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Fibber in the Heat
Cricket obsessive Miles Jupp hatches an ill-conceived plan to join the England cricket team in India.
Fanatical about cricket since he was a boy, Miles Jupp would do anything to see his heroes play. But perhaps deciding to bluff his way into the press corps during England's Test series in India wasn't his best idea.
By claiming to be the cricket correspondent for BBC Scotland and getting a job with the (Welsh) Western Mail, Miles lands the press pass that will surely be the ticket to his dreams. Soon, he finds himself in cricket heaven -- drinking with David Gower and Beefy, sharing bar room banter with Nasser Hussain and swapping diarrhoea stories with the Test Match Special team. Amazing!
But struggling in the heat under the burden of his own fibs, reality soon catches up with Miles as -- like a cricket-obsessed Boot from Evelyn Waugh's Scoop -- he bumbles from one disaster to the next. A joyous, charming, yet cautionary tale, Fibber in the Heat is for anyone who's ever dreamt about doing nothing but watching cricket all day long.
Fanatical about cricket since he was a boy, Miles Jupp would do anything to see his heroes play. But perhaps deciding to bluff his way into the press corps during England's Test series in India wasn't his best idea.
By claiming to be the cricket correspondent for BBC Scotland and getting a job with the (Welsh) Western Mail, Miles lands the press pass that will surely be the ticket to his dreams. Soon, he finds himself in cricket heaven -- drinking with David Gower and Beefy, sharing bar room banter with Nasser Hussain and swapping diarrhoea stories with the Test Match Special team. Amazing!
But struggling in the heat under the burden of his own fibs, reality soon catches up with Miles as -- like a cricket-obsessed Boot from Evelyn Waugh's Scoop -- he bumbles from one disaster to the next. A joyous, charming, yet cautionary tale, Fibber in the Heat is for anyone who's ever dreamt about doing nothing but watching cricket all day long.
346 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2012
16 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Miles Jupp
51 books17 followersMiles Jupp (born 8 September 1979) is an English comedian and actor, probably best known as Archie in the children's television series Balamory.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Jupp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Jupp
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 1, 2012
Miles Jupp is becoming an increasingly visible presence on British TV these days. He shows up on ‘Have I Got News For You’ and ‘Would I Lie To You’ – and I thought he was very authoritative on the entertaining documentary Andy Hamilton made about Satan. However when I first saw him, he wasn’t a mid-ranked comedian at all – he was Archie the inventor on bizarre Scottish kids’ programme ‘Balamory’. (I have young nieces, and so a certain level of exposure to these things). And it’s in the period between him being on kids TV and him starting to make an impression as comedian that this memoir begins.
One day Miles, a great cricket fan, decided that the best career to have if you want to watch lots of cricket is a cricket journalist. (You can’t fault the logic.) Armed with a story British film critic Barry Norman apparently used to tell that, when things weren’t going well for him, he used to hang out in bars in Fleet Street pretending to be hard at work until people started beginning conversations with “Barry, I know you’re busy, but could you possibly do something for us....” Miles blagged himself credentials from BBC Scotland and (Wales’s) The Western Mail, to go cover the English cricket team’s tour to India.
What follows is a genial and humorous guide to how he tried to fit in with the other ’journalists’ when basically having the heart of a fan. The book is an almost laugh out loud funny travelogue, with anecdotes of misunderstanding placed on top of misunderstanding. Sometimes it’s clear that it was based on a stand-up comedy show, but that’s maybe why the more reflective parts work so well – they give the book an extra level of depth.
It doesn’t hold its momentum throughout (as when Miles starts to get disillusioned with what he’s doing and even with cricket itself, the tone does sink a little), but for the most part this is a highly amusing read, and one can’t help admire the author for having the gumption to have gone through with such an elaborate – and simultaneously seat of the pants – facade.
Of course though, if you are going to read it, it does help to like cricket.
One day Miles, a great cricket fan, decided that the best career to have if you want to watch lots of cricket is a cricket journalist. (You can’t fault the logic.) Armed with a story British film critic Barry Norman apparently used to tell that, when things weren’t going well for him, he used to hang out in bars in Fleet Street pretending to be hard at work until people started beginning conversations with “Barry, I know you’re busy, but could you possibly do something for us....” Miles blagged himself credentials from BBC Scotland and (Wales’s) The Western Mail, to go cover the English cricket team’s tour to India.
What follows is a genial and humorous guide to how he tried to fit in with the other ’journalists’ when basically having the heart of a fan. The book is an almost laugh out loud funny travelogue, with anecdotes of misunderstanding placed on top of misunderstanding. Sometimes it’s clear that it was based on a stand-up comedy show, but that’s maybe why the more reflective parts work so well – they give the book an extra level of depth.
