My Animals, and Other Animals - by Bill Bailey

Book Synopsis

In his first memoir, beloved comedian and national treasure Bill Bailey shares stories of his life - and the animals he's met along the way.

Bill Bailey has always had dogs, including a Patterdale terrier called Rocky who would travel with him in the van to his first shows and occasionally join him on stage. Fast forward a few decades and Bill has shared his home with a variety of birds, dogs, frogs, chameleons and an armadillo called Tommy. 'We even had a giant chicken, a huge Malay cockerel called Kid Creole. After a few stand-offs he took against me. He had to go in the end, I was being stalked in my own back garden.'

That chicken apart, animals have always been at the heart of an extraordinary life as one of the nation's favourite comedians, actors, musicians and (thanks to Strictly) dancers: from terriers to the orangutans of Sumatra and the parrots that share his breakfast every morning in west London.

Full of the leftfield humour, wit and wisdom that has made Bill Bailey such a beloved performer around the world, My Animals and Other Animals is the story of Bill's life; but more than that, it's the story of how all of our lives are enriched by the animals who accompany us on that journey.

Review Quotes

Gently amusing and frequently informative. . . Just a chapter with my morning tea lifted my mood, and helped me approach the day with a dose of Bailey-esque curiosity, tolerance and humour.--Telegraph

A series of funny tableaus that are sure to keep you charmed--PA Media

Captivating--the Scotsman

You can tell a true naturalist from a hobbyist by the fact that they can get madly smitten even by animals they can't cuddle - so, hello bats, cockroaches, a tasselled wobbegong... Bailey can find affection almost anywhere--Guardian

About the Author

Bill Bailey is a comedian, musician, actor and presenter. He is perhaps most well known for his live shows, including Larks in Transit, Qualmpeddler, Limboland, and The Remarkable Guide to the Orchestra. His work on television includes programmes such as Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Black Books and QI. He is also the author of Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide to British Birds and Bill Bailey's Remarkable Guide to Happiness. He lives in west London with a small menagerie of animals and humans.