Actually, it's Love

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Editors: John and Frankie McGowan This book was compiled by John and Frankie McGowan to raise money for their charity "ROC - Research into Ovarian Cancer". Why did Alan Titchmarsh nearly drown? Why did Richard Branson sink his houseboat? Why did Rolf Harris drive his musicians around the bend with his carving skills? For love, actually! It comes in all forms, all shapes and sizes, from the unconditional love of a parent to a chid, to the passionate, all-embracing love felt for a partner, to the unspoken love that man sometimes shows to fellow man through a thoughtful, selfless act of kindness. The rich, the famous and the funny have joined together to create this unique treasury of tales about the things they have done for love. Whether it be reciting Shakespearean sonnets, hitch-hiking down the M1, or nearly drowining on a motorbike in the rain, these hilarious and heart-warming stories of your favourite celebrities will have you laughing, crying and even cringing - but definitely dying to read the next one! This is an uplifting and extraordinary testament to the most glorious of human emotions.

"Romantic love is pretty wonderful, no question. And it can certainly turn your life upside down. But it isn't the only kind of love in the world that hits hard. There's another kind: the one that takes your life by the scruff of the neck, demolishes rational thinking and casts aside any sensible person's grip on reality. for me it's what I do for a living. From the moment when, aged ten, I was taken to see Jesus Christ Superstar, the die was cast." excerpt from Michael Ball "Then there was the time"

The book features the following stories: (The red marked only appear in this edition!) Foreword by John McGowan Michael Ball: Then there was the time Ulrika Jonsson: The truth about love Sir Ian McKellen: Love's labours won Lynda Lee-Potter: A memorable Walk Jan Etherington: Teenage Crushes Gary Lineker: Weather Report Alan Plater: The Play's the Thing Clare Balding: For the Love of Frank Colin Dunne: A short History of Dickie Bones Phillip Schofield: Shakespeare in Love Derek Malcolm: The Passion of Malcolm The Duchess of York: Friends for Life Dalip Tahil: A different Mountain Glenda Jackson: Management Material Frank Delaney: Family Matters Melanie Cantor: Love in the Balance Anthony Andrews: Why I love Malcolm McDowell Sir Richard Branson: That sinking Feeling Bryan Forbes: A passionate Journey Julia Carling: Big on Love Philip Hodson: Mystery of Love Niamh Cusack: The Language of Love Bernard Cookson: Bear Truths George Melly: All that Jazz Yvonne Roberts: Burma Bound Bruce Oldfield: Missing the Bus Jo Foley: Journey's End Sir Cliff Richard: A loving Appeal Neil Kinnock: Crossing the Line Anne de Courcy: The Proposal File David Hamilton: Holiday Romancing Wendy Perriam: Just William George Baker: This thing called Love Julia Langdon: Politically correct Joss Ackland: A fishy Tale Keith Waterhouse: Head-on Collisions Maggie Goodman: All at Sea Paddy Ashdown: A military Sin Paul Nicholas: Stuck on you Penny Vincenzi: Tracking down Love Sir Richard Eyre: In the Dark Jane Lapotaire: Tough Love Ivan Fallon: Brother Love Rolf Harris: Jaded Richard E. Grant: Waiting Timothy Spall: Drowned (almost) by Love Sir Ben Kingsley: (Very) Brief Encounter Bruce Forsyth: The Food of Love Jane Reed: Aunty Betty's Brother Angela Neustatter: Sons and Mothers Carole Stone: My Mother said Fern Britton: Tea in Bed Richard Barber: Celebrity Love Alan Titchmarsh: Going for Gold Rosemary Conley: A special Friend Lowri Turner: A Labour of Love Kacey Ainsworth: Cold Feet Julie Burchill: Sayonara, Baby John Bird: The Love Issue Alan Bleasdale: God and Monica Haygarth

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