It doesn’t hold its momentum throughout (as when Miles starts to get disillusioned with what he’s doing and even with cricket itself, the tone does sink a little), but for the most part this is a highly amusing read, and one can’t help admire the author for having the gumption to have gone through with such an elaborate – and simultaneously seat of the pants – facade.
Of course though, if you are going to read it, it does help to like cricket.
March 15, 2023
A pleasant and funny book to read. Miles Jupp has a very clear writing style, so I sailed through the pages. I laughed out loud at a few points. I’ll be honest, I know very little about cricket, but that wasn’t much of a problem. I know the famous names of the game’s past, like David Gower and Ian Botham, so I coped just fine. The book’s not really about cricket anyway. It’s about people, life choices, dreams and regrets with cricket as the backdrop.
February 24, 2021
funny travel log of the author blagging himself a press pass and going on an England tour of India and all of his adventures
December 6, 2024
Jupp has a gentle, slightly bumbling style which you'd expect would suit this tale - that of a cricket fan attempting to blag/make his way through an England tour of India as a journalist. It does, in the main, but in the end I thought it only did so 'to an extent'. Light and entertaining, with some insightful points throughout on the subject of how sports journalism differs from following sports as a fan only, it nevertheless did feel a touch repetitive in the second half once I realised that it didn't really matter whether he was going to be a 'proper' journalist or not.
February 26, 2023
I really like Miles Jupp so might be biased and I love cricket. However this is a beautifully written, very gentle story of a love of English cricket taken to the extreme. Every cricket lover with any love of comedy should read it - you will not be disappointed!
June 23, 2020
I picked up "Fibber In The Heat" for two reasons. Firstly, I've seen quite a bit of Miles Jupp on Mock The Week and loved his unique takes on a lot of things and hence was keen to see what he'd have to say on a common interest like cricket. Secondly, I'd read this book called "Confessions from Correspondentland" by Nick Bryant about 8 years ago and loved it. So, I thought I will try this other book in the "hapless journalist adventures" genre.
Turns out the book is almost as funny as the man is. Miles talks about his (mis)adventures travelling to India to cover the English team's tour of the country in 2006, posing as a journalist for BBC Scotland and a Welsh paper. This was to realise his dream of journeying the world, watching cricket. The book gets a wee bit slow when Miles talks about his frustrations with managing to get a press pass and with being accepted by his new peers. But it is assuaged to an extent by his realisation that he's there, having travelled thousands of miles and having gone through physical and mental strain, for the love of the game and its many intangibles- a very relatable realisation personally.
So, the book kept me interested till the very end and Miles, as you'd expect from his career as a comedian, leaves you cracking up on a lot of occasions. Overall, a very nice read!
Turns out the book is almost as funny as the man is. Miles talks about his (mis)adventures travelling to India to cover the English team's tour of the country in 2006, posing as a journalist for BBC Scotland and a Welsh paper. This was to realise his dream of journeying the world, watching cricket. The book gets a wee bit slow when Miles talks about his frustrations with managing to get a press pass and with being accepted by his new peers. But it is assuaged to an extent by his realisation that he's there, having travelled thousands of miles and having gone through physical and mental strain, for the love of the game and its many intangibles- a very relatable realisation personally.
So, the book kept me interested till the very end and Miles, as you'd expect from his career as a comedian, leaves you cracking up on a lot of occasions. Overall, a very nice read!
February 20, 2017
Første lydboken jeg har hørt uten å ha konsentrasjonsproblemer!
May 13, 2012
Miles Jupp's book about blagging his way onto a cricket tour is so quintessentially British it almost demands to be read under an oak tree on a hot June afternoon, glass of Pimms in hand. Its entire premise is whimsical and the text itself keeps up that character with the only interruption to my small chuckles and smiles being the odd roar of laughter when Jupp produces a reflection that wouldn't be out of place in one of his hilarious stand-up routines. The book is not serious in the slightest and shouldn't be read in that manner, it won't be anybody's favourite but you won't find anyone who dislikes it I shouldn't think.
It's not getting 5 stars from me because it lacks a superlative quality - it's simply very humerous and just...well...nice! Like another book I've read about somebody trying to turn themselves into something they're not (Justin Irwin in 'Murder on the Darts Board' - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32...), it does rely quite a bit on repeated sentiments of worry and self-doubt but its general readability and comic tone means it's not a drag. Would be especially good for those who follow cricket closely.
It's not getting 5 stars from me because it lacks a superlative quality - it's simply very humerous and just...well...nice! Like another book I've read about somebody trying to turn themselves into something they're not (Justin Irwin in 'Murder on the Darts Board' - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32...), it does rely quite a bit on repeated sentiments of worry and self-doubt but its general readability and comic tone means it's not a drag. Would be especially good for those who follow cricket closely.
