Never work with children or animals: A story of life in the entertainment business - Paperback

by Chris Newton (Editor), June Brown (Introduction by), Judi Dench (Author)

Never work with children or animals tells of John's early career as a child actor, when he appeared in various stage productions as well as playing parts in several dramas on BBC Television. It goes on to tell of adventures working with a host of entertainment stars of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, including Jimmy Edwards, Marti Caine, Billy Fury, Bob Monkhouse, Peter Goodwright, The Beatles, Dusty Springfield, Danny La Rue, Patricia Hayes, June Brown, Sacha Distel, Chris de Burgh, Lesley Garrett and Mark Knopfler. The later chapters tell how, with the help of a legion of household names from the entertainment industry, John and Annie set up the Michael Elliott Trust as a charity dedicated to rescuing abused donkeys and providing a sanctuary for them. The book features a foreword by June Brown and a personal message from Dame Judi Dench.

Author Biography

John Stirling was surely destined to a life in the entertainment industry. Born into a theatrical family, he loved performing so much as a small boy that he was expelled from his first school for disruptive behaviour. Fortunately, he was accepted instead by the Italia Conti Stage School - and John never looked back, becoming a successful child actor on TV and radio before embarking on a colourful career in production and stage management which brought him into contact with countless household names of radio, stage and television. Never work with children and animals is John's story, from his early days as a child actor to his retirement with his wife Annie to the hills of Derbyshire, where they now run one of the biggest donkey sanctuaries in Britain.