Author:Susan Calman,Susan Calman
Susan Calman is the least relaxed person she knows. She has no down-time, no hobbies (unless you count dressing up your cats in silly outfits) and her idea of relaxation is to play Assassin's Creed, an hour into which she is in a murderous rage with sky high blood pressure.
Her wife had to threaten to divorce her to make her go on holiday, and she's been told by the same long-suffering wife that unless she finds a way to switch off, and soon, she's going to be unbearable. Susan decided her best bet was to try to immerse herself in the pursuits that her friends find relaxing, to find her inner zen and outer tranquillity.
In the first series of this show she attempted to ditch the old Susan Calman and attempted to find the new 'Susan Calm', by watching cricket with Andy Zaltzman; going hillwalking with Muriel Gray; visiting an art gallery with Phill Jupitus and taking a spontaneous holiday with John Finnemore. She enjoyed these pursuits, but all too soon found herself slipping back into her old ways. So she tried again in Series 2, which involved learning about gardening with Val McDermid, going to a music festival with Robin Ince, trying her hand at baking with the Great British Bake Off's Selasi Gbormittah, and having a go at birdwatching with Emma Kennedy.
Keep Calman Carry On is a stand-up show in front of a live audience, in which Susan reports on how successful she's been - both at relaxing and at the pursuit itself - as well as playing in and discussing a handful of illustrative clips from her efforts. It's an attempt to find out how people find solace or sanctuary in these worlds, and how Susan can negotiate her own place in them.
Written by Susan Calman and Jon Hunter
Produced by Lyndsay Fenner
A BBC Studios Production
Cover photograph: Steve Ullathorne
What a lovely writer he is: funny. modest, unsentimental and utterly without self-pity . . . warmth, wit and honesty make this such a satisfying read.
—— Marcus Berkmann , DAILY MAILRadiates the author's easygoing charm . . . at the peak of his youthful fame he auditioned for a band called the Jaywalkers . . . alas he was unsuccessful. Who knows what might have been? But what the pop world lost, the world of politics gained.
—— Chris Mullin , SPECTATORHis charming memoir details the ways in which records by his heroes . . . have formed the soundtrack to his life.
—— MAIL ON SUNDAY 'Books of the Year'This memoir will give you that warm glow of finding a friend who shares your passions . . . In this loving slice of social history, he beautifully mixes that passion with the story of a young man growing up and succeeding in post-war Britain.
—— DAILY EXPRESSIn prose and in person, Johnson has always had an everyman likeability . . . his take on the "good old days" is sparely unsentimental . . . very readable.
—— Stuart Maconie , NEW STATESMANThe funniest man in, well, pretty much all of the known universe
—— Los Angeles TimesA consistent intelligence underpins Izzard's whimsy
—— ChortleThe perfect present for music mums and dads
—— Daily MirrorFunny, enlightening, gossipy’
—— The HeraldSparks with admiration and grievances, lust and envy
—— Sunday TelegraphEngrossing
—— Mail on SundayThere have been many books about David Bowie ... but Dylan Jones's is among the best
—— ObserverThe definitive account of the great man’s life, in the words of those who knew him best … lively, funny and warm – and the story, even the well-known bits, still staggers and amazes. It’s a brilliant story, and it is tremendously well-told here
—— EsquireA magisterial compilation of startling insights
—— The OldieOne of the most colourful and intimate portraits yet painted of Bowie
—— VogueA vivid catalogue of anecdote, opinion, gossip and memoir
—— Telegraph MagazineThere is literally no better way to spend your time than by reading about the late, great, beautiful and brilliant David Bowie, brought to you by fellow superfan and GQ editor Dylan Jones
—— TatlerThis oral history is by far the best … It’s gossipy, fascinating stuff
—— The SunThe perfect accompaniment to roaring fires and languid winter evenings, this book
guarantees to see any man through the festive period
A must-have for Bowie fans
—— Daily MirrorRevelatory and surprising – perfect for the Ziggy completist
—— New York MagazineBeguiling … the fabulosity of Bowie’s life and times lends itself extraordinarily well
to the oral history form
An affectionate, sometimes surprising, always fascinating picture of a Star Man in the real world
—— STELLA magazineOf all the volumes to appear since Bowie’s death last year, this is perhaps the most useful
—— i paperA treat for enthusiasts […] it bulges with essential and telling Spinal Tappish gossip
—— GuardianAn intimate, detailed and gossip-spangled survey of the life of the great enigma
—— Strong Words magazineThere are sixty-two and a half million books written about David Bowie; this is the one that has been unanimously praised. Indeed, David Bowie: A life might be the only one that you really need.
—— Loud and Quiet MagazineYou can go to any page and read something really interesting. It’s the only book about another artist that I’ve really enjoyed.
—— Chris Difford , Daily Express