Loving Peter

by Judy Cook, Angela Levin

Judy Huxtable, a beautiful Swinging Sixties model and actress, met and fell in love with Peter Cook in 1967. They were together during the memorable hit shows 'Behind the Fridge' and 'Derek and Clive', divorcing in 1989. Being intimate with Peter meant that Judy was inevitably close to Peter's comic partner, Dudley Moore, and they all formed an extraordinary bond. She was in a unique position to observe the special relationship that Peter and Dud shared, and the rivalry that existed between them.

In LOVING PETER, Judy gives a perceptive and poignant account of the Peter Cook that only she knew. She writes with a mix of humour, insight and sadness about one of the funniest, most enigmatic and troubled men on the planet. She describes what he was like as a husband, performer, friend, father and man and gives an inside view of what really made him tick; why he seemed to want to destroy those he loved the most; how he succumbed to the destructive forces of drink and drugs; and how he and Dudley really got on.

Genres: Memoir, Biography

288 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published September 4, 2008

Reviews

[Mick Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book about Peter cook I've read,this one gets up close.a comedian that wasn't to my taste,but his personal life seemed to be a p.r disaster.having to live with someone who has noteriarty,with the added baggage of addiction is no easy task.his ongoing uncomfortable friendship with Dudley Moore is also explored and like some comedy duos had a love hate relationship.his life sometimes mirrored that of other comedians,where they can make other people laugh but not themselves,Peter sellers is one that comes to mind.as for the author I felt sorry for her but she admits was not without her faults.it is well worth a read.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not like her writing style at all which irritates me as I plod through this. Judy writes in the present tense which suggests this is time is will never get over - either that or she's completely lifted it from a diary she kept at the time and hasn't bothered to edit it. It offers a few insights into the times that Peter Cook was top of his game and his strange almost twin like relationship with Dudley but shows signs were there for his spiralling into self destruction. It's not creatively or colourfully written and she sounds at times terribly shallow. I feel this book could have been more, but the life has been sucked out of Judy. Again, like Peters previous wife, Wendy, she keeps the name Cook even though they divorced. Her identity forever stuck in this time. It seems Peter was a force you could only submit to be in the shadow of otherwise you lost him.

[Sull · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was a bit dire. Why oh why do I get sucked into reading these bios written by the husband/wife?--they're almost never worth it!

OK, Judy Cook was a sweet & beautiful model in Swinging London in the 1960's & 70's, & she had fun with Peter Cook (one half of the popular comedy duo) till he went completely off the rails due to alcohol. Then life was not so fun, but she hung on till he divorced her & then finally died. Judy gradually learned some life lessons about celebrities & alcoholics, but it's a painfully slow process for her, and for her reader too.

[Lisa Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining bit of swinging '60s London fluff. It's not well-written or enlightening, but fun enough to warrant a read if you're interested in Peter Cook. The second half gets a bit repetitious (only so many times you can read about Cook's alcohol and drug-fueled bad behavior), but it's a quick read.

[Becky Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although not the best written biography out there, a lovely snippet of the time with plenty of good anecdotes, and the quality does build. Worth sticking with.

[Jennifer Simpson · Rating 1 out of 5]

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