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Shark-Infested Waters
Michael Whitehall contrasts the glamorous image of theatrical life with the mundane realities of the business, while passing on some startling trade secrets along the way.
A laconic raconteur of refreshingly unstar-struck theatrical anecdotes, Whitehall deftly sketches the social comedy of his eccentric growing up in suburban London in the 1950s, his schooldays at Ampleforth and his subsequent adventures as a prep schoolmaster – worthy of Evelyn Waugh himself – before becoming an actors’ agent.
Shark-Infested Waters is a charming, funny and piquant view of a world that continues to fascinate.
Praise for Shark Infested
“The funniest show-business memoir I’ve read since David Niven’s The Moon’s a Balloon.” - Nigel Havers
“One of the year’s funniest memoirs.” – Daily Express
A laconic raconteur of refreshingly unstar-struck theatrical anecdotes, Whitehall deftly sketches the social comedy of his eccentric growing up in suburban London in the 1950s, his schooldays at Ampleforth and his subsequent adventures as a prep schoolmaster – worthy of Evelyn Waugh himself – before becoming an actors’ agent.
Shark-Infested Waters is a charming, funny and piquant view of a world that continues to fascinate.
Praise for Shark Infested
“The funniest show-business memoir I’ve read since David Niven’s The Moon’s a Balloon.” - Nigel Havers
“One of the year’s funniest memoirs.” – Daily Express
- GenresBiography
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
23 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 21, 2021
I enjoyed this - it was a great insight into the career of an agent and how it plays a role within that sphere. I was confused at times about the timeline and when things were happening but overall an enjoyable book with some good quips about actors.
December 30, 2021
Like many others I came across Michael Whitehall through his work with his son, but it's great to read how he worked his way up in a time when fortune really did favour the brave! A well written book, some lovely little anecdotes and shows a much milder side to his personality.
December 23, 2025
AN ENJOYABLE SOJOURN.
I’m very pleased that “Shark Infested Waters” (SIW) has been re-issued. Previously lost to the pulping of a defunct publisher, it has been given a much needed new lease of life. This review will be brief, to match the book’s size, but also due to the amount of name dropping spoilers a full review would produce, making it defunct from a reader’s perspective.
SIW is full of hilarious anecdotes, a real Who’s Who of British actors of the twentieth and twenty first century. Expect fun, lovingly savage, and self deprecating anecdotes about the likes of Judi Dench, Richard E Grant and Daniel Day-Lewis.
The real highlight is the author himself, an inimitable narrator, providing a Dorothy Parker-like take on the entertainment industry as well as his own fascinating life. If you have encountered Michael Whitehall’s “How was your Day” meme on social media or enjoyed his many television contributions in recent years - you’ll love this book. His prose is characteristic of the man himself: dry, brutally honest, and unashamedly hilarious.
Though inferior to Whitehall’s more recent “Backing Into The Spotlight”, which I found fuller and funnier in content and tone - SIW remains an enjoyable and easy read, perfect for anyone mildly interested in British cultural history or the gossip filled circles of the industry it so honestly and yet lovingly deconstructs.
I’m very pleased that “Shark Infested Waters” (SIW) has been re-issued. Previously lost to the pulping of a defunct publisher, it has been given a much needed new lease of life. This review will be brief, to match the book’s size, but also due to the amount of name dropping spoilers a full review would produce, making it defunct from a reader’s perspective.
SIW is full of hilarious anecdotes, a real Who’s Who of British actors of the twentieth and twenty first century. Expect fun, lovingly savage, and self deprecating anecdotes about the likes of Judi Dench, Richard E Grant and Daniel Day-Lewis.
The real highlight is the author himself, an inimitable narrator, providing a Dorothy Parker-like take on the entertainment industry as well as his own fascinating life. If you have encountered Michael Whitehall’s “How was your Day” meme on social media or enjoyed his many television contributions in recent years - you’ll love this book. His prose is characteristic of the man himself: dry, brutally honest, and unashamedly hilarious.
Though inferior to Whitehall’s more recent “Backing Into The Spotlight”, which I found fuller and funnier in content and tone - SIW remains an enjoyable and easy read, perfect for anyone mildly interested in British cultural history or the gossip filled circles of the industry it so honestly and yet lovingly deconstructs.
June 26, 2022
Entertaining enough. Would have enjoyed it more if I were more familiar with British actors who feature in the book. But it was fine.
September 27, 2021
A TRULY ACCOMPLISHED GENTLEMAN WHO BEGS TO DIFFER ON THAT!
I read this after "Backing Into The Spotlight." (Equally fabulous!) Some of what's in this is in BOS, which didn't bother me at all, I was so riveted! Mr. Whitehall's perspective on life is just hysterical! I read most of it while in a hospital Emergency waiting room for 2 days; I couldn't help but laugh out loud!! If you've not discovered Michael Whitehall yet, here's your chance! This & "Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father" (on Netflix) will cause you to become addicted to him, & his son Jack! Can't wait for his, Jack, & Hilary's book "How to Survive Family Holidays"! Now, Hilary, it's your turn to write a memoir! Bravo again, Mr. Whitehall, for having such an incredibly wonderful life & writing such an incredibly wonderful book!! ~ Your groupie Sharon Bandhold, retired Librarian, Plattsburgh (NY) Public Library
I read this after "Backing Into The Spotlight." (Equally fabulous!) Some of what's in this is in BOS, which didn't bother me at all, I was so riveted! Mr. Whitehall's perspective on life is just hysterical! I read most of it while in a hospital Emergency waiting room for 2 days; I couldn't help but laugh out loud!! If you've not discovered Michael Whitehall yet, here's your chance! This & "Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father" (on Netflix) will cause you to become addicted to him, & his son Jack! Can't wait for his, Jack, & Hilary's book "How to Survive Family Holidays"! Now, Hilary, it's your turn to write a memoir! Bravo again, Mr. Whitehall, for having such an incredibly wonderful life & writing such an incredibly wonderful book!! ~ Your groupie Sharon Bandhold, retired Librarian, Plattsburgh (NY) Public Library
March 31, 2014
Barely worth a review really.
I read this book on the back of "Him and Me" and it was a mistake, whirl the former had a good structure and lots of energy, holding my attention throughout (it even made me lough out loud. An achievement indeed, as I'm not noted for my sense of humour!), I found this laconic and boring in the extreme.
Sadly it was lazily written, with too much name dropping, even for an agent, and many bitchy and unnecessary anecdotes which, for me, makes the writer the lesser person rather than the subject.
Shame.
I read this book on the back of "Him and Me" and it was a mistake, whirl the former had a good structure and lots of energy, holding my attention throughout (it even made me lough out loud. An achievement indeed, as I'm not noted for my sense of humour!), I found this laconic and boring in the extreme.
Sadly it was lazily written, with too much name dropping, even for an agent, and many bitchy and unnecessary anecdotes which, for me, makes the writer the lesser person rather than the subject.
Shame.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews