Easily Distracted
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  • Published: 29 August 2016
  • ISBN: 9780099585930
  • Imprint: Arrow
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 400
  • RRP: $29.99

Easily Distracted

Formats & editions
EBook
8 Oct 2015
Audiobook
5 Nov 2015
Paperback
29 Aug 2016
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The autobiography of one of Britain’s favourite actors.

Steve Coogan was born and raised in Manchester in the 1960s, the fourth of six children. From an early age he entertained his family with impressions and was often told he should 'be on the telly'. Failing to get into any of the London-based drama schools, he accepted a place at Manchester Polytechnic School of Theatre and before graduating had been given his first break as a voice artist on the satirical puppet show Spitting Image.

The late eighties and early nineties saw Coogan developing characters he could perform on the comedy circuit, from Ernest Moss to Paul Calf, and in 1992 he won a Perrier award with John Thomson. It was around the same time, while working with Armando Iannucci and Patrick Marber on On The Hour and The Day Today, that Alan Partridge emerged, almost fully formed.

Coogan, once a tabloid fixture, is now a respected film actor, writer and producer. He runs his own production company, Baby Cow, has a raft of films to his name (from 24 Hour Party People to Alpha Papa, the critically-acclaimed Partridge film), six Baftas and seven Comedy Awards. He has found huge success in recent years with both The Trip and Philomena, the latter bringing him two Oscar nominations, for producing and co-writing.

In Easily Distracted he lifts the lid on the real Steve Coogan, writing with distinctive humour and an unexpected candour about a noisy childhood surrounded by foster kids, his attention-seeking teenage years and his emergence as a household name with the birth of Alan Partridge.
  • Published: 29 August 2016
  • ISBN: 9780099585930
  • Imprint: Arrow
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 400
  • RRP: $29.99
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About the author

Steve Coogan

Steve Coogan is an English actor, writer, comedian and producer. He is the co-creator and star of Alan Partridge, and has appeared in numerous films including 24 Hour Party People, Minions, Night at the Museum and the BAFTA Award-winning Philomena. He lives in Sussex.

Also by Steve Coogan

Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge
I'm Alan Partridge & Knowing Me, Knowing Yule
Knowing Me, Knowing You with Alan Partridge
See all

Praise for Easily Distracted

fascinating read...disarmingly honest

The Independent

Absolutely fantastic, honest and candid

Chris Evans, TFI Friday

Coogan's childhood vignettes are both touching and hilarious...Coogan covers his one-time appetite for cocaine and alcohol with as much frankness as he does everything else but such is the warmth of the book, his excesses are the least interesting part of this very funny man...A-ha, indeed

Evening Standard

a wonderful insight into a man who has lived it all

Yorkshire Post

Written with distinctive humour and an unexpected candour, Coogan's autobiography travels from a noisy childhood surrounded by foster kids via his attention-seeking teenage years to his emergence as a household name with the birth of Alan Partridge.

Gransnet

With trademark humour Steve Coogan shares all

Guardian Bookshop, Observer – Best reviews in 2016

A simple, readable confessional … interspersed with Coogan’s trademark caustic asides and loads of telly and performance insight… If you love Coogan, this delivers

Observer - Books of 2015 in review

Self-aware, deferential and modest

Times Literary Supplement