During a long Fleet Street career, Tim Walker interviewed and got to know many of the world’s most famous actors and entertainers. In his new book, Star Turns, he reveals pungent truths about many household names, Including Stephen Fry, who responded to one of Walker’s articles by branding him: ‘A shiny-faced, arse-witted, human cockroach… a creep from the inner ring of Satan’s rectum’.

71 of these encounters are brought together for the first time in a collection of penetrating essays on subjects including Hugh Grant, Stephen Fry, Ronnie Corbett, Roger Moore, Maggie Smith, Eartha Kitt, Sean Connery, Lauren Bacall, Cliff Richard, Quentin Crisp and many more.

Walker analyses and defines these stars but is never over-awed. It’s a funny, shocking and sometimes sad book that says as much about the human condition as it does about stardom. Star Turns reveals:

How Stephen Fry was so infuriated by Walker that he branded him ‘a creep from the inner ring of Satan’s rectum’
What happened to Christopher Lee’s wig when Rupert Everett’s horse attempted to mount his steed on set
How Julio Iglesias caused a bitter row by refusing to have the left side of his face photographed
How the use of the word ‘luvvies’ introduced Walker to Peter Bowles (of To The Manor Born fame) – and the behaviour of a contortionist (on a plane) led to his friendship with Frances Barber…

Author biography

Tim Walker is an author, playwright, broadcaster and British Press Award-winning journalist. He worked in staff positions at The Observer, The Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph. He now writes the Mandrake column for The New European newspaper, where he also reviews theatre. His first play, Bloody Difficult Women, is to open​ at the Riverside Studios in London in February next year.

@ThatTimWalker

Publication details:
Published: 16 September 2021
UK HB 9781914489006
Publisher SunRise Publishing Ltd
Price: £20