcharacters who each in different ways, helped shape an extraordinary life andprepared him for fresh trials to come. Brave and compassionate, this new memoirfrom the man who has journeyed far will inspire a whole new generation ofreaders.
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Peter Alliss - My Life
The Voice of Golf' tells his compelling and colourful life story in this revealing autobiography.