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Little Me: My life from A-Z
Hello there. Welcome to my autobiography.
Throughout this book I talk about my life and work, including Little Britain, Come Fly With Me, Bridesmaids, Les Miserables, Alice In Wonderland and, of course, Shooting Stars.
The thing is, this is a bit different to most memoirs you may have read, because it comes in the form of an A-Z.
For instance, B is for Baldy! - which is what people used to shout at me in the playground (not much fun), G is for Gay (because I'm an actual real life gay) and T is for the TARDIS (because I'm a companion in Doctor Who now). You get the sort of thing.
Anyway I hope you buy it at least twice. Thank you.
Throughout this book I talk about my life and work, including Little Britain, Come Fly With Me, Bridesmaids, Les Miserables, Alice In Wonderland and, of course, Shooting Stars.
The thing is, this is a bit different to most memoirs you may have read, because it comes in the form of an A-Z.
For instance, B is for Baldy! - which is what people used to shout at me in the playground (not much fun), G is for Gay (because I'm an actual real life gay) and T is for the TARDIS (because I'm a companion in Doctor Who now). You get the sort of thing.
Anyway I hope you buy it at least twice. Thank you.
336 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2017
177 people are currently reading
639 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
October 17, 2018
Matt Lucas has a warm, intimate writing style that makes you feel he is someone who you would love to sit down with and have an interesting chat. His autobiography touches all aspects of his life from the early childhood loss of his hair through to schools, university, his year selling Chelsea FC sports gear and his early stand up gigs. He mentions many of the people he has met who he has admired or who have helped him along the way. This is definitely ones for his fans as he relives from his early days with David Walliams on the radio version of Little Britain to the TV show and live tours. Mostly his book is filled with life and joy but he touches on the difficult times and loneliness he had at school due to his weight and loss of hair. He also briefly touches on his marriage, divorce and subsequent death of Kevin McGee and his very deep grieving for him. The A-Z format works very well in this memoir and allows Lucas to zip backwards and forwards to the important events in his life and allows him to riff on his favourite topics like eating. It's definitely going to be interesting to see where Matt Lucas pops up next!
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Canongate Books for an ARC to read
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Canongate Books for an ARC to read
October 24, 2018
4.5/5 stars!
I really really enjoyed this! I only really know Matt Lucas off of a few things he’s done, mainly Doctor Who but also Little Britain and plenty of live comedy shows he’s been on. And I thought his memoir would be a great way to know more about how he became as popular as he is today.
I loved this book. From his troubles growing up; his life-long illness, coping with his body-image, accepting being gay etc. to successfully becoming a co-creator of a major British Comedy and taking part in lots of popular shows involving some of his childhood idols who are comedians, this book continually became more interesting. (As well as also being very funny.)
Oh, and I shed a tear at the very end of Chapter 12 (I think that’s the one?) Things do get a bit emotional in certain parts.
I really really enjoyed this! I only really know Matt Lucas off of a few things he’s done, mainly Doctor Who but also Little Britain and plenty of live comedy shows he’s been on. And I thought his memoir would be a great way to know more about how he became as popular as he is today.
I loved this book. From his troubles growing up; his life-long illness, coping with his body-image, accepting being gay etc. to successfully becoming a co-creator of a major British Comedy and taking part in lots of popular shows involving some of his childhood idols who are comedians, this book continually became more interesting. (As well as also being very funny.)
Oh, and I shed a tear at the very end of Chapter 12 (I think that’s the one?) Things do get a bit emotional in certain parts.
November 22, 2018
Disclaimer: I received a copy via Librarything
This book is so morditorial.
I didn’t know when I started watching Little Britain that I had actually seen Matt Lucas in something before. He had a brief cameo in Plunkett and MacLean. But when I first started watching Little Britain, I didn’t know that. I know that it just made me laugh.
Lucas’ alphabetized memoir will make you laugh (the Jackie Collins story) and make you cry (a story about his father). That’s right, it isn’t in chronological order but alphabetical order. There is even, as the book’s back notes, a song in the middle.
It is entirely possible that the book isn’t as personal as some fans might wish. The details about his marriage to Kevin John McGee are too personal to fully share according to Lucas’ introduction. Yet, in many ways, it makes the book feel more honest.
Well, that and Kimberly.
Kimberly is very important.
There is of course, quite a bit about Little Britain, including not only the creative process but also whether Walliams and Lucas would do anything different and pushes back against some of the criticism that has been leveled at the show.
But the bulk of the memoir isn’t about the television series. There is more focus on family, feelings, views, and coming to terms with one’s own sexuality. There is grief in the memoir but also much hope. It is one of those quiet books that actually heals the reader.
This book is so morditorial.
I didn’t know when I started watching Little Britain that I had actually seen Matt Lucas in something before. He had a brief cameo in Plunkett and MacLean. But when I first started watching Little Britain, I didn’t know that. I know that it just made me laugh.
Lucas’ alphabetized memoir will make you laugh (the Jackie Collins story) and make you cry (a story about his father). That’s right, it isn’t in chronological order but alphabetical order. There is even, as the book’s back notes, a song in the middle.
It is entirely possible that the book isn’t as personal as some fans might wish. The details about his marriage to Kevin John McGee are too personal to fully share according to Lucas’ introduction. Yet, in many ways, it makes the book feel more honest.
Well, that and Kimberly.
Kimberly is very important.
There is of course, quite a bit about Little Britain, including not only the creative process but also whether Walliams and Lucas would do anything different and pushes back against some of the criticism that has been leveled at the show.
