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September 10, 2008 10:35 AM

BOOK REVIEW: Between You and Me by Lorraine Kelly

Everyone loves Lorraine Kelly, don't they. Don't they? I've always thought she seemed like a lovely woman, but, I must admit, when this autobiography came out I did wonder what exciting revelations it may contain. I mean, as far as I was concerned, Lorraine worked as a journalist, got a job on GMTV and then... stayed there.

But the press release promised it would be "mischievous" and the book itself claimed it was "a little bit naughty" so I was expecting, well, some entertainment...

Let's look at the inside cover of the book:

"From growing up in one of Glasgow's toughest areas..."

Well, yes, she did, but she had a lovely, comfortable upbringing and the family wasn't there long.

"To her early career as a journalist during which she covered such heartbreaking tragedies as Lockerbie and Dunblane..."

Well, yes, she did. But she didn't really have anything interesting to add about either situation. In fact, she says that there are no words to describe them. Plus the Dunblane chapter in particular is a good example of something that drove me slightly mad about this book. Much like Lorraine's GMTV show, serious subjects are immediately followed by more frivolous issues. So the Dunblane chapter ends "I hope that the monster who killed them is suffering all the torments of hell" and the following chatper begins "I love radio... you can sit there in your tracksuit, dipping HobNobs into your tea and no one will ever know."

Lorraine also seems to have led a rather lovely life and at times she reminded me of that old Fast Show character, "which was nice". Everyone is lovely and friendly and warm. Even people with a bad reputation like Elton John. Yes, people say he's a diva, but he "couldn't have been nicer" to Lorraine and her family.

So is there any shocking showbiz gossip at all? Well, apparently Anthea Turner and Eamonn Holmes didn't get on (yawn), but they're fine now. And then there's George Clooney and Will Smith. Both lovely and professional.

In fact, the only thing that could be described as "naughty" or "mischievous" in this book is the very last line and that's such a hackneyed joke it actually made me grown in horror.

So, yes, Lorraine does seem like a lovely woman, but why someone has paid her money to write an autobiography - and why that autobiography is currently in the Top 5 of various book charts - is utterly beyond me.

Rating: 2/5

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Posted by Keris on September 10, 2008 in British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 2/5 | Permalink

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