I actually listened to this on Audible the week before we went to see Gary's show at the Duke of York theatre in London. I wanted to understand the story behind the show and it turned out to be really good preparation because there's more in the book than Gary has time to talk about on the stage.

At first, I have to admit that although I like the author narrating their own story on Audible, Gary's accent did grate on me a little. I had to work hard in those opening chapters to listen beyond the voice and tune into the great story he was telling about his life and work thus far.

I was particularly interested in his Take That rise to fame, his spats with Robbie and what he calls the "cardy years" where he struggled with bulimia. When I was living through the break up of Take That and then actively listening to how well Robbie was doing as a solo artist and how Gary was bombing - music history was being made right there. I was always more of an East 17 fan but the whole boyband rivallry in the 90s and later the explosion of Brit pop and Girl Power - well, it was a phenomanol time to be alive if you love music as much as I do and I love taking these trips down memory lane through the eyes of some of the most iconic popstars at that time. It was a fantastic time for music culture!

After listening to Jennifer Saunders autobiography on Audible, it made sense I would listen to Dawn French's Dear Fatty next. I am a huge fan of both of them.

Dawn does the intro and then Liza Tarbuck narrates and she is well chosen for this because she reads just as I imagine Dawn would. In the intro Dawn says she chooses a close friend to narrate because it's too emotional for her to read herself - and after listening to the whole story, I can understand why.

The book is written as a series of letters to Dawn's closest family and friends. She talks about her childhood, meeting Jennifer, meeting Lenny Henry, the ups and downs of their relationship, her daughter, fame and her father's suicide. I would've liked to hear more about her time on Vicar of Dibley, but maybe that's for another story.

It's written honestly and authentically with just the right smattering of silliness and humour I've come to expect from Dawn French. She is completely down to earth despite her fame and that is something I find so endearing.