Terry Wogan - Is it me?: Terry Wogan - An Autobiography
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Much has been made of Terry Wogan, that genial stalwart of the BBC, "biting the hand that feeds him" in his autobiography, Is it Me?, though his mild criticisms form a very small part of these witty, loquacious reminscences. Born in Limerick in 1938 to a grocer father and a mother who "was Ireland's worst cook", Wogan recalls that "most of my boyhood was spent on a bike"--though he did demonstrate a flair for amateur dramatics very early on. "The Great Move to Dublin" occurred in 1956, when his father was appointed to a general manager position. Wogan relates his teenage love of early rock and roll, his lack of interest in school exams and his early years as a bank clerk before he noticed an advertisement in the Irish Independent for announcers for Radio Eireann. So began Wogan's long career in broadcasting; by the early 1960s he was a household name in Ireland. It was only a matter of time before he was courted by the BBC, and during the 1970s and early 1980s he was the voice of BBC Radio 2, with a wry commentary style, an unthreatening playlist and a unique talent for tapping into the nation's obsessions (could anyone forget his "Who Shot JR?" campaign when Dallas fever reached its peak?). Television presenting followed: there was the hit quiz show Blankety Blank, "a watershed for me, the start of a decade of extraordinary success and acclaim"; and the thrice-weekly chat show Wogan, attracting an average of 8 million viewers. The latter had its highs among the interviewees--Cilla Black; Dolly Parton; Mel Brooks--and its lows--comedian Freddie Starr, "the world's most frightening interviewee"; a monosyllabic Anne Bancroft; and David Bowie, who "would not speak ... or at least not sensibly ... he will never know how close he came to a slap on live television". Wogan has now come full circle and is back presenting the Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2, the annual Eurovision Song Contest (which would be lost without his gentle mockery), with the centre of his life remaining his children and his wife of 35 years ("the present Mrs Wogan"), a man for whom "the trappings of fame came thick and fast" but who has never seemed to lose his sense of humour--or his sense of the absurd. --Kate Weaver
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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Terry Wogan is one of Britains best-loved radio and television celebrities witty, charming and relaxed and has undoubtedly captured the nations heart. Here, Terry tells his life story from his beginnings as a young Limerick boy to his incredible success as an enduring celebrity with shows such as Wogan and The Eurovision Song Contest.
Is It Me? (now available in B-format pbk) is written in Terrys own inimitable style, with self-deprecating humour and a wry take on everyday life. The story is a delightfully observed, light-hearted journey through Terrys personal and professional lives.
After reluctantly starting his career in banking, Terry escaped to make a sucessful break into broadcasting with RTE. Fronting Children in Need, Wogan and The Eurovision Song Contest and collecting millions of listeners to his morning BBC 2 radio show, Wake Up To Wogan, he is now the most prolific and popular presenter at the BBC. 'I am sure it's a challenging read' Sir David Frost 'I don't remember him' Jimmy Young
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I don't know if any of you have seen the "Best of the Webcam" part of the BBC Radio 2 website but on it there is a picture of Pauly apparently reading two copies of this book simultaneously. The caption on the picture is "So good I read it twice". Well, I only bought the one copy but I have read it twice. And I laughed out loud both times. It's not chronological but if you like Wogan you'll love his autobiography. And get an insight into the fun that is "Wake Up to Wogan" where two old chums enjoy themselves on the wireless..... A very enjoyable read and, if there are any TOGs or TYGs out there that haven't bought it, buy it!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio Cassette
Terry's book ' Is it me?' was best described as a laugh a minute with an insight to this man's private life with the odd tear thrown in. Wogan has not held anything back :warts and all. If you are a TOG or a TIG you shall love it. I loved it and I listen to him only sometimes, and adore his dry wit at Eurovision once a year , but this was a good read of his childhood in Dublin with his Ma and Da and how he started out on the journey to being Radio 2's best known D.J. It seems he was a hitched to the right star and gambled well. If yo were looking for sex drugs and rock and roll for the creation of Radio 1, this isn't for you, but if you want a book that makes you laugh and cry in places this is for you.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As autobiographies go this has much to recommend it. It is engaging, informative, funny, literate without being pretentious, and easy-going without being shallow.
Terry Wogan's style of writing is much the same as his style of broadcasting; full of warmth and charm and inclusive of his audience. Unlike so many media personalities today, this is a man who genuinely knows the value and the mechanics of communication.
The book is admirably devoid of self-justification and self-aggrandisement and is pleasingly frank. Mr. Wogan has managed to strike a fine balance: he is honest (sometimes searingly so) and forthright without, in my opinion, ever exploiting or abusing anyone featured within.
If any criticism can be levelled at the book it is that it finishes rather abruptly. It is almost as if the author suddenly grew bored and decided to stop or, perhaps, that he suspected he would have outstayed his welcome by this point. Not true in the opinion of this reviewer. I would welcome a second volume.
This book is clearly of appeal to Terry Wogan's many loyal fans (All you TOGs out there) but deserves a much broader audience. Anyone who appreciates gentle, intelligent humour with a sprinkling of irony and, above all else, the honesty of a man 'well stricken in years' should enjoy this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Disappointing
As an avid autobiography reader and having read many life stories of celebrities and sportspeople, this is about the worst. Read more
Published 8 months ago by pedalrog
Dreadful book
If this guy was chocolate, he'd eat himself. Full of unfunny 'wit' and repeats from other books.
Published on 21 Dec 2009 by Crime Lover
It could only be him!
This is a really enjoyable read, not just for fans of Wogan but for anyone who enjoys a success story delivered with gentle self-deprecating humour, in the everyday language that... Read more
Published on 29 Feb 2008 by JFD
Limerick"s finest
The great thing about Terry Wogan is unlike a lot of celebrites he doesn"t take himself seriously.He takes success as it comes and that is why he is so well loved. Read more
Published on 2 Nov 2007 by DONJAUN
As always, entertaining
Had to purchase after reading his other book (mustn't grumble) and yes I enjoyed it as much, YOU CAN HEAR HIM SPEAK AS YOU READ THE WORDS, WRITEN ALMOST AS HE WOULD SPEAK. Read more
Published on 18 Dec 2006 by S. Wallace
Standards...decency
..just two of the words which could be used to describe this broadcasting legend. If youngsters today would try to emulate this man rather than 50 cent there may be some hope for... Read more
Published on 24 April 2005 by Andy
For Terry's old geezers
Wogan writes the way he speaks - whimsical, humorous, self-deprecating: but anyone who has listened to or watched him will recognise the intelligence behind it all.
Published on 9 Sep 2002
All over the map
Sorry, but his style of writing just didn't appeal to me at all. I'm an ex-pat Brit now living in the US, and used to love watching him on TV. Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2001
I have to disagree I'm afraid
Sorry everyone - I simply have to disagree. I am a huge fan of Terry's but felt the book concentrated far too much on his early life growing up than the more interesting stuff -... Read more
Published on 25 May 2001 by Neal Thomas
Wet days in Scunthorpe will never be the same...
This is surely Terry's finest work yet. Terry tells his remarkable life story in this celebration of laconic style at its best. Read more
Published on 15 April 2001
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