But the bulk of the memoir isn’t about the television series. There is more focus on family, feelings, views, and coming to terms with one’s own sexuality. There is grief in the memoir but also much hope. It is one of those quiet books that actually heals the reader.
October 27, 2018
Lucas writes in a whimsical style, a little cheeky, a little different. There's a lot about the English comedy scene, his early life struggling at a high-brow school, the life of a comic starting off, and then his various successes on radio, TV, film and stage. I gained a much better appreciation of the genius behind "Little Britain" and Lucas's many talents.
The best writing is when he writes about his love and the lose of his only long term partner.
The best writing is when he writes about his love and the lose of his only long term partner.
March 10, 2022
easy going read of the life of Matt Lucas by using chapters A-Z , funny in parts
May 16, 2018
It's okay.
The best thing about this book was getting it as an audiobook on Borrowbox and listening to Matt's voice. I find it strangely comforting... probably because of Little Britain and Dr Who, which are comfort TV for me, so hearing him takes me to that place...
As for the book itself, it's a different approach, working through the alphabet and one that I'm not struck with. It ends on xylophone and zzzzz (are you asleep yet) and he actually manages to continue talking under these headings, which feels forced. This alphabetic, non-linear approach meant jumping about his life quite a bit, to find a story he could link to a letter. I like a linear structure, what's wrong with a normal chronological approach, why make your autobiography link to letters of the alphabet rather than good old date order to make sure we are all on track with where you are in your life. And how can you be sure all the important bits are covered when you work alphabetically.... and there's only 26 things to talk about and one of those is xylophone and another is "zzz".
Mine and Matt's brains are clearly wired very very differently.
I was looking forward to hearing about Little Britain and Dr Who. The former got a reasonable coverage, the latter very little. I think Shooting Stars got most coverage and because of the creative, non-linear approach, we went back to the Shooting Stars days, Vic and Bob, dressing as a baby, about five times over the duration of the book.
I'm struggling to remember much of his story if I'm honest because of the hopping around but something that did come across very much is the "luvviness" with a lot of self congratulatory language..
There's a section dedicated to listing his top 10 foods. Interestingly chips aren't in there because you can't be sure of the quality you'll be given when eating out.. that section took up about 20 minutes.
In seriousness there are a couple of events that he talks about that are deeper, the most significant being the death of someone close to him, which is extremely sad in the way it came about. He's wary of how much to share and quickly moves on. but comes back to this period of his life two more times at different points of the book. Perhaps writing the book this way made it easier for him to open up, as every now and again, in the midst of silliness and luvviness he'd briefly drop in something serious and would then be off into talking about something frivolous again, like the different ways to eat maltesers. I think there's a lot of depth to Matt, that we see glimpses of in this book but he doesn't share much of himself really.
All in all. a recommended read / listen for those who aren't too worried about jumping around timelines, back and forth to the same points - and who generally want a lighter read, not a meaty autobiography.
The best thing about this book was getting it as an audiobook on Borrowbox and listening to Matt's voice. I find it strangely comforting... probably because of Little Britain and Dr Who, which are comfort TV for me, so hearing him takes me to that place...
As for the book itself, it's a different approach, working through the alphabet and one that I'm not struck with. It ends on xylophone and zzzzz (are you asleep yet) and he actually manages to continue talking under these headings, which feels forced. This alphabetic, non-linear approach meant jumping about his life quite a bit, to find a story he could link to a letter. I like a linear structure, what's wrong with a normal chronological approach, why make your autobiography link to letters of the alphabet rather than good old date order to make sure we are all on track with where you are in your life. And how can you be sure all the important bits are covered when you work alphabetically.... and there's only 26 things to talk about and one of those is xylophone and another is "zzz".
Mine and Matt's brains are clearly wired very very differently.
I was looking forward to hearing about Little Britain and Dr Who. The former got a reasonable coverage, the latter very little. I think Shooting Stars got most coverage and because of the creative, non-linear approach, we went back to the Shooting Stars days, Vic and Bob, dressing as a baby, about five times over the duration of the book.
I'm struggling to remember much of his story if I'm honest because of the hopping around but something that did come across very much is the "luvviness" with a lot of self congratulatory language..
There's a section dedicated to listing his top 10 foods. Interestingly chips aren't in there because you can't be sure of the quality you'll be given when eating out.. that section took up about 20 minutes.
In seriousness there are a couple of events that he talks about that are deeper, the most significant being the death of someone close to him, which is extremely sad in the way it came about. He's wary of how much to share and quickly moves on. but comes back to this period of his life two more times at different points of the book. Perhaps writing the book this way made it easier for him to open up, as every now and again, in the midst of silliness and luvviness he'd briefly drop in something serious and would then be off into talking about something frivolous again, like the different ways to eat maltesers. I think there's a lot of depth to Matt, that we see glimpses of in this book but he doesn't share much of himself really.
All in all. a recommended read / listen for those who aren't too worried about jumping around timelines, back and forth to the same points - and who generally want a lighter read, not a meaty autobiography.
July 15, 2018
Thank you to the publishers via NetGalley for an eCopy of this book to read and review, this in no way impacts my thoughts on the book.
However, as soon as I learnt I was approved for this book, I couldn't wait to dive in! I've always been a huge fan of Matt's, Little Britain had always been one of my favourite sitcoms and his Nardole in Doctor Who is honestly just one of my latest favourite companions.
