Book Beat

A MONTH ago a friend asked if I’d ghost-write her autobiography. A challenge then. Could I possibly write someone else’s story and convince the reader I was them? In the interest of research I picked up a copy On The Beat: My Story by Graham Cole.

Cole has spent the best past of a quarter of century playing PC Stamp in The Bill – his last episode goes out later this month, and it’s safe to say that he wasn’t too happy about the decision. Cole’s story is a personal romp. From a his days working the holiday camps, through his time as various Doctor Who monsters to pounding the beat with the real police, his book in a real page turner. In fact, I read it from cover to cover one lazy Sunday.

What struck me about the book was the that Cole himself was obviously recalling his past adventures. His way of expressing himself quite unique. His eye-witness accounts of darker moments such as the attempted suicide of one of his Bill co-stars and the loss of his father were touching. His ire are being let go was still raw.
His desire to contribute to society almost overpowering. Could anyone else have captured his directness?

An acquaintance has in the past ghosted two such showbiz books, he told me of hours spent interviewing the subjects and then hours more spent transcribing their memories into memorable adventures that the would have the reader hooked. I read one of them, the spark of authenticity evident in Cole’s book was replaced by the gloss of the wordsmith, the celeb’s character diluted. That, I guess, is the pit fall a ghost-writer must avoid.

On The Beat: My Story by Graham Cole, Splendid Books, Hardback £17.99

Old King Cole

INSTALLMENT three of Graham Cole's memoirs in today's Mirror: Punch-ups, robbers and autograph hunters.. my undercover work with the real Bill .

Get the impression he's not too happy about the way he was treated, although I have to ask: Is 25 years in the one show too long for any actor?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/09/22/punch-ups-robbers-and-autograph-hunters-my-undercover-work-with-the-real-bill-115875-21691524/

Graham Cole - On The Beat

DISCOVER all the behind the scenes secrets of The Bill courtesy of Graham Cole aka PC Tony Stamp who has written an account of his time on the show which is currently being serialised in The Mirror.

On The Beat by Graham Cole is published by Splendid Books Ltd 2009. You can order your copy for £16 incl p& p (RRP £17.99) at www.splendidbooks.com/mirror. Or call 0845 625 3045. Or send a cheque for £16 (made payable to Splendid Books Ltd) to Splendid Books Ltd (Mirror), PO Box 813, Portsmouth, Hants, PO1 9EY.

In the meantime, you can preview the action on The Mirror website. On Saturday, it ran the piece: The Bill's PC Tony Stamp on his shock sacking after 25 years

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/09/19/if-i-don-t-act-we-don-t-eat-i-might-have-to-sign-on-the-dole-115875-21684897/

Followed today by: MY STORY BY THE BILL'S PC TONY STAMP - Reg ran up and down the studios dripping blood and shouting 'I am The Bill'

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/09/21/reg-ran-up-and-down-the-studios-dripping-blood-and-shouting-i-am-the-bill-115875-21689201/

Tomorrow's gripping instalment goes by the title: Punch-ups, prostitutes and the day I made a real arrest