Tommy Cooper: Always Leave Them Laughing: The Definitive Biography of a Comedy Legend: Amazon.co.uk: John Fisher: Books

Review

'A monumental and masterly biography of the great Cooper.' Daily Mail

'A masterful work that will deservedly find its way into the Christmas stockings of anyone interested in showbiz.'
The Stage

'….it's a measure of how funny he (Cooper) was that this book had me on the floor even when reading about gags I've never seen. Yet this is no hagiography. While it has chapter and verse on how Cooper's comic chaos came into being, it also tells how one of our country's greatest bringers of joy was a boozy, tight-fisted, foul-mouthed, faithless old misery. Add to such background detail some of the best descriptions of physical comedy since Tynan and we have a lot to thank John Fisher for.'
The Sunday Times

‘John Fisher’s biography admirably captures the Cooper magic.’ The Oldie

‘A moving and illuminating showbiz biography. The book deserves a standing ovation.’ Irish Examiner

‘A book with unrivalled access to (and knowledge of) its elusive subject.’ The Independent

‘For all his popularity as one of Britain’s best-loved post-war entertainers, Tommy Cooper’s life away from stage and screen is little known. Fisher’s book does much to change to this.’ Yorkshire Post

Praise for Tommy Cooper:
‘Everyone wanted to imitate him didn't they. That was the true accolade I think. And he was funny as soon as he came on, he didn't have to say anything he was just … FUNNY.’
Ronnie Barker

‘Tommy was amazing. He looked like Mount Rushmore on legs. He never said anything about real life so he never dates.’
Barry Cryer

‘Absolutely fantastic. No other comic would work with him, he was too good. He had this fantastic expression. A giant of comedy, a British WC Fields and he will be irreplaceable.’
Eric Morecambe

Product Description

Fully authorised biography by Tommy’s friend and colleague, acclaimed TV producer, John Fisher, and the first ever intimate portrait of Britain’s best-loved, but little known, comedy entertainer.

More than just a comedian, Tommy Cooper was a born entertainer. Working in a golden age of British comedy, Cooper stood – literally – head and shoulders above the crowd, and had a magical talent for humour that defied description. When Cooper enlisted in the army in 1939, and began to perfect his comic timing on his army colleagues in the Egyptian desert, the man with the fez was born.

Cooper was at the heart of the thriving British variety scene, adored by his legions of fans and much revered by his fellow professionals. The gentle giant of entertainment accompanied his bewildered, botched magic act with a sublime sense of bravado and a face that was made for comedy. He was one of the first funny men to have the entire nation in stitches.

But there was a man behind the laughter that few people saw. John Fisher was Cooper's friend and colleague and witnessed first-hand the child that lingered within the adult and moments of self-doubt and inadequacy that contrasted with the genial exterior. Until his tragic death, which occurred in the middle of his act on live television in 1984, Tommy Cooper lived in constant fear of the day he would be found out by his audience. He could never believe the accolades that came so thick and fast from every direction, and died to the sounds of laughter that he never really believed.

Supplementing his own intimate knowledge with material accessed for the first time from the archives of Tommy's agent and manager, Miff Ferrie, and with the full co-operation of the Cooper family, John Fisher brings alive the man behind the comedic mask in this definitive biography of a comedy legend.

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18 of 20 people found the following review helpful

Reliving Cooper 15 Jan 2007

By William

Format:Hardcover

If by 'definitive' Fisher and his publishers mean wordy, then it's certainly a fair description of this hefty tome.

Having said that, Cooper fans will enjoy this thoroughly researched and affectionate portrait of one of the greatest British entertainers of the last century. Some of the chapters on the ins and outs of Cooper's career, dealt with in extraordinary detail, might have benefited from some gentle editing. Equally, some may feel they would have liked more on Cooper the man. Fisher does eventually get round to delving into Cooper's personal life, his alcoholism, his other health problems and, of course, his infidelity, but only in any depth during the penultimate chapter.

It's an uneven book, but clearly a work of love by the author and he succeeds in reminding the reader what a great and fascinating man Cooper really was. Fisher retells countless jokes and routines to great effect, so much so that you can almost relive Cooper performing them. And that in itself makes this book a marvellously rewarding read. If Ken Dodd can still fill theatres up and down the land, imagine what Tommy Cooper could do if he were alive today. The mind boggles.

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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

Dissapointing to say the least 16 Mar 2007

By Les

I love Tommy Cooper and I hate books like this. It seems to be written by someone who is intent on showing off his knowledge and his "inside information".

This book is clumsily written, it doesn't flow and it's very hard to read. The author is intent on showing off his knowledge of obscure (and not-so obscure) comedians and magicians and rambles on for page after page, sometimes without mentioning Tommy Cooper. The book could and should have been much shorter - and would then have been much better.

I loved the story about Tommy in the Casbah and the Fez seller - I just hope it's true.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful

Hopes not met 31 July 2007

By GrayGuy

Format:Paperback

I had high hopes of this book. I wanted to find out more about one of the great comedians of the 20th Century. The hopes were not met. The book drags terribly; it attempts to gain an understanding of Tommy by reflecting on other comedians and magicians who could have influenced him. As I do not know many of the acts mentioned, I found it a read that quickly became impenetrable.

I notice from other reviews that folk either seem to love or loathe this book. SO, at the end of the day, I guess it is for other folk to make their minds up about this tome.