The Bookseller.com

20th July 2008

Anna Richardson

Anna Richardson is The Bookseller's media editor. Anna's media blog will provide a weekly insight into the big books featuring in the media.

Meet the jungle bestsellers

14.11.07

You may not have noticed (unlikely, but not impossible if you avoid the tabloids), but a major Reality TV event is upon us once more: ITV1's "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here!" launched its technicolour version of jungle hardship this week, with a gaggle of fame-starved celebs subjecting themselves to maggot-showers and other creepy crawly challenges and depriving themselves of any residual sanity.

The "death of Reality TV" is much debated and longed-for, but tried-and-tested formats are here to stay, churning out ratings, Z-list revivals and the occasional bestseller in the process.

But we shouldn't complain. One can safely say that the rising star of Myleene Klass--Marks & Spencer advertising campaign, presenting stints on prime-time shows and next year's book, My Bump and Me--is directly related to her frequent bikini showers on last year's "I'm a Celebrity...". Similarly, would Tony Blackburn have found his resurgent retro-cool popularity--and memoirs deal--without his 2002 jungle crown? Then there's 2004's Jordan/Katie Price--who met her match Peter Andre amongst the jungle vines, and lived to spin the tale of a particularly impressive publishing phenomenon—and, lest we forget, fellow novelist Kerry Katona.

Not wanting to sound presumptuous, I wager that "I'm a Celebrity..." is not at the top of publishers' must-see programmes, so the following hopefully provides a handy guide to the jungle's Who's Who, and the literary potential of this year's shower/limelight-hogging stars:

Janice Dickinson
A reality show regular and the world's "original super model", Dickinson has appeared on programmes such as "America's Next Top Model" and her own "Janice Dickinson Modelling Agency". The latter didn't really take off, but Dickinson still has a number of books to her name, Everything About Me Is Fake and Check, Please! The famously promiscuous and outspoken diva might have a few more tales up her sleeve, and her turn of phrase is always memorable.
Bestseller potential: 4 stars (out of 5)

John Burton Race
Another TV veteran, this chef has numerous cookery titles to complement his cookery programmes, so a simple sales boost might be on the cards. With jungle menu discussions notoriously heated in the past, Burton Race's passion for local produce and a quick temper should combine to a hearty broth of entertainment.
Bestseller potential: 4 stars

Rodney Marsh
This footballer of the 1960s/70s and controversial sports pundit might still have some TalkSport or Sky Sports fans around. His autobiography with Headline is already out there, and depending on how many people he can offend, it might be time for an updated version.
Bestseller potential: 2 stars

Cerys Matthews
What's the Welsh Catatonia singer doing amongst the rabble? She shunned the limelight for a couple of years, so this might constitute the most direct way back into it. With unauthorised biographies like To Hell and Back by Brian Wright (Omnibus) around, it's obvious Cerys has a story to tell--nervous breakdown etc--so an "official" and "inspirational" version of events might be on the cards. And the step from award-winning lyrics to literary fiction masterpiece is surely not that great?
Bestseller potential: 5 stars (although she might walk)

Anna Ryder Richardson
The former "Changing Rooms" presenter clearly needed a change of scenery, but will she go for complete reinvention or plump for weaving radiator-covers out of palm leaves? Who knows, maybe she'll become a female Ray Mears-type: Bushcraft Survival: Interiors anyone?
Bestseller potential: 4 stars

Lynne Franks
ITV describes Franks as "Public Relations guru". In that case she can come up with her own book ideas.

 

Gemma Atkinson The former "Hollyoaks" actress--and Cristiano Ronaldo squeeze--spends most of her time posing in her underwear these days, so is already being hailed as the next bikini jungle star. I gather she fits into the Jordan/Katona mould more than Klass's class, but can she boast the Jordan/Katona life experience" to warrant a string of memoir-then-fiction titles? I doubt it--Hollyoaks shenanigans don't count.
Bestseller potential: 2 stars

Marc Bannerman
Oh dear, not sure whether there's any return from playing Giaaaarnni di Marco on "EastEnders".
Bestseller potential: 1 star

Jason "J" Brown
Ditto for this former boy band member, although he's better looking, so might hook up with Atkinson, which could lead to serious romance, more headlines, glossy magazine shoots: the sky's the limit.
Bestseller potential: 1 star

Finally, Katie Hopkins has just joined the programme as a replacement for early quitter Malcolm McLaren. The distinctive "The Apprentice" runner-up has already caused many a media furore with her behaviour on and off-screen; and given her notorious ruthlessness and ambition, I can see nothing standing in her way, should she turn her steely gaze towards bestsellerdom.
Bestseller potential: 5 stars

 

 

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