Whether it was the format of this book, being broken down into sub-headings (following the alphabet), I felt like this was such an intimate autobiography, and yet it felt as casual as catching up with a friend for chips (or crisps, as Matt Lucas says). I mean, it's awesome, he has a chapter devoted to his favourite foods, which I found fascinating to read about and amusing, he gives such passion talking about his favourite foods and flavors of say, chips and chocolates.
I loved the chapters focused on Doctor Who, though I wish it were longer! I bet he and Pearl got up to all sorts of mischief whilst Peter was memorizing those epic monologues that Twelve performed! He speaks so fondly of his co stars, and I'd definitely love to see Nardole back again if that were possible.
The chapters that focused on his early life were so heart wrenching! I had no idea that Matt Lucas was told about that condition which caused him to lose all his hair, at such a young age, and how much he was bullied at a young age, and how he struggled with coming out to his family and friends, which is sad in itself! But these chapters were written with such heart, it was perfection.
Also loved the chapters where Little Britain was discussed, and even in early chapters, there were snippets of how he got inspiration for some characters, eg, a weight loss coach with a loud and shrill tone, wondering if they have "any nooooo members." (For those of you who enjoy Little Britain, you'll definitely appreciate this too.
Filled with anecdotes about being famous and getting recognized whilst out and about with family, and talking about other famous faces and friends, this autobiography is sure to please anyone who's enjoyed Matt Lucas's career, or anyone that loves a great autobiography!
However, as soon as I learnt I was approved for this book, I couldn't wait to dive in! I've always been a huge fan of Matt's, Little Britain had always been one of my favourite sitcoms and his Nardole in Doctor Who is honestly just one of my latest favourite companions.
Whether it was the format of this book, being broken down into sub-headings (following the alphabet), I felt like this was such an intimate autobiography, and yet it felt as casual as catching up with a friend for chips (or crisps, as Matt Lucas says). I mean, it's awesome, he has a chapter devoted to his favourite foods, which I found fascinating to read about and amusing, he gives such passion talking about his favourite foods and flavors of say, chips and chocolates.
I loved the chapters focused on Doctor Who, though I wish it were longer! I bet he and Pearl got up to all sorts of mischief whilst Peter was memorizing those epic monologues that Twelve performed! He speaks so fondly of his co stars, and I'd definitely love to see Nardole back again if that were possible.
The chapters that focused on his early life were so heart wrenching! I had no idea that Matt Lucas was told about that condition which caused him to lose all his hair, at such a young age, and how much he was bullied at a young age, and how he struggled with coming out to his family and friends, which is sad in itself! But these chapters were written with such heart, it was perfection.
Also loved the chapters where Little Britain was discussed, and even in early chapters, there were snippets of how he got inspiration for some characters, eg, a weight loss coach with a loud and shrill tone, wondering if they have "any nooooo members." (For those of you who enjoy Little Britain, you'll definitely appreciate this too.
Filled with anecdotes about being famous and getting recognized whilst out and about with family, and talking about other famous faces and friends, this autobiography is sure to please anyone who's enjoyed Matt Lucas's career, or anyone that loves a great autobiography!
December 19, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
This is a charming and witty rather choppy story of growing up as an overweight shy boy with Alopecia trying to find his way in the world. The chapters jump around and you get the feeling this is probably true of Matt himself. He discusses everything from his eating habits to meeting the love of his life.
It is funny, sad and quite negative in parts, however it is very entertaining.
This is a charming and witty rather choppy story of growing up as an overweight shy boy with Alopecia trying to find his way in the world. The chapters jump around and you get the feeling this is probably true of Matt himself. He discusses everything from his eating habits to meeting the love of his life.
It is funny, sad and quite negative in parts, however it is very entertaining.
December 20, 2017
When Little Britain first smacked comedy in the face in 2003, I was immediately on board. A little bit rude, a little bit near the mark, a weeny bit uncomfortable, and very bloody funny. You know when you’re scrolling through the TV channels looking for something to watch and always settle on your classics? Well, mine would be Little Britain, Only Fools and Horses and Seinfeld. That level of comedy just doesn’t age.
So when I had the opportunity to read Little Me, My Life From A-Z by Matt Lucas I snapped it up. I had absolutely no idea what kind of person he was, after all, I only know him like millions of others; Vicky Pollard (probably my most favourite), the ruthless Marjorie Dawes, and from before Little Britain the Big Baby from Shooting Stars.
The book isn’t chronological; it’s put together as an A-Z. B for Baldy! N is for Nearest and Dearest, T is for TARDIS etc. At Matt’s own admission he’s a bit crap with dates, and so this way works just perfectly for both writer and reader. Reading how little Matt lost his hair, how he made and lost friends, and his one true love was incredibly touching in places. Although Matt is very careful not to divulge too much of his personal life, I felt his writing style changed at these points, and I wanted to reach into the pages with a Cadbury’s selection box and give him a big old hug.
http://dai.ly/x4n0wn. my all time favourite Little Britain clip
Duffy’s thoughts on Little Me, From A-Z
LIttle Me, My Life From A-Z, is not all ‘Tears Of A Clown’ as Matt’s mother remarked after reading the first draft though, so if you are looking for wit old Matty has it in spades. Every now and then a little line appeared which I read in one of his characters voices and I found it incredibly interesting to find out how Matt Lucas and David Walliams came together, their writing process, the harsh old world of the stand-up circuit, and how they broke into the mainstream.
Don’t buy this book if you want juicy details on Rebel Wilson or David Walliams. Do buy this book if you want to read about the life of an exceptional comedy writer, and a person full of love, insecurities, and social awkwardness, just like the rest of us.
