Customer Reviews
READS FAMILIAR WITH CHARM AND HUMOUR - By: P. J. Wallace, 24 Nov 2008 
Denis Norden may be best known these days as the genial host of "It'll Be Alright On The Night", which was regarded as an annual highlight on ITV for so many years, but his career has been long & distinguished. I always associate him with "Looks Familiar", but others will recognise him as one of the writers of the classic BBC 1950s radio show "Take It From Here" & other entertaining programmes.
This is a delightful book which charmingly ambles through the past seventy years. Variety, the golden age of radio & early television are all recalledin this beautifully written book. Unlike the myriad of celebrity autobiographies being published at the same time, this one is the work of a man who has made a living out of writing as well as presenting & contributing to radio & television programmes. It showsin the prose!
His private life remains private, but his professional life is recalledin "clips", grouped together under subjects such as "Mostly Radio Frank & Censorship" & "Mostly World War Two".
Another reviewer complains about the lengthy glossary & index. I disagree. When I first viewed the glossary my first reaction was "I know most of this". However on second thought I realised that many people reading this book will not know anything about many of the great artists, actors & musicians recalled by Norden. I think this is a useful feature as how many of you reading this review know who Teddy Joyce was, or which evergreen songs Eric Maschwitz wrote? It is a sad reflection on today's society that our rich cultural past is being almost completely forgotten. This book brings some of it to life...
Great Book, Terrible Ending... - By: Wickerman, 19 Nov 2008 
I love DN, & have bought & enjoyed everything he has writtenin the last few decades. This book is wonderful, & gives a fantastic insight into the world of cinema, theatre, & television, all toldin his own inimitable style.
Even the style of presentation, a series of short anecdotes at random, is engaging.
However, finding the last 80 pages (I kid you not - 80!) were given over to a glossary was a huge disappointment - totally unnecessary & I felt it was just padding. I wonder did his editors decide to hold off on the other 35 million funny stories DN has collectedin the last 40 years & set their sights on volumes 2, 3, & 4....? ( Cue sound of ringing tills)
A great book, but not as long as you might think.
Anne Gilbert - By: Brigg 'n' me, 23 Oct 2008 Clips from a Life
What a wonderful book! I always loved 'It'll be alright on the night', & reading this book I can 'see' Denis Norden as if he's standing there with his clip board talking to me,in that laid back manner with all those subtle jokes & innuendoes. A fascinating insight into the old music hall/ theatre/ cinema days. A great book to be absorbed into & then laugh out loud.... I would recommend it to everyone . A fascinating & good humoured read.
