Bonkers cover art

Bonkers

My Life in Laughs

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About this listen

Jennifer Saunders' comic creations have brought joy to millions. From Comic Strip to Comic Relief, from Bolly-swilling Edina in Ab Fab to her takes on Madonna or Mamma Mia, her characters are household names.

But it's Jennifer herself who has a place in all our hearts. This is her funny, moving and frankly bonkers memoir, filled with laughter, friends and occasional heartache - but never misery.

BONKERS is full of riotous adventures: accidentally enrolling on a teacher training course with a young Dawn French, bluffing her way to each BBC series, shooting Lulu, trading wild faxes with Joanna Lumley, touring India with Ruby Wax and Goldie Hawn.

There's cancer, too, when she becomes 'Brave Jen'. But her biggest battle is with the bane of her life: the Laws of Procrastination. As she admits, 'There has never been a Plan. Everything has been fairly random, happened by accident or just fallen into place. I'm off now, to do some sweeping...'
Prepare to chuckle, whoop, and go