Live webchat with Celia Imrie - Tues 24 March 1-2pm

Albangirl14

Love Celia as an actor and enjoyed her Biography but sorry didn.t enjoy the book and didn.t find the rude grandchildren rang true.

Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy the book, but actually I've experienced exactly that behaviour in young children and, by the way, they do make friends with their grandmother in the end.

janerowena

You haven't met my sister's disgusting children albangirl...

There we are - thanks janerowena for the back up!

Greenfinch

I have just started the book and thoroughly enjoyed the first chapter but also feel the grandchildren are OTT. Are they based on any children in particular or merely imaginary ?

Wait 'til you get to the middle Greenfinch, where the grandchildren completely change once they get to the south of France. However, I have witnessed such behaviour that I write about at the beginning of the book. Only slightly exaggerated for the good of the story.

baubles

Hello Celia, I've very much enjoyed your film & TV performances over the years.

I'm another one who just can't believe in those unpleasant children I'm afraid. I do hope they aren't based on real children. I did like your descriptions of the sun kissed villages, I could imagine being there enjoying the heat.

Hello baubles, certainly some moments of the bad behaviour are based on real children. Other bits made up, of course. However, you're right - the sun-kissed villages are heavenly in the heat.

Jane10

I have read the book and have a few comments:
1) I agree with another poster that somehow the relationship with the daughter didn't ring true and the grandchildren seemed cartoonish.

- This sentence I witnessed from a grandmother I met when her daughter said to her "Look mummy, I hope you don't think that if you move to Wimbledon, we're all going to look after you in your old age". She was as shocked as I was when I heard it and some of the grandchildren's behaviour I have personally witnessed.

2)The whole thing felt a bit "Exotic Marigold Hotel on sea" i.e. the exploits of a group of older people. Fair enough. Its a sort of grown up chick lit. Wonder what that genre should be called?

- You could say Theresa escaping from her family and starting anew could be like my character in Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, but I think that's where the similarity ends. My characters in NQN don't all live in a hotel together - and in BEMH we are not beside the sea in Rajasthan!

3) Finally I was struck by the number of typos/spelling errors. Not Celia's fault I expect but dodgy proof reading/typesetting. eg Its hard to believe that Celia would include in the "Note on the Author" section that she once played "Miss BABES" in Acorn Antiques. Yes I'm being pedantic but the typos struck me so forcefully that I had to comment. Something to check before a second edition maybe?

- I'm very interested to know where you got your copy - was it a Kindle edition? I certainly would have noticed Miss Babes in Acorn Antiques. I'm sitting with the final copies now and there are no such mistakes. My copyeditor was excellent. The book was not rushed out to coincide with the film - we brought them out deliberately together.

Was this book rushed out to coincide with the launch of the latest "Exotic Marigold film? Publishers eh?

gillybob

Hi Celia. I have only just started this book and so far it is a really enjoyable read. Thank you.

My question is How did you come up with the characters of Imogen and the awful children? I do hope they are not based on anyone you know, and if so I do hope they are grossly exaggerated. Poor Theresa. How did she manage to raise such a hateful daughter?

So glad you enjoyed it Gillybob. Please see the exact quote of Imogen's to her mother on page 16. That was real, but the behaviour of Imogen and her children was only slightly exaggerated. However, they do all make friends in the end.

weevil

Hello Celia I am such a fan of your work. You have had so many fantastic television roles it must be very hard to choose a favourite but I wonder what you have enjoyed most? My favourite is Dinner Ladies

Hello weevil, so glad you've had as much fun as I have playing the many different roles I've been lucky enough to have on TV.

nancynana

I loved the bit in Calendar Girls where taking off your top called for bigger buns. Was the film as wonderful to film as it was to watch? (And any tips for working round bigger buns would be great too - I have never managed to flatter/flatten/dress to make mine a positive!!!)

Yes nancynana Calendar Girls was not only wonderful to be part of, but especially rewarding when we realised how much we could contribute to the money the original calendar girls raised for cancer.

pavlovalover

Hello Celia there has been a lot of talk recently about roles for 'older' women and ageism within the film (and television) industries. I would be interested in your views on this.Thank you for much pleasure over many years

Hello pavlovalover, I am a pavlova lover too and I am very grateful for the marvellous roles coming my way at my age.

