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David Mitchell: Back Story

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David Mitchell: Back Story

By: David Mitchell
Narrated by: David Mitchell
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About this listen

David Mitchell, who you may know for his inappropriate anger on every TV panel show except Never Mind the Buzzcocks, his look of permanent discomfort on C4 sex comedy Peep Show, his online commenter-baiting in The Observer or just for wearing a stick-on moustache in That Mitchell and Webb Look, has written a book about his life.

As well as giving a specific account of every single time he's scored some smack, this disgusting memoir also details:

  • the singular, pitbull-infested charm of the FRP (‘Flat Roofed Pub’)
  • the curious French habit of injecting everyone in the arse rather than the arm
  • why, by the time he got to Cambridge, he really, really needed a drink
  • the pain of being denied a childhood birthday party at McDonalds
  • the satisfaction of writing jokes about suicide
  • how doing quite a lot of walking around London helps with his sciatica
  • trying to pretend he isn’t a total **** at Robert Webb’s wedding
  • that he has fallen in love at LOT, but rarely done anything about it
  • why it would be worse to bump into Michael Palin than Hitler on holiday
  • that he’s not David Mitchell the novelist. Despite what David Miliband might think
©2012 David Mitchell (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Entertainment & Celebrities Performing Arts Funny Comedy Celebrity Witty Biography Feel-Good Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking

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Critic reviews

‘One of the best celebrity memoirs of last year…his outsider geek personality translates just as well on the page as it does on TV.’ Metro

‘It livened up about half way through with the appearance of me. But enough of David's life. The book is wonderful from beginning to end.’ Robert Webb

'David Mitchell is an extremely funny man on screen, in person, in print and very probably underwater.' Sam Bain, co-writer of Peep Show

‘He can write’ Evening Standard

‘Fluent, discursive, intelligent.’ Evening Standard

‘If you like Mitchell on television, you will like him in this book.’ Shortlist
All stars
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If you like David Mitchells comic style then you will probably love this book if you dont put it down and walk away.

Great

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Mr Mitchell is honest about his single minded pursuit of success and hearteningly aware of how unattractive some aspects of this pursuit makes him out to be from time to time. And I was less than impressed by the sprinklings of cunts, fucks both nominative and adjectival, shits and pisses - if it’s meant to make him seem edgy and bold he has miscalculated: it just seems raucous and crude. This is thrown into relief by the genuinely moving account, at the end, of his courtship (the only word) of Victoria Coren. Someone who can write as authentically and touchingly as that has no need to swear.

Candid, irritating and in the end very touching

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Loved it. Very well written and humorous listening experience. Typical polished performance from one of countries top comedians.

Very witty, open and honest auto biography

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I really enjoyed this. I’m a big fan of David Mitchell’s other books on audible and have listened to all available series of The Unbelievable Trust so was very keen to learn more.

Although not as funny as some of his other works, it is very entertaining and did still have me laughing out loud at times. His stories of Cambridge Footlights and successes and failures are well paced and sufficiently reflective. Definitely would recommend.

Great book, well read, loved it

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Fun, quaint and honest. I theroly enjoyed David's company and style throughout and he does talk about Victoria- nothing steamy, but very romantic.

As you'd expect- delightful!

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Really enjoyed listening to David Mitchell 's life story. If you like David you'll like this book.

Great book

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Read this immediately after Robert Webb’s “how not to be a boy” and it’s a great partner, just as the two are in real life. Mitchell’s childhood doesn’t have the same drama or tragedy, but that makes their joint trajectory all the more fascinating. His writing is just as funny as his TV comedy, but you can’t help but appreciate his more serious discussions on life, however well framed they are in jokes. Brilliant listen, helped even more by the author’s own narration.

Funny, intelligent, moving in places

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Very funny and engaging. I laughed out loud many times listening to this. Best audio book I've listened to for a while...

Brilliant

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If you've bought this book then you know the type of humour to expect: dry, witty, a little sarcastic and a little different to what you would normally expect: surprising, heart warming, honest! (he is an actor after all).

The style of the narrative is also quite well done, as it’s a walk from his flat in London to his place of work at ITV or C4 (I think) and full of useful advice about how to treat your back.

All in all a funny and informative read.

Funny as expected

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funny, clever, honest, moving, insightful.
I haven't stopped thinking about this book since I heard it, so interesting to find out about David's thoughts beyond what I already loved about him on telly. it was a perfect blend of big laughs, giggles, and heartwarming truths.

absolutely loved it..ended too soon

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