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Roy Castle Now and Then: An Autobiography
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304 pages, Hardcover
First published December 15, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 16, 2020
Roy was a presenter from my childhood who always came across as really lovely. The book talks about his life in two halves: pre and post cancer. Both were very informative and the work he did regarding cancer and passive smoking was inspirational. Taken far too soon. God bless.
April 24, 2025
A great combo of past and present which are also a hugely contrasting combo too. a powerful read.
September 30, 2008
Autobiography of Roy Castle, probably best known as the presenter of the TV show 'Record Breakers' in the 1980s. Earlier in life he worked as an entertainer - tap-dancing, playing the trumpet, and doing comedy routines - and he died of lung cancer (despite never having smoked) in 1994.
I'd always had a lot of respect for Roy Castle, who was a christian and a family man as well as very involved in show business, so I was pleased to see this book on a second-hand stall.
It starts well, with descriptions of his impoverished working-class roots, albeit in a very happy family environment. His mother encouraged him in his early appearances on stage, and he charts his disappointments as well as his successes.
Unfortunately the middle section is long-winded, detailing a number of practical jokes, amusing conversations, and the various events he attended and people he worked with. These things are probably of interest to those who were there at the time, but left me rather bored, skimming rapidly through lists of names, and wondering what was so funny about the many incidents he cites.
The last part of the book is in diary form, after his first diagnosis of cancer, with treatment that worked, followed by a recurrence that lead to his demise shortly after the book was completed.
I enjoyed the parts that described Roy's family - once or twice I even had tears in my eyes - and would rate this three-and-a-half stars if I could. Worth reading, and very interesting in places; just a pity the middle section was not cut down significantly.
I'd always had a lot of respect for Roy Castle, who was a christian and a family man as well as very involved in show business, so I was pleased to see this book on a second-hand stall.
It starts well, with descriptions of his impoverished working-class roots, albeit in a very happy family environment. His mother encouraged him in his early appearances on stage, and he charts his disappointments as well as his successes.
Unfortunately the middle section is long-winded, detailing a number of practical jokes, amusing conversations, and the various events he attended and people he worked with. These things are probably of interest to those who were there at the time, but left me rather bored, skimming rapidly through lists of names, and wondering what was so funny about the many incidents he cites.
The last part of the book is in diary form, after his first diagnosis of cancer, with treatment that worked, followed by a recurrence that lead to his demise shortly after the book was completed.
I enjoyed the parts that described Roy's family - once or twice I even had tears in my eyes - and would rate this three-and-a-half stars if I could. Worth reading, and very interesting in places; just a pity the middle section was not cut down significantly.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews