The Armstrongs' A-Z Guide to Life

Oct 4, 2024 9:29 PM

Author:John Armstrong,Ann Armstrong

Have you ever wondered how typewriters can rival commercial radio? Why, according to John, it's best to shave only once a week, and with old fashioned soap and water? And what the various repercussions of spring and its extra hour of daylight bring?

The BBC created a fantastically cult television series when they filmed the daily operations of John and Ann's double glazing firm U-Fit, the third largest in Coventry. It was here we were first introduced to John's misanthropic musings and no-nonsense attitude to management and his wife Ann's doting loyalty.

Now their individual and highly entertaining personalities have been brought to the page, as they ruminate on various aspects of life from asbos to Buddhism, and Chekov to Maltesers.

Reviews

Carrying this book around is a good way of picking up girls with glasses.

—— Tom Haverford

I have read over four books, and this is by far the one that has me in it the most.

—— Andy Dwyer

Literally the greatest endeavor of human creativity in the history of mankind.

—— Chris Traeger

***** Brilliantly observed . . . An excellent cast

—— Heat on Fresh Meat

A first-class opening episode ... Fresh Meat's characters may be a year older, but thankfully, JP, Kingsley et al are showing no signs of evolution ... a witty, sordid delight

—— Metro on Fresh Meat (series 2)

Fresh Meat is back and celebrated its return with a magnificent running joke about old meat. Howard started working at the local abattoir and is jubilant at the main perk of the job: "It's spare meat.. from the loose meat bin... It's all right. It's from animals." ... I'm so looking forward to the new term

—— Independent on Fresh Meat (series 2)

***** The first successful comedy about students for almost 30 years, and judging by the second series opener, it could easily be sustained for a long time yet ... If Jack Whitehall shone during the first series, he positively dazzles here; the boy is clearly destined for Hollywood, or rehab, or both. But his is not the only strong performance; each and every member of the cast is so wondrous that watching Fresh Meat feels like being privy to something special ... Fresh Meat is for anyone who has ever gone to university, and not just for people who happen to be there now. It's also well-crafted, poignant and very, very amusing - let's hope we don't have to wait another 30 years for something just as good

—— Telegraph on Fresh Meat (series 2)

A comedy that's actually funny. It could catch on

—— Guardian

This book's main purpose is to encourage having a laugh, but, like the best laughs, it is based on facts that ring true

—— Evening Standard

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