If you love comedy, good writing and memoirs, get it!
So when I had the opportunity to read Little Me, My Life From A-Z by Matt Lucas I snapped it up. I had absolutely no idea what kind of person he was, after all, I only know him like millions of others; Vicky Pollard (probably my most favourite), the ruthless Marjorie Dawes, and from before Little Britain the Big Baby from Shooting Stars.
The book isn’t chronological; it’s put together as an A-Z. B for Baldy! N is for Nearest and Dearest, T is for TARDIS etc. At Matt’s own admission he’s a bit crap with dates, and so this way works just perfectly for both writer and reader. Reading how little Matt lost his hair, how he made and lost friends, and his one true love was incredibly touching in places. Although Matt is very careful not to divulge too much of his personal life, I felt his writing style changed at these points, and I wanted to reach into the pages with a Cadbury’s selection box and give him a big old hug.
http://dai.ly/x4n0wn. my all time favourite Little Britain clip
Duffy’s thoughts on Little Me, From A-Z
LIttle Me, My Life From A-Z, is not all ‘Tears Of A Clown’ as Matt’s mother remarked after reading the first draft though, so if you are looking for wit old Matty has it in spades. Every now and then a little line appeared which I read in one of his characters voices and I found it incredibly interesting to find out how Matt Lucas and David Walliams came together, their writing process, the harsh old world of the stand-up circuit, and how they broke into the mainstream.
Don’t buy this book if you want juicy details on Rebel Wilson or David Walliams. Do buy this book if you want to read about the life of an exceptional comedy writer, and a person full of love, insecurities, and social awkwardness, just like the rest of us.
If you love comedy, good writing and memoirs, get it!
January 30, 2025
I am quite a fan of Matt Lucas as a performer, and assumed that his book would live up to a similar standard. I whizzed through this book in a day but found it pretty disappointing in terms of content. A fair few of the stories weren’t that engaging and I found myself skim-reading some of the chapters. It’s an interesting read for any serious Matt Lucas fan, but otherwise I wouldn’t recommend this book.
March 30, 2022
I loved this audiobook and laughed out loud throughout it!
October 11, 2018
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
'I was born a berk. I probably even stubbed my toe on the way out.'
Many Americans recognize Matt Lucas as Rebel Wilson’s brother in the movie Bridesmaids (wildly funny), I personally loved him in Little Britain and Little Britain USA when I still lived in the UK myself. This book isn’t all laughs, it’s an intimate autobiography about Matt’s struggles through his awkward childhood, memories of his family, revelations about his love life (including his coming out gay) and his rise to fame. People like to think comedians are all laughs, but they’re not. They suffer and struggle just like so many of us, and guess what, fame isn’t the key to eternal happiness and perfection.
Though in A to Z order, don’t expect too much structure, which may bother some people. For me, memories are devious and don’t play by the rules in our own heads, one minute you’re 12 then the next minute a stray thought intrudes and off you go, 25 now. Matt goes back and forth between youth and the present, from his humbling incidents such as with wigs, to his deep sorrows over his father’s imprisonment, and death. There had been love too, and the devastation of watching his beloved self-destruct. This book is both humorous and sad.
He is confident and self-deprecating, insecure and courageous. In fact, some of his less than stellar confessions just make him all the more relatable, human. Who knows why we do the crappy things we do to hide our own shame? Not everyone admits to that side though, do they? While his homosexuality shouldn’t be a ‘theme’ of course he touches on it, what it meant to be gay when he was coming up, the shame of it. I am old enough at 42 to know that when I was growing up being called gay was the ‘worst thing’ you could call someone. Imagine how that felt for people who actually were (are) gay, it’s not like it is today, there weren’t a ton of stars ‘out’, not yet. Sure, there were rumours but most adamantly denied it. Add that to his wild allergies, alopecia and you know his childhood had to come with a lot of insecurities and harassment without facing his burgeoning sexuality and yearnings. With a child that suffered through hellish skin struggles (trust me it’s not just about appearance, it is painful) my heart sinks with his. Autoimmune diseases are horrid!
Many of the stories are a chronicle of his journey on the road to comedy. It is a reminder that nothing is easy, that behind every star who seems to suddenly get famous overnight, there are years of climbing up the ladder, all behind the scenes. Whether one is lucky enough to have support and mentors or not, it requires perfecting your craft, many failures as much as successes. Matt was acting and living for comedy in his youth, he worked hard for every success he attained. Don’t expect any rotten gossip about other celebrities, he isn’t trying to sell the book that way. This is like sitting with your friend over drinks in a cozy setting and talking about life, confessing your best moments and your worst. On a side note, I really enjoyed learning how some of the characters were created, like Bitty! My husband, kids and I quote Little Britain all the time! You either get it, or you don’t.
USA Publication Date: Out tomorrow October 12, 2018
Canongate Books US
'I was born a berk. I probably even stubbed my toe on the way out.'
Many Americans recognize Matt Lucas as Rebel Wilson’s brother in the movie Bridesmaids (wildly funny), I personally loved him in Little Britain and Little Britain USA when I still lived in the UK myself. This book isn’t all laughs, it’s an intimate autobiography about Matt’s struggles through his awkward childhood, memories of his family, revelations about his love life (including his coming out gay) and his rise to fame. People like to think comedians are all laughs, but they’re not. They suffer and struggle just like so many of us, and guess what, fame isn’t the key to eternal happiness and perfection.