January 17, 2022
There are parts of this book which are really good, there's some genuinely funny bits and some which I really connected with; like him I'm a cricket fanatic and love the game so there's definitely that which we have in common, but some of it is hard to connect with.
The story is basically that he's a bit of a fish out of water and ends up in situations that he feels incredibly awkward in and rather trapped, but he isn't trapped, he can walk away at any time so it just doesn't quite ring true to me, there are also parts where it feels rather laboured and overly drawn out.
Its kind of a coming of age story I suppose but there's no jeopardy, he's a comfortably well off young man, where's the danger?
In summary - if it was probably half the length it would be great, but its not.
The story is basically that he's a bit of a fish out of water and ends up in situations that he feels incredibly awkward in and rather trapped, but he isn't trapped, he can walk away at any time so it just doesn't quite ring true to me, there are also parts where it feels rather laboured and overly drawn out.
Its kind of a coming of age story I suppose but there's no jeopardy, he's a comfortably well off young man, where's the danger?
In summary - if it was probably half the length it would be great, but its not.
January 25, 2018
Whilst I have absolutely no interest in or understanding of cricket, I am a fan of Miles Jupp, and this was the reason why my wife gave me this book for Christmas. The bulk of the book is pleasant enough, and Mr. Jupp has a gentle, very English seeming way about him as he describes a period in his life that I found very relatable - a few years out of university and still not entirely sure what he wants to do with his life. He has an idea, based solely around his great love of cricket and tries to make it happen, in a very loose, let's have a go, kind of way. And whilst all of this was entertaining to read, I really felt the book come I to its own when Miles let go of his polite English reserve and really told the reader how events were affecting him and how he felt. I've read a couple of travel books where the author finds everything absolutely delightful and all the people a joy to meet. Statistically and realistically you know this can't have been the case and the books become dull because of the relentless good cheer. Maybe I enjoy the suffering of others a bit too much, but I found that I really connected with Miles when he was being brutally honest about something that wasn't going well or when he called someone on their outrageous behaviour. It was also in these moments that I laughed the hardest.
The book hasn't convinced me to watch cricket, but by the end I had a new appreciation for Miles Jupp as a more complex person than his TV appearances show, and a pretty good author.
The book hasn't convinced me to watch cricket, but by the end I had a new appreciation for Miles Jupp as a more complex person than his TV appearances show, and a pretty good author.
March 24, 2021
A very funny, somewhat extraordinary tale of Miles Jupp attempting to turn himself from jobbing actor and aspiring comedian into a sporting journalist as a wizard wheeze to allow him to watch his cricketing heroes from the comfort of the press box.
What starts out as a hair-brained jape with seemingly little chance of success evolves into Jupp blagging his way out to India as a freelance representative of the provincial media (those stalwarts of English cricket, BBC Scotland and the Western Mail). Here he has something of a roller coaster ride, experiencing the elation of rubbing shoulders with Aggers, Beefy, Simon Mann and David Gower, whilst struggling with his conscience and guilt at his fraudulent enterprise.
There are some really nice moments as Jupp attempts to scalp a ticket for the Ashes finale at the Oval, comes face to face with some of his sporting heroes, rubs up some fellow journos the wrong way and is frustrated by the bureaucracy of the BCCI and Indian culture. He eventually comes to realise that being a cricket correspondent is not all that it is cracked up to be and that he can have more fun sitting in the stands, free to applaud and cheer.
I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by Jupp himself which only emphasised his self-deprecating humour and dead pan deliver. A gem.
What starts out as a hair-brained jape with seemingly little chance of success evolves into Jupp blagging his way out to India as a freelance representative of the provincial media (those stalwarts of English cricket, BBC Scotland and the Western Mail). Here he has something of a roller coaster ride, experiencing the elation of rubbing shoulders with Aggers, Beefy, Simon Mann and David Gower, whilst struggling with his conscience and guilt at his fraudulent enterprise.
There are some really nice moments as Jupp attempts to scalp a ticket for the Ashes finale at the Oval, comes face to face with some of his sporting heroes, rubs up some fellow journos the wrong way and is frustrated by the bureaucracy of the BCCI and Indian culture. He eventually comes to realise that being a cricket correspondent is not all that it is cracked up to be and that he can have more fun sitting in the stands, free to applaud and cheer.
I listened to this as an audiobook, narrated by Jupp himself which only emphasised his self-deprecating humour and dead pan deliver. A gem.
March 13, 2022
Tremendously enjoyable and very Miles Jupp. Occassionally, Miles gets bogged down in cricketing detail, and then, it does get - if you like me, are not a big crickety buff - somewhat stodgy and dull, a bit like being stuck on a table at a wedding with a cricket mad uncle. My attention did tend to slope off and examine its fingernails for a bit at these points, but they didn't really affect my huge enjoyment of the thing as a whole.