Rosannie

I read this book with Celia's voice narrating it in my head and her mischievous grin and the twinkle in her eye making me think it was very tongue in cheek!
It reminded me of the show Dirty Rotten Scoundrels which was also set in the South of France, did Celia get any inspiration from that story?
Have I misinterpreted your story Celia? I loved it as a lighted -hearted farce and it really cheered me up!

So happy, Rosannie, NQN cheered you up. I'm flattered that you could hear my voice and it reminded you of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels as the south of France is such a wonderful setting for any story. Hopefully NQN might come out on audiobook and then you really will be able to hear my voice narrating it to you.

glammanana

Hello there Celia,What a delightful book,I was awake for a few nights reading it and fully engrossed by the characters all so full of themselves and their importance a really good description of some of the Brits you meet abroad,we meet them all in every capacity when we lived abroad did you ever meet any face to face or where they friends of friends or imaginary aquaintances. ?
I have enjoyed all your film and TV work and love your style you always look so elegant in your appearance but the fun side of you shines through,best of luck with any future writings I hope to read your work again soon. X Glamma x

How lovely, glammanana. My characters in NQN are marvellous mixtures of people that I've met. I'm glad you can see the fun side of my work because that's the whole point and book two is on its way.

merlotgran

Hi Celia, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy Not Quite Nice at the beginning and in the real world, if Theresa had come on to Gransnet asking for advice on how to handle those horrible grandchildren - not to mention their mother, she would have received some very entertaining replies!!

Once the characters in France began to develop, however, it became a delightful read. Thank you.

Last year I read your autobiography The Happy Hoofer which I enjoyed immensely, especially the part covering your house hunting on the Isle of Wight. I come from Ventnor and was amazed when I realised you were actually viewing my old family home - the one where Karl Marx had lived for a short time (blue plaque on wall) I was sorry you didn't buy it!!

Do you still have a house in Cowes?

Many thanks for all your wonderful character parts in films and TV.

Hello merlotgran, so glad you enjoyed NQN once you got to the south of France. Somehow the beauty of the place, as you saw, made everything alright with Theresa's grandchildren and her daughter.

Yes, sorry I didn't buy Mr Marx's house.

Pittcity

Haven't had a chance to read your book yet , but am looking forward to it.

You have acted with a lot of heartthrobs over the years and I would like to ask who was your favourite. I would narrow the field down to Richard Gere, Colin Firth or Victoria Wood!

Dear Pittcity, hope you enjoy the book when you get to it and out of all the heartthrobs I have worked with, I couldn't possible choose one.

Teetime

I'm enjoying the book and always enjoy your acting work - loved Miss Babs!!

Dear Teetime,

Very happy you're enjoying my book.

With love,
Miss Babs

NotTooOld

I think your description of the children is, well, not exactly spot-on but bordering on the truth. We are fed so many stories of beautiful, well-behaved, loving grandchildren that we start to believe our own grandchildren should be like that and are then disappointed when they are not. I also like the idea that rather than moving to be near our children as we get old, we should think about a completely fresh start in life and move somewhere we would really like to be. Good for Theresa. It has certainly set me thinking.

Thank God for you NotTooOld! You're the first person I have read who has totally got my story. The behaviour of Theresa's daughter and grandchildren is based on truth.

Frannygranny

Hi Celia
It is a great "holiday read". Light and easy to read, maybe not a masterpiece but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have never been disappointed in any part you have played - a sign of a very talented actress. I would love to see you in a 'serious' part.

Hello Frannygranny,

Happy that you liked my "holiday read". Yes, I would love a serious part too - that's my next step.

ballyhoo

How long did it take to write the book? I like the title was it your idea?

Dear ballyhoo, it took me about 9 months to write the book but probably another 6 months to make corrections and the title was a collaboration with me and my son.

lallyg

I'm sure I read a thread on here once about how you told people to lighten up about wolf whistles. I agree actually. Did you get lots of flak? I have just ordered your book

Dear lallyg, yes I got a hell of a lot of backlash. I still think it's wonderful to be whistled at. Glad you think so too. Hooray, you've ordered my book! Hope you have a laugh.