Though in A to Z order, don’t expect too much structure, which may bother some people. For me, memories are devious and don’t play by the rules in our own heads, one minute you’re 12 then the next minute a stray thought intrudes and off you go, 25 now. Matt goes back and forth between youth and the present, from his humbling incidents such as with wigs, to his deep sorrows over his father’s imprisonment, and death. There had been love too, and the devastation of watching his beloved self-destruct. This book is both humorous and sad.
He is confident and self-deprecating, insecure and courageous. In fact, some of his less than stellar confessions just make him all the more relatable, human. Who knows why we do the crappy things we do to hide our own shame? Not everyone admits to that side though, do they? While his homosexuality shouldn’t be a ‘theme’ of course he touches on it, what it meant to be gay when he was coming up, the shame of it. I am old enough at 42 to know that when I was growing up being called gay was the ‘worst thing’ you could call someone. Imagine how that felt for people who actually were (are) gay, it’s not like it is today, there weren’t a ton of stars ‘out’, not yet. Sure, there were rumours but most adamantly denied it. Add that to his wild allergies, alopecia and you know his childhood had to come with a lot of insecurities and harassment without facing his burgeoning sexuality and yearnings. With a child that suffered through hellish skin struggles (trust me it’s not just about appearance, it is painful) my heart sinks with his. Autoimmune diseases are horrid!
Many of the stories are a chronicle of his journey on the road to comedy. It is a reminder that nothing is easy, that behind every star who seems to suddenly get famous overnight, there are years of climbing up the ladder, all behind the scenes. Whether one is lucky enough to have support and mentors or not, it requires perfecting your craft, many failures as much as successes. Matt was acting and living for comedy in his youth, he worked hard for every success he attained. Don’t expect any rotten gossip about other celebrities, he isn’t trying to sell the book that way. This is like sitting with your friend over drinks in a cozy setting and talking about life, confessing your best moments and your worst. On a side note, I really enjoyed learning how some of the characters were created, like Bitty! My husband, kids and I quote Little Britain all the time! You either get it, or you don’t.
USA Publication Date: Out tomorrow October 12, 2018
Canongate Books US
August 19, 2018
3.5 stars
First off, I don’t really think this memoir was for me. I like autobiographies, interesting personalities, and Little Britain – which basically are the main ingredients of this book. But I think you really have to be a fan of Matt Lucas and know the British comedy scene very well to find it truly great. If you’re not so familiar with either of these topics, it still makes for a good read, albeit not a fantastic one.
What’s unusual about this book is that Lucas doesn’t take a chronological approach, but covers essential points in his life in alphabetical order. I’m still not sure what to make of this. You do get an idea of his childhood, his beginnings as an aspiring comedian, and his subsequent successes. This is indeed intriguing as Lucas has to come up with a chapter for every letter from A-Z, so, for example, you have chapters titled B – Baldy! or E – Eating (a part that I found equally hilarious and disturbing, but I guess that sums up Lucas’ personality pretty well). Who can write an inspiring life story that starts with X or Z? Not even Lucas, so these parts become nonsense chapters. Or M – Middle of the Book is a song which you can listen to and sing along to Karaoke-style online. Granted, that’s genius. I loved it! But sometimes the stories became kind of jumbled and repetitive. Also, Lucas likes to digress. A lot. I would say, this is a book that is best not read in one sitting. Enjoy a chapter or two, put the book away for a while, and return to it some other time, which might be another advantage of this non-linear narration. I found myself skipping some sections because the details of the UK comedy circuit or Hollywood life just don’t interest me all that much – only to stumble across an anecdote I enjoyed immensely (yes, I did like the one about farting, even though it was disgusting).
As pointed out, I loved Little Britain but didn’t know anything about the person behind Vicky Pollard or Andy. The impression I got though is that of a dedicated, self-deprecating, funny, honest, probably batshit crazy, and yet incredibly insecure man, who can be very childlike. Someone who uses comedy and acting to become anyone but himself. I also don’t know what to think of the idolization of his ex-husband, who committed suicide a couple of months after their separation. It was heartbreaking to read how he still mourns the love of his life, and I sincerely hope that he will find love again in someone maybe more stable.
All in all, an excellent memoir for die-hard fans of Little Britain and British comedy, and an okay book for anyone else enjoying excentric personalities and absurd humor.
Little Me is published by Canongate Books. Thank you for providing me with an ARC of this interesting book!
First off, I don’t really think this memoir was for me. I like autobiographies, interesting personalities, and Little Britain – which basically are the main ingredients of this book. But I think you really have to be a fan of Matt Lucas and know the British comedy scene very well to find it truly great. If you’re not so familiar with either of these topics, it still makes for a good read, albeit not a fantastic one.
What’s unusual about this book is that Lucas doesn’t take a chronological approach, but covers essential points in his life in alphabetical order. I’m still not sure what to make of this. You do get an idea of his childhood, his beginnings as an aspiring comedian, and his subsequent successes. This is indeed intriguing as Lucas has to come up with a chapter for every letter from A-Z, so, for example, you have chapters titled B – Baldy! or E – Eating (a part that I found equally hilarious and disturbing, but I guess that sums up Lucas’ personality pretty well). Who can write an inspiring life story that starts with X or Z? Not even Lucas, so these parts become nonsense chapters. Or M – Middle of the Book is a song which you can listen to and sing along to Karaoke-style online. Granted, that’s genius. I loved it! But sometimes the stories became kind of jumbled and repetitive. Also, Lucas likes to digress. A lot. I would say, this is a book that is best not read in one sitting. Enjoy a chapter or two, put the book away for a while, and return to it some other time, which might be another advantage of this non-linear narration. I found myself skipping some sections because the details of the UK comedy circuit or Hollywood life just don’t interest me all that much – only to stumble across an anecdote I enjoyed immensely (yes, I did like the one about farting, even though it was disgusting).
