One of the most famous (or infamous!) comedians on both small screens and big ones, Matt Lucas is a British comedy legend. The star of Little Britain, Come Fly With Me, Alice in Wonderland, Bridesmaids and recently Wonka, Lucas has been making people laugh for decades, largely with outrageous sketch comedy alongside David Walliams. But who is Lucas really? And what lies behind all this comedy and memorable persona?
Little Me – My Life from A-Z is a personal memoir by Lucas about his life. Hilariously non-chronological, organised instead in a alphabetical format, the autobiographical piece tells us about Lucas’ upbringing, comedy career from stand-up, to television and even to cinemas, as well as his personal life, including his marriage to his late husband Kevin McGee.
I laughed nearly the entire time I was reading this book. It has been so hilariously written and organised that I giggled out loud regularly! The out-of-order organisation was brilliant, as were the wild chapter names, such as ‘I – Idiot’, ‘V – Various Other Things I’ve Been In’ and ‘Z – Zzzzzzzz’. And this book was full of surprises, but my favourite was ‘M – Middle of the Book’ which contains, and I am being serious, a link to an original song called ‘Middle of the Book’. It is such a random inclusion but one that I cannot get over!
Besides the comedic aspects, the publication is incredibly interesting, well-written and often very emotional. Lucas reflects on his career in earnest, including his thoughts on several aspects of his and Walliams’ work that has become more controversial as time has passed and he feels like a genuinely open and honest person throughout. He also made clear boundaries he is setting, especially regarding his husband, which all too many people in the limelight feel unable to do.
Lucas will always be one of the most well-known comedians Britain has ever seen and his book is a brilliant publication to be able to learn intimate and hilarious details you wouldn’t get to see anywhere else. Lets hope he is writing the sequel he joked about!
Rating: ★★★★☆
Little Me – My Life from A-Z (ISBN: 978-1-78689-086-3) was published in 2017
