Call Me Charlie : The Autobiography of Lord Brocket

by Charles Brocket

Lord Brocket of Brocket Hall appeared to be just the token toff when he took part in the 2004 series of the hit ITV show I'M A CELEBRITY, GET ME OUT OF HERE! But in a matter of days he had become the life and soul of the party, bonding with such unlikely camp-mates as Johnny Rotten and fondling Jordan and Alex Best. With his unfailing bonhomie and irrepressible sense of fun, Brocket helped make the show compulsive viewing and endeared him to millions. Now, in this hilarious and candid autobiography, he tells his incredible story in full. From his silver-spoon childhood to a life of great wealth, fast cars and faster women, Lord B experienced a lifestyle granted to only a select few -- even among the aristocracy. But an error of judgement led to a stunning change of fortune, when an ill-advised scheme to help him save his ancestral home led to conviction for fraud and prison. But if his spell in the British Army had shown Brocket a world beyond debutantes and diamonds, a spell at Her Majesty's pleasure stripped him of any sense of being a class apart. Brocket emerged a humbler man, still a peer of the realm but one who had really seen how the other half lived. This is his full of tall tales, all the more amazing for being true, and told with the warmth and wit of one of the last great eccentrics.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 6, 2004

Reviews

[John Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book at all given the subject matter.

[Donna Dickens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, very frank & funny

[E. L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-written book covering a story full of twists and turns.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting to read the true facts of his life.

[Ian Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly engaging and enjoyable read. Brocket tells the story of his notorious family, his unhappy father and dominating fascistic grandfather, and also his own very varied life. He did a tour of duty in Northern Ireland as an army officer, successfully ran his ancestral hall as a conference centre, and then was imprisoned for attempted fraud. He later bounced back as a media personality. In this autobiography he quite humorously relates these things. Lord Brocket tells of the animosity he had from people, including management of his business, yet does remain quite positive himself. I was surprised to quite like the man after reading his book, although he still remains obviously a somewhat dodgy toff.