As pointed out, I loved Little Britain but didn’t know anything about the person behind Vicky Pollard or Andy. The impression I got though is that of a dedicated, self-deprecating, funny, honest, probably batshit crazy, and yet incredibly insecure man, who can be very childlike. Someone who uses comedy and acting to become anyone but himself. I also don’t know what to think of the idolization of his ex-husband, who committed suicide a couple of months after their separation. It was heartbreaking to read how he still mourns the love of his life, and I sincerely hope that he will find love again in someone maybe more stable.
All in all, an excellent memoir for die-hard fans of Little Britain and British comedy, and an okay book for anyone else enjoying excentric personalities and absurd humor.
Little Me is published by Canongate Books. Thank you for providing me with an ARC of this interesting book!
September 15, 2018
Matt Lucus is most famous, in the United States, for doing Little Britain as well as being a companion to the 12th Doctor (Peter Capaldi), in Doctor Who. But if you don't watch British shows, you would never have heard of him, and that is a shame.
The Bitish version of thies book was called Little Me: My life from A-Z, which is a more accurate title for the book, because he does not tell his life in chronological order, but rather alphabetical order. So we go from finding out his first comedy gigs in the D chapter, which stood for doing the Circuit to jumping when he was a child, in the next chapter E, which stands for Eating. If you don't mind this jumping around, as he focuses on one this, it works.
It is kind of nice, that he writes in his voice, so you can hear him telling you the stories. And of course when he comes to G, he talks about "being the only gay in the village", which although he said he didn't create, he identified with quite well.
It is often what he says at the ends of the chapters which make the best points. On Eating, he said he had the tastes of a 9 year old, and on being Gay, he said that he wondered if in 25 years that gay authors would even devote a whole chapter to being gay. \
If you are looking to laugh throughout the book, you will be disappointed. Comedians typically have suffered to get to the state where they can make jokes about it. Matt lost his hair when he was a teenager, and in some of his early routines, he had fun playing about with a wig. He was able to make light of an unfortunate situation.
But if you want to find out what make the man who he is, this is an excellent book for that.
Thanks to Cannon Gate for making this book available for an honest review.
The Bitish version of thies book was called Little Me: My life from A-Z, which is a more accurate title for the book, because he does not tell his life in chronological order, but rather alphabetical order. So we go from finding out his first comedy gigs in the D chapter, which stood for doing the Circuit to jumping when he was a child, in the next chapter E, which stands for Eating. If you don't mind this jumping around, as he focuses on one this, it works.
It is kind of nice, that he writes in his voice, so you can hear him telling you the stories. And of course when he comes to G, he talks about "being the only gay in the village", which although he said he didn't create, he identified with quite well.
It is often what he says at the ends of the chapters which make the best points. On Eating, he said he had the tastes of a 9 year old, and on being Gay, he said that he wondered if in 25 years that gay authors would even devote a whole chapter to being gay. \
If you are looking to laugh throughout the book, you will be disappointed. Comedians typically have suffered to get to the state where they can make jokes about it. Matt lost his hair when he was a teenager, and in some of his early routines, he had fun playing about with a wig. He was able to make light of an unfortunate situation.
But if you want to find out what make the man who he is, this is an excellent book for that.
Thanks to Cannon Gate for making this book available for an honest review.
November 2, 2017
I picked this up after seeing Matt Lucas on the Graham Norton Show. I've never been a huge fan of Little Britain, though I enjoyed it, but the things he said on the show really intrigued me.
For the first half, I found this book quite enjoyable. Matt's humour and honesty really came through and I liked how he didn't always paint himself in the best light. However, I found that as the book progressed, the more impatient I became; I feel that to understand most of the chapters, you need to have seen Matt Lucas' whole back-catalogue. I especially felt like this during the Shooting Stars part, having never seen the show.
The format, which initially drew me in with topics arranged alphabetically instead of chronologically, also became a problem for me. At many points it wasn't clear where we were in the timeline and so I feel I didn't get a clear sense of progression that you would usually get when someone is describing their career path and life story.
Overall I was disappointed in this. I found that the bits that were supposed to be funny didn't land very well with me and the more emotional parts seemed to be breezed over too quickly. On the whole, the book felt a little off-balance, some seemingly important things barely mentioned, and other things seemed to drag on. I'd recommend this if you're a huge fan of Matt Lucas but unfortunately this wasn't for me.
For the first half, I found this book quite enjoyable. Matt's humour and honesty really came through and I liked how he didn't always paint himself in the best light. However, I found that as the book progressed, the more impatient I became; I feel that to understand most of the chapters, you need to have seen Matt Lucas' whole back-catalogue. I especially felt like this during the Shooting Stars part, having never seen the show.
The format, which initially drew me in with topics arranged alphabetically instead of chronologically, also became a problem for me. At many points it wasn't clear where we were in the timeline and so I feel I didn't get a clear sense of progression that you would usually get when someone is describing their career path and life story.
