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Hodder signs Parky

04.07.07 Katherine Rushton

Hodder & Stoughton has signed the chatshow king Michael Parkinson to write his autobiography for an undisclosed sum. Publication is planned for autumn 2008. 

The deal was agreed by legendary sports publisher Roddy Bloomfield, who has known Parkinson for 35 years and has previously published seven of his books, including his biography of George Best.

"He is not only a very gifted writer but a genuinely funny one," said Bloomfield. "He possesses that rare knack of being able to make readers laugh out loud. He combines an exceptional intellectual clarity and rigour with a love of jokes and nonsense, and he can discuss sport, music, poetry and art with equal facility. I greatly look forward to working with him on the book."

Parkinson added: "I've been talking to Roddy Bloomfield for nearly fifteen years about doing my autobiography and I am delighted that I have now got the time to bring it to fruition."

In June 2000, Michael was awarded a CBE and his chatshow Parkinson was named one of the top ten favourite British TV programmes of all time. Parkinson began his career as a newspaper reporter before moving to television and radio. He made his debut as a chat show host 1971 with his own Parkinson show which ran for ll years in one stretch. A new series of Parkinson began on ITV in 2004 and the final series will go out in the autumn.

Katherine Rushton Hachette Rights deal Hodder Michael Parkinson

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