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Soupy Twists!: The 100% Official Story of Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie
Fry & Laurie are one of the most beloved double acts in comedy history. This brand new edition of their 100% officially authorised joint biography takes us on their somewhat bumbling journey, from insecure Footlighters to international comedy heroes. It is a tale of a true friendship � a deep affection held by two very funny and tall men, which has long been reflected back by an adoring public.
Jem Roberts, official biographer of Douglas Adams and acclaimed chronicler of I’m Sorry, I Haven’t a Clue, Blackadder and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, covers everything from the excitement of being the first ever winners of the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe, to the terrors of performing on Saturday Live , the collaborative warfare of Blackadder , the creation of four series of superior sketch comedy with ‘A Bit of Fry & Laurie �, the admirable promotion of Tidyman’s Carpets, heaps of cream and lawnmowers, and the ultimate depiction of PG Wodehouse’s most inimitable characters, in Jeeves & Wooster . Beyond this, the sundry how-d’you-do’s and how-d’you-don’ts of their remarkable subsequent separate career paths, from QI to House , are thoroughly explored.
Published by Plummie Books and launching on KDP 30 years after the end of their legendary BBC series, this brand new, much anticipated paperback edition of the 2019 Chortle Award-losing masterpiece brings their stories right up to date. The new edition boasts not just terribly exclusive interviews with both colleagues, plus friends, foes and lovers including Emma Thompson, Richard Curtis, John Lloyd and many more, but also a freshly expanded selection of rare Fry & Laurie sketches, direct from the ‘ABOF&L � secret archives, never before seen by fans.
Soupy Twists! is a rollicking celebration of a legacy of laughter brought to us decades ago by one of the daftest and most sophisticated comedy double acts of all time.
‘Soupy Twists is a light and affectionate, but also very detailed work.�
Charlie Higson, The Times Literary Supplement
‘Jem manages to write about popular cultural institutions with knowledge and affection while avoiding the dismal traps of nerdy fanboyism on the one hand or grandiose cultural pseudo-intellectualism on the other. His research is flawless and the results are readable, illuminating and delightful.�
STEPHEN FRY
‘As far as I’m aware, Jem Roberts is an upstanding citizen and pays his taxes� I will go no further than that.�
HUGH LAURIE
© JEM ROBERTS / STEPHEN FRY & HUGH LAURIE 202
Jem Roberts, official biographer of Douglas Adams and acclaimed chronicler of I’m Sorry, I Haven’t a Clue, Blackadder and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, covers everything from the excitement of being the first ever winners of the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe, to the terrors of performing on Saturday Live , the collaborative warfare of Blackadder , the creation of four series of superior sketch comedy with ‘A Bit of Fry & Laurie �, the admirable promotion of Tidyman’s Carpets, heaps of cream and lawnmowers, and the ultimate depiction of PG Wodehouse’s most inimitable characters, in Jeeves & Wooster . Beyond this, the sundry how-d’you-do’s and how-d’you-don’ts of their remarkable subsequent separate career paths, from QI to House , are thoroughly explored.
Published by Plummie Books and launching on KDP 30 years after the end of their legendary BBC series, this brand new, much anticipated paperback edition of the 2019 Chortle Award-losing masterpiece brings their stories right up to date. The new edition boasts not just terribly exclusive interviews with both colleagues, plus friends, foes and lovers including Emma Thompson, Richard Curtis, John Lloyd and many more, but also a freshly expanded selection of rare Fry & Laurie sketches, direct from the ‘ABOF&L � secret archives, never before seen by fans.
Soupy Twists! is a rollicking celebration of a legacy of laughter brought to us decades ago by one of the daftest and most sophisticated comedy double acts of all time.
‘Soupy Twists is a light and affectionate, but also very detailed work.�
Charlie Higson, The Times Literary Supplement
‘Jem manages to write about popular cultural institutions with knowledge and affection while avoiding the dismal traps of nerdy fanboyism on the one hand or grandiose cultural pseudo-intellectualism on the other. His research is flawless and the results are readable, illuminating and delightful.�
STEPHEN FRY
‘As far as I’m aware, Jem Roberts is an upstanding citizen and pays his taxes� I will go no further than that.�
HUGH LAURIE
© JEM ROBERTS / STEPHEN FRY & HUGH LAURIE 202
417 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2025
About the author
Jem Roberts
16Ìýbooks13Ìýfollowersâ€� Stephen Fry: "Jem manages to write about popular cultural institutions with knowledge and affection, while avoiding the dismal traps of nerdy fanboyism on the one hand or grandiose cultural pseudo-intellectualism on the other. His research is flawless and the results are readable, illuminating and delightful."
� Tim Brooke-Taylor: "An incredibly good job � and he got it right. It’s difficult for me to judge it totally objectively because it’s all about me, me, me and a few others. But I found it very readable indeed..."
� Brian Blessed: "Tell them, 'Brian loves and trusts me.' What you're doing is so worthwhile, KEEP AT IT!"
� Barry Cryer: "You're very charming, it's a pleasure to go on about it."
� The Times Literary Supplement: "J.F. Roberts's lively, warm-hearted True History of The Black Adder is a celebration of "this incredible feat of comedy production."
� The Telegraph: (The True History...) "Essential for any comprehensive comedy library..."
� Tim Brooke-Taylor: "An incredibly good job � and he got it right. It’s difficult for me to judge it totally objectively because it’s all about me, me, me and a few others. But I found it very readable indeed..."
� Brian Blessed: "Tell them, 'Brian loves and trusts me.' What you're doing is so worthwhile, KEEP AT IT!"
� Barry Cryer: "You're very charming, it's a pleasure to go on about it."
� The Times Literary Supplement: "J.F. Roberts's lively, warm-hearted True History of The Black Adder is a celebration of "this incredible feat of comedy production."
� The Telegraph: (The True History...) "Essential for any comprehensive comedy library..."
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