Overall I was disappointed in this. I found that the bits that were supposed to be funny didn't land very well with me and the more emotional parts seemed to be breezed over too quickly. On the whole, the book felt a little off-balance, some seemingly important things barely mentioned, and other things seemed to drag on. I'd recommend this if you're a huge fan of Matt Lucas but unfortunately this wasn't for me.
November 9, 2017
4.5
I wish there were 50 more letters of the alphabet... felt like I was having a cuppa with a very interesting, charming friend and I didn't want it to ever end.
I will say for a first book, the writing is moving but the tone is a bit choppy... I am trying to only judge on content though. Would love a bit more opinion but it's all quite nice just the same.
I wish there were 50 more letters of the alphabet... felt like I was having a cuppa with a very interesting, charming friend and I didn't want it to ever end.
I will say for a first book, the writing is moving but the tone is a bit choppy... I am trying to only judge on content though. Would love a bit more opinion but it's all quite nice just the same.
November 26, 2020
What a lovely guy!!
This is a wonderful memoir of a funny, intelligent and very humble guy who's been around for what feels like forever.
Told in a not - entirely chronological order we learn about his childhood, being bald from a young age as well as his love for performing and his attempts to break into comedy, all the way to his rise to fame in shows like Little Britain, Shooting Stars and Dr Who. Along the way there's what it was like struggling to come to terms with his sexuality, being Jewish (one day I'd love someone to explain me why they are persecuted) and his family life.
Lucas has said he wrote the book as an A-Z so he could get to the parts where he was famous quicker as he didn't think people would want to read about his early years. On the contrary, as much as I was interested in how he got his break and how his most famous shows came to be I was enthralled with his tales of growing up and how it influenced him. Also his love of chocolate.. A man of great taste indeed.
You can't really go into any details of a memoir because it would spoil the book. So I'll just say that it's had me laughing, it had me feeling sympathy for him and it's been a wonderful trip down memory lane of some of the things he's appeared in. It's not a salacious warts and all recount of every horrible thing that was said or done by people who are now in the public eye and I personally find that refreshing.
Oh and at the half way point of the book there was sheet music of a song entitled Middle of the Book which also included a link to hear the song being sang by Matt Lucas himself which put the biggest smile on my face. I've never seen this done in an autobiography / memoir before and at this point I decided that it would be 99.9% impossible to change my 5 star rating.
This is a wonderful memoir of a funny, intelligent and very humble guy who's been around for what feels like forever.
Told in a not - entirely chronological order we learn about his childhood, being bald from a young age as well as his love for performing and his attempts to break into comedy, all the way to his rise to fame in shows like Little Britain, Shooting Stars and Dr Who. Along the way there's what it was like struggling to come to terms with his sexuality, being Jewish (one day I'd love someone to explain me why they are persecuted) and his family life.
Lucas has said he wrote the book as an A-Z so he could get to the parts where he was famous quicker as he didn't think people would want to read about his early years. On the contrary, as much as I was interested in how he got his break and how his most famous shows came to be I was enthralled with his tales of growing up and how it influenced him. Also his love of chocolate.. A man of great taste indeed.
You can't really go into any details of a memoir because it would spoil the book. So I'll just say that it's had me laughing, it had me feeling sympathy for him and it's been a wonderful trip down memory lane of some of the things he's appeared in. It's not a salacious warts and all recount of every horrible thing that was said or done by people who are now in the public eye and I personally find that refreshing.
Oh and at the half way point of the book there was sheet music of a song entitled Middle of the Book which also included a link to hear the song being sang by Matt Lucas himself which put the biggest smile on my face. I've never seen this done in an autobiography / memoir before and at this point I decided that it would be 99.9% impossible to change my 5 star rating.
December 12, 2020
This is a memoir of Matt Lucas’ life. It is not written in order but he goes through the alphabet and talks about each letter in relation to his life. As a result there is a lot of flitting about but it didn’t matter. He talks about his childhood and his work life and shares a lot of stories about Little Britain, Shooting stars, Les Mis amongst others.
I listened to it and he reads it, complete with impressions and there is a treat in the middle of the book that you won’t get if you read it.
I enjoyed it.
I listened to it and he reads it, complete with impressions and there is a treat in the middle of the book that you won’t get if you read it.
I enjoyed it.
July 12, 2022
*3.5 stars
Listened to the audiobook read in Matt Lucas's own friendly, smiley voice. I found the first half more compelling and interesting than the second half, at which point there was a bit too much about celebrities he'd met (he loves celebrities!) and various TV and theatre he'd done (I even skipped a couple of bits).
Listened to the audiobook read in Matt Lucas's own friendly, smiley voice. I found the first half more compelling and interesting than the second half, at which point there was a bit too much about celebrities he'd met (he loves celebrities!) and various TV and theatre he'd done (I even skipped a couple of bits).
October 6, 2021
I’m no book quitter but frankly I’ve never been so bored in my entire life. I’ve got to 15% and I don’t care what happens in the remaining 85% I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than get to 16%. I’m outta here!! PS we really need a minus score system, 1 star is way too generous…
June 6, 2018
really great read, full of heart and cheek
June 18, 2019
Although an avid fan of Little Britain I never really knew much about Matt Lucas ... besides being hilarious. I learned so much about him in this read - his highs, his lows; his loves and losses; and his remarkable career. No where near the IDIOT he professes to be. 4/5.
July 7, 2023
I enjoyed this so much. My heart goes out to Matt, he comes across as such an ambitious go-getter. He speaks of many highs and lows and you can’t do anything else but be happy for him and his success. He did a great job at being honest, even when he may have come across as a little sub-par and owned up to mistakes. I really liked the A-Z format and enjoyed reading about his career (I am a big little Britain and come fly with me fan, no matter how much hate they get)
July 7, 2019
Three & a half stars.
Very interesting, often amusing, sometimes sad. Matt Lucas writes with warmth about his family, work as a stand-up comedian and an actor, football (he's a Gooner), and his late husband.
Very interesting, often amusing, sometimes sad. Matt Lucas writes with warmth about his family, work as a stand-up comedian and an actor, football (he's a Gooner), and his late husband.
November 2, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
October 19, 2023
Great read
I'm a big fan of Matt and really enjoyed this, warmed the cockles of me heart and it's beautifully written
I'm a big fan of Matt and really enjoyed this, warmed the cockles of me heart and it's beautifully written
April 2, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyable. The audiobook version, narrated and performed by Matt himself, is fabulous.
Just one quibble. The device detailing his life from A-Z sometimes felt a bit contrived. It also meant that the narrative went backwards and forwards and was sometimes a bit repetitious. That’s minor though. By the end, I felt I knew Matt a lot better, as he was very open about his insecurities, inadequacies and failings. I like him a lot and admire his achievements.
Just one quibble. The device detailing his life from A-Z sometimes felt a bit contrived. It also meant that the narrative went backwards and forwards and was sometimes a bit repetitious. That’s minor though. By the end, I felt I knew Matt a lot better, as he was very open about his insecurities, inadequacies and failings. I like him a lot and admire his achievements.
April 4, 2019
Being a Little Britain and Come Fly With Me fan I was keen to learn more about Matt Lucas. It was a good read generally - well written and mostly interesting, although the final chapters became a little tedious.
Want to read
August 10, 2018**I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
Thank you Netgalley and Canongate Books for letting me read and review this book!! ^_^
Before Thoughts:
I picked up this book since I happen to enjoy some of the works this actor has been in. He can be such a funny character in most of his works.
And I can only imagine that the actor in real life would be interesting to meet as well as interesting to know more about.
I mean, look at that enthused face!! Don't tell me you wouldn't want the chance to get to know that actor?!
But anyway I can't wait to read this book!! ^_^
Review:
Read On:_/_/18
To Be Published on: 10/12/18
Plot:
Characters:
Final Thoughts:
Recommends to:
Hope you enjoyed my review!! Thanks for reading!!
And go catch that good book!! ^_^
My Blog Site
Thank you Netgalley and Canongate Books for letting me read and review this book!! ^_^
Before Thoughts:
I picked up this book since I happen to enjoy some of the works this actor has been in. He can be such a funny character in most of his works.
And I can only imagine that the actor in real life would be interesting to meet as well as interesting to know more about.
I mean, look at that enthused face!! Don't tell me you wouldn't want the chance to get to know that actor?!
But anyway I can't wait to read this book!! ^_^
Review:
Read On:_/_/18
To Be Published on: 10/12/18
Plot:
Characters:
Final Thoughts:
Recommends to:
Hope you enjoyed my review!! Thanks for reading!!
And go catch that good book!! ^_^
My Blog Site
November 12, 2018
Ah, this was good. Matt came across really well and his writing style was so friendly and endearing.
I was never a massive fan of Little Britain (the sketch show he is arguably most famous for) but I've always thought he was the more talented compared to David Walliams, who had a tendency to play every character in his same OTT camp style against Lucas's various accents and facial expressions. He's impressed me in other things I've seen him in, and I enjoy seeing him pop up on panel shows and the like so I wanted to find out more.
I really enjoyed getting to know Matt and his long and varied career -- I didn't realise he had done so much. The A-Z format was different and kept things fresh. It meant the book didn't follow a strictly chronological format, but could change up depending on where the letter in question fitted in with his life. He took us behind the scenes of his stand-up, acting and writing as well as into his personal life and upbringing.
Not much else to say apart from that this was just a really entertaining read. I looked forward to picking it up again each time I had to put it down and more than once got lost in reading it and didn't realise how much time had passed -- always the sign of a great book.
It does feel a bit odd to be rating this 5 stars when I Am, I Am, I Am was such a knockout. Both autobiographies, both unusual formats, both brilliant though vastly different. I liked this as much as Maggie O'Farrell's stunning book, but in very different ways. I think that's allowed, right? So 5 stars it is. I would happily read this again tbf.
I was never a massive fan of Little Britain (the sketch show he is arguably most famous for) but I've always thought he was the more talented compared to David Walliams, who had a tendency to play every character in his same OTT camp style against Lucas's various accents and facial expressions. He's impressed me in other things I've seen him in, and I enjoy seeing him pop up on panel shows and the like so I wanted to find out more.
I really enjoyed getting to know Matt and his long and varied career -- I didn't realise he had done so much. The A-Z format was different and kept things fresh. It meant the book didn't follow a strictly chronological format, but could change up depending on where the letter in question fitted in with his life. He took us behind the scenes of his stand-up, acting and writing as well as into his personal life and upbringing.
Not much else to say apart from that this was just a really entertaining read. I looked forward to picking it up again each time I had to put it down and more than once got lost in reading it and didn't realise how much time had passed -- always the sign of a great book.
It does feel a bit odd to be rating this 5 stars when I Am, I Am, I Am was such a knockout. Both autobiographies, both unusual formats, both brilliant though vastly different. I liked this as much as Maggie O'Farrell's stunning book, but in very different ways. I think that's allowed, right? So 5 stars it is. I would happily read this again tbf.
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