Bob Servant: Hero of Dundee

by Neil Forsyth

In Delete This at Your Peril, Neil Forsyth introduced the fictional character Bob Servant to the UK and North America and his creation quickly gained a critically-led cult following. Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh picked Delete This at Your Peril for Esquire's Funniest Books Ever Written and both the book and the Bob Servant character are being developed for television and radio by the BBC. Sixty-four-years-old and resolutely single, Servant spends his days with a small number of trusted associates pursuing unlikely business opportunities, giving stern views on current affairs and 'chasing skirt'. His outlook on life is one of unbridled ambition and self-belief as he constantly battles the local 'boo boys' for the respect that he undoubtedly deserves.

Bob Servant: Hero of Dundee charts the hilarious, whimsical and action-packed life-story of Bob Servant, unveiling with touching bravery, a fearless romp through a life full of incident, from his rise from a childhood of abject poverty, through a career in the merchant navy, his establishment of the largest window-cleaning round in Western Europe and his part in Dundee's infamous Cheeseburger Wars of the early 1990s, to his current standing as an 'unemployed gigolo' in Broughty Ferry.

Genres: Humor, Fiction

140 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2010

About the author

Neil Forsyth was born in Scotland in 1978 and grew up in the much admired city of Dundee. His writing career began in books (a largely forgotten form of communication made famous by Jesus and, separately, Agatha Christie). He has written two novels, Let Them Come Through and San Carlos while Other People’s Money, the true story of the Scottish credit card fraudster Elliot Castro was released in seven countries and is being developed as a feature film.

Forsyth first created Bob Servant in a trilogy of books: Delete This At Your Peril – The Bob Servant Emails, Bob Servant – Hero Of Dundee and Why Me? The Very Important Emails of Bob Servant. Forsyth wrote a BBC Radio 4 adaptation - The Bob Servant Emails followed by the television series Bob Servant Independent for BBC4.

Forsyth is currently developing sitcoms with the BBC and a show with ABC/DreamWorks for American TV. In 2012, he memorably came third in the Dundee Evening Telegraph’s Spirit of Dundee competition, losing out to television presenter Lorraine Kelly and the Verdant Works Jute Museum.

Reviews

[Rumfuddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob Servants life in his own words (mostly).

The career in the merchant Navy (if it wasn't for Frank the Plank), the biggest window cleaning business in western Europe, well maybe Dundee almost definitely Broughty Ferry and the infamous 1980s cheeseburger wars, its all here.

what with all the skirt and almost being a hero, what a life he has lead, what a guy.

I think I'll re watch the great tv show now, where bob is immortalised by that other great dundee'ite Brian Cox (thesp not nerd)

[Andrew Ferenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

genius, simple genius

I read this one last as I was concerned it wouldn't be as funny as the sequel and the prequel which cover him tormenting email scammers.

My concerns were unnecessary

Ingeniously funny madcap stuff

[Kirsteen Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very entertaining

[Stephen Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genius.

[Robert · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just not funny. Which for a supposedly humorous book is fatal.

[SMcD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bob Servant....national treasure....of Broughty Ferry. Full of great lines that are laugh out funny.

[Anne Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the life story of Bob Servant of Broughty Ferry, Dundee. Bob doesn't actually exist but this colourful character could exist. His story is sad, funny and hilarious. My favourite is Bob applying to be the manager of various football teams. Happy reading. Bob has his own website and now his own tv series.

[Stuart Haining · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not at all what I was expecting (found the book amongst my grabbed front cover photos so presumably on a recommendation list somewhere and bought it when saw a good deal!), surprisingly funny with more than a few LOL moments - I still have no idea how much of the book, inc the press quotes, are real - or is it all fiction! Enjoyable and may look out for the prequel.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bob Servant takes the pen directly (with some strict editing from his young friend Neil Forsyth) and explains the many events that have stopped him from becoming a Hero. Just loved Frank the Plank!

[Ken Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely hilarious - dry and fantastical humour by turns.

[Kevinjwoods · Rating 4 out of 5]

very funny

[Audrey Ellis]

very funny