RTF
RTF
May 2, 2024
A self confessed cricket nut, Miles finds himself at a bit of a loose end and decides to try his hand at cricket journalism. He somehow manages to blagg his way into the press boxes on England's tour of India only to find things aren't quite what he expected.
His description of the effects of food poisoning are laugh out loud funny and an experience I can entirely relate to.
A book written by a genuine lover of cricket and a very enjoyable read.
His description of the effects of food poisoning are laugh out loud funny and an experience I can entirely relate to.
A book written by a genuine lover of cricket and a very enjoyable read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2019
I knew Miles Jupp the comedian but here I learned of Miles Jupp the cricket enthusiast and author. His clever, concise turn of phase lulls you in so you're almost unaware of the sharpened blade of pithy wit that sneaks between your rib cage until you reflect and feel your chuckle muscle twitching. I found Miles' adventure interesting, revealing and enjoyable
June 29, 2023
Not sure if it was a late gap year or early midlife crises but sometimes enjoyable look at a posh kid winging it on a cricket tour.
Cricket journalists aside one or two notables come of as knobheads. Ex-cricketers less so.
Cricket journalists aside one or two notables come of as knobheads. Ex-cricketers less so.
August 24, 2025
What a hoot?! This book thoroughly cheered me up and I recommend it to anyone who loves cricket or India or indeed neither. I will never forget his incredible description of the effects of food poisoning - so vivid you could almost taste it!
March 28, 2019
Entertaining
Fan or cricket correspondent, which is better? Miles Jupp tried to do both. In India on tour following the cricket and drinking with Gower and Botham.
Fan or cricket correspondent, which is better? Miles Jupp tried to do both. In India on tour following the cricket and drinking with Gower and Botham.
February 22, 2020
Miles comes across as a loveable rogue. I only wish I had his gift of the gab.
August 25, 2020
National Treasure on a Pooteresque jape. Hilarious and one for non-cricket lovers too. Fully inhabits his bumbling persona.
July 12, 2021
The book has elects of travel, cricket and comedy. It is a generally humorous and intriguing book I couldn't put down. Miles wrote this well and I found this relatable from a fan perspective.
August 10, 2021
An extraordinary story well told. Very funny and definitely worth a read.
July 5, 2023
Very funny. You don’t have to be a cricket fan to enjoy this read.
December 5, 2023
Funny even if you (like me) know zero about cricket
September 13, 2025
Enjoyable tale of what proved to be a silly idea. The big names come across as very pleasant people, and Jupp is good at self deprecation...
September 22, 2022
This is an account of Miles' attempt to blag his way into being a cricket journalist. He manages to finagle his way into the press corps of an England cricket tour to India. This covers his progress or lack of it during the tour and how he copes with the heat, the loneliness and meeting his heroes.
Parts of this novel are hilarious, parts are depressing and some parts are a bit boring if you're not that into cricket. But overall I enjoyed it very much.
Parts of this novel are hilarious, parts are depressing and some parts are a bit boring if you're not that into cricket. But overall I enjoyed it very much.
August 5, 2022
After starring as Archie the Inventor in the children’s television show Balamory, Miles Jupp found himself at a bit of a loose end careerwise. After seeing England secure the Ashes at The Oval in 2005 he thought it would be nice to make a living watching the cricket. Using his television contacts at BBC Scotland and family connections with the Western Mail, he managed to join the press corps following England’s tour of India: this is the story of that escapade.
The cricket itself takes a bit of a back seat here as we follow Miles in his attempt to become a proper cricket correspondent and get over his - totally justified - imposter syndrome. Very funny and well worth a read if you are a cricket fan or not, but some basic knowledge of the game would be helpful.
The cricket itself takes a bit of a back seat here as we follow Miles in his attempt to become a proper cricket correspondent and get over his - totally justified - imposter syndrome. Very funny and well worth a read if you are a cricket fan or not, but some basic knowledge of the game would be helpful.
July 14, 2012
This is a gentle and gently humorous review of the obsession of Mile Jupp with cricket. It is told with typically Juppian deprecatory turn of phrase and tone. It does work best if you know and appreciate cricket and especially the recent history of the England team, but it also works well as a study of a man's attempt to turn a leisure pursuit, followed for love, into a profession and the effect that is has on his feelings for the game. This is not going to rival England Their England in terms of great cricket literature but there are many worse ways to spend your time.
February 10, 2014
Jupp effortlessly taps in to the true fantasy of millions of men in this land. Yes sitting in a sweaty wooden box in some former colony with 50 other middle aged men, watching cricket. Who doesn't dream of that? Well it turns into a nightmare for Jupp but with such polite humour that it's impossible not to delight in. I'ts a bit like a modern day "Scoop" but dare I say funnier for the modern reader. In a miserable February it lightened my commute though I did guffaw too many times for some of my fellow passengers own comfort.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews