Kirjahaku

Bruno Mars has sold over 115 million records worldwide as a singer, producer and songwriter. This book documents his childhood in Honolulu and how he found fame from the age of four.

With his twinkling eyes, boundless energy and unrivalled natural wit, Robin Williams was the comedian who brought laughter to a generation. Through roles in cherished films such as Mrs. Doubtfire, Jumanji, Aladdin and Hook, he became the genial face of family comedy. His child-like enthusiasm was infectious, sweeping viewers away. Allied to his lightning-quick improvisation and ability to riff lewdly off any cue thrown at him, Robin was that rare thing - a true comic genius who appealed to adults and children equally. He could also play it straight, and empathetic depth came to him naturally. A poignant performance in Good Will Hunting won him an Academy Award whilst his masterfully chilling turn in psychological thriller Insomnia shocked audiences and hinted at a darker side. What truly caught the imagination, though, was his good-heartedness. Warmth radiated from him on-screen, but he was legendary for his off-screen acts of selfless generosity. Where most Hollywood A-listers demand outrageous pampering in their contract riders, he always insisted that the production company hire a full quota of homeless people to help make his movies. But behind the laughter lay a deeply troubled man, and tragedy would follow. At midday, on 11 August 2014, Robin Williams was pronounced dead at his California home. The verdict was suicide. He had battled depression and addiction for many years and was allegedly beset by financial difficulties. Emily Herbert's sensitive and thoughtful biography celebrates his genius and warmth, but also attempts to understand what could have driven such a gentle and gifted man to so tragic an end. This is Robin Williams, the life, the laughter, and the deep sorrow of the man who made the world smile.

On Sunday, 31 January 2016 a nation used to waking 'up to Wogan' on his Radio 2 breakfast show instead awoke to the shocking news that Sir Terry Wogan had passed away at the age of seventy-seven. One of Britain's most-loved broadcasters, Terry Wogan had been a fixture on the airwaves for over five decades with his dry, laconic wit and commentary making him instantly recognisable to his legions of fans. Hosting a number of radio shows for the BBC over the years, including Weekend Wogan right up until November 2015, Wogan broadcast to a record-breaking 8 million listeners at his peak, winning numerous popularity polls over the course of his career. Not content with ruling the airwaves, his long-running talk show Wogan is now the stuff of TV legend, as are his sardonic observations on the Eurovision Song Contest which made him the face of Eurovision to many, even today. But perhaps his most important contribution to British society, and the one of which he was most proud, was his work with Pudsey the Bear to raise an astounding GBP600 million for Children in Need since he presented the very first show in 1980. Author Emily Herbert draws on the reminiscences of many famous friends and colleagues to create an authoritative and entertaining tribute to one of the funniest, most lovable and prolific broadcasters of all time.

The definitive account of the love affair that has captured the nation - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.After much speculation in the national media, Prince Harry finally confirmed the rumours about his relationship with American actress Meghan Markle. Now, on the news of their much-anticipated engagement, prominent columnist Emily Herbert tells the exclusive story of how the American actress stole the heart of a much-loved British Prince. From how they met, their courtship and how they fell in love, as well as insight into Ms. Markle's upbringing in America, readers will learn exactly how the Prince's heart was finally won. Revealing the truth behind the headlines and the media speculation, Harry & Meghan: The Love Story lets readers into the heart of a thoroughly modern royal love affair.

Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, George Michael was raised in a family of Greek Cypriot immigrants in North London, and dreamed of stardom when he was a little boy. At just twelve years old he met Andrew Ridgeley and the two of them went on to achieve stunning success in the early 1980s with Wham!, creating music that remains popular to this day. Yet despite the enormous success of Wham!, George wanted more, and so set about recreating himself as a serious solo artist, reaching heights of even greater success. Ironically, however, even from the early days he was plagued with insecurity about his sexuality, which, combined with the calamity of losing his first lover to AIDS and his mother to cancer, plunged him into a lifelong struggle with drug addiction. He died, at the tragically early age of just fifty-three, on Christmas Day 2016. George Michael's life and career brought him international fame, and his sudden and unexpected death shocked the world. His unrivalled popularity as an artist, however, and the music he made, have turned him into one of the immortal greats of pop music. As Emily Herbert shows in this new biography, his legacy is not just his music, but his many extraordinary, and often anonymous, acts of charity.

As aspiring youth footballer before injury forced him to reconsider his career, Smith left his hometown of Northampton at the age of 18 to study drama and creative writing at the University of East Anglia. An outstanding performance in the National Youth Theatre production of The Master and Margarita in 2003 brought him to the attention of an agent and earned him his first professional acting jobs, and his first television appearance came in 2006, in the BBC adaptation of Phillip Pullman's The Ruby in the Smoke. His first major role followed a year later, and 2007 also saw him debut in London's West End, starring in Fresh Kills, which he followed with a critically acclaimed performance as Henry in That Face. But Smith's biggest break came when he was cast in Doctor Who, first appearing in the show on 1 January 2010. Replacing the much-loved David Tennant was no mean feat for a relatively unknown actor like Matt Smith but he has risen to the challenge and received rave reviews from critics and viewers alike. This is the inside story of the Doctor and the rapid rise of the man behind the latest incarnation of the famous Time Lord.

On 25th July, breaking news revealed that Michael Jackson, King of Pop, was dead. Fans and the media watched in shock as the story unfolded: doctors had lost the battle to save him after he had collapsed from a heart attack. In a cruel twist of fate, he had passed away before he got the chance to make his final curtain call in the form of 50 planned sell-out shows at London's O2 Arena. From a very young age, Michael's exceptional music talent was clear. He stood apart from his four brothers when they performed together as the Jackson 5 and, in 1974, he embarked upon what was to become a monumental solo career. A string of chart-busting albums and singles followed, with the Thriller album selling 47 million copies worldwide and yielding seven top-ten singles. It is belived that, in his lifetime, he sold around 750 million records, making him one of the most successful entertainers ever. This in-depth and affectionate biography traces the rise of the man, from child prodigy to tortured megastar. It is the definitive portrait of a pop legend whose strange and brilliant life will never be forgotten.

Lifting the lid on Lady Gaga aka Stefani Germanotta, find out all you ever wanted to know about the eccentric star. After being signed to and quickly dropped from Def Jam Records at age 19, Lady Gaga began performing in the rock music scene of New York City's Lower East Side. During this time, she was also working at Interscope Records as a songwriter. While at Interscope Records, Akon, after hearing Gaga sing, convinced Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine to sign her to a joint deal with the label and Akon's Kon Live Distribution label. Her debut album The Fame was released in August 2008 and was a huge success that went to number one in four countries. The album's first two singles, "Just Dance" and "Poker Face", have become international number-one hits, and the former was nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 51st Grammy Awards. In 2009, after having opened for New Kids on the Block and the Pussycat Dolls, Lady Gaga embarked on her first headlining tour, The Fame Ball Tour, which has had countless rave reviews. Lady Gaga is inspired by glam rockers such as David Bowie and Queen, as well as pop singers such as Madonna and Michael Jackson. She is also inspired by fashion, which she has said is an essential component to her songwriting and performances. To date she has sold over 20 million digital singles and more than four million albums worldwide.

Caroline Flack was the girl who had it all ... beauty, talent, money, fame and a hugely successful TV career. But away from the cameras and the fabulous parties, there hid a lonely, frightened young woman. Caroline was already a rising star when she shot to fame as the presenter of ITV's Love Island. With her beauty and her effervescent personality, she was perfect for the role and soon the show was drawing six million viewers. Yet, behind the scenes her private life was chaotic. She dated Prince Harry, Harry Styles and Russell Brand before finding love with former professional tennis player Lewis Burton. Her world came crashing down the night Lewis called 999 to report that Caroline was attacking him. Police found Caroline hysterical and the couple covered in blood. Just as it seemed life could not get any worse, Caroline was fired by ITV and barred by the courts from contacting Lewis. In this extraordinary and revealing book, Emily Herbert talks with friends and celebrities to reveal the heartbreaking true story of how this beautiful woman crashed from the pinnacle of fame and success to a lonely and tragic death. A donation from the sale of this book will be given to support the work of cyber bullying charities.