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Absolute Pandemonium: The Autobiography
There is no one quite like Brian Blessed. He's an actor, film star, trained undertaker, unlikely diplomat, secret romantic, martial artist and mountaineer. He's also a brilliant storyteller who will - and you must brace yourself - simply leap out of the pages at you.
Ready? Then open Absolute Pandemonium and you'll be taken on a riotous journey from his childhood, growing up the son of a miner in Goldthorpe, to finding fame in Z-Cars. You'll see Brian falling for Katharine Hepburn on the set of The Trojan Women, suffering wires strapped round his wotsits as he was hoisted into the heavens on Flash Gordon, almost causing an international incident when meeting the Emperor and Empress of Japan, and winning round George Lucas to get the role of Boss Nass on Star Wars Episode The Phantom Menace.
Along the way he takes secret revenge on headmistress Mrs Jarman and her very big bottom, punches Harold Pinter, loves and hates Peter O'Toole, woos his beautiful wife Hildegard Neil and braves the shocking death toll on cosy TV drama My Family and Other Animals. Crammed with anecdotes from his illustrious career, this is a funny, warm-hearted, life-affirming, LOUD and unique memoir from a much-loved figure.
Ready? Then open Absolute Pandemonium and you'll be taken on a riotous journey from his childhood, growing up the son of a miner in Goldthorpe, to finding fame in Z-Cars. You'll see Brian falling for Katharine Hepburn on the set of The Trojan Women, suffering wires strapped round his wotsits as he was hoisted into the heavens on Flash Gordon, almost causing an international incident when meeting the Emperor and Empress of Japan, and winning round George Lucas to get the role of Boss Nass on Star Wars Episode The Phantom Menace.
Along the way he takes secret revenge on headmistress Mrs Jarman and her very big bottom, punches Harold Pinter, loves and hates Peter O'Toole, woos his beautiful wife Hildegard Neil and braves the shocking death toll on cosy TV drama My Family and Other Animals. Crammed with anecdotes from his illustrious career, this is a funny, warm-hearted, life-affirming, LOUD and unique memoir from a much-loved figure.
Hardcover
Published October 8, 2015
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February 3, 2025
Brian Blessed is a national treasure and quite possibly the loudest man alive. My first encounters with this legend of television and cinema was in the Blakes 7 episode "Cygnus Alpha", and then discovering he's also in Doctor Who and, of course, Flash Gordon. Laterally in life i encounter the frankly seminal I, Claudius, and then when he voices the hunter in Disney's Tarzan.
But also, i knew of his adventures beyond television. He was a regular on the slopes of Everest, he was a public figure. He is quintessentially British and an all round legend. I had been meaning to pick up his autobiography for an age, but on my discovery of Audible, and the ability to hear his story told from his own mouth, it was irresistible.
He starts with his childhood, of course, when we learn he was unsurprisingly a little terror. He even shot his teacher, then became the head investigator in the search for the perpetrator! Classic Blessed.
My two favourite sections of this amazing tome were the one in which he talks about his relationship with the late Peter O'Toole, giving a rather fascinating insight into the man behind the actor, and his various demons, and, of course, a whole chapter dedicated to the masterpiece Flash Gordon, including some wonderful anecdotes about Max Von Sydow and even Deep Roy. It was only touched on, but his views on Sam J Jones were also quite touching.
He is a massive character and this book just proves it. He laughs at himself, swears like an absolute trooper and is not afraid to speak his mind. His tiny tales of jocularity had me sniggering to myself on my hikes, and once or twice i was actually in fits.
He is so proud of his life and its wonderful to read. "Gordon's Alive!" he shouts, requested by the Prime Minister himself. "Gordons Alive!" we all shouted together.
But also, i knew of his adventures beyond television. He was a regular on the slopes of Everest, he was a public figure. He is quintessentially British and an all round legend. I had been meaning to pick up his autobiography for an age, but on my discovery of Audible, and the ability to hear his story told from his own mouth, it was irresistible.
He starts with his childhood, of course, when we learn he was unsurprisingly a little terror. He even shot his teacher, then became the head investigator in the search for the perpetrator! Classic Blessed.
My two favourite sections of this amazing tome were the one in which he talks about his relationship with the late Peter O'Toole, giving a rather fascinating insight into the man behind the actor, and his various demons, and, of course, a whole chapter dedicated to the masterpiece Flash Gordon, including some wonderful anecdotes about Max Von Sydow and even Deep Roy. It was only touched on, but his views on Sam J Jones were also quite touching.
He is a massive character and this book just proves it. He laughs at himself, swears like an absolute trooper and is not afraid to speak his mind. His tiny tales of jocularity had me sniggering to myself on my hikes, and once or twice i was actually in fits.
He is so proud of his life and its wonderful to read. "Gordon's Alive!" he shouts, requested by the Prime Minister himself. "Gordons Alive!" we all shouted together.
Displaying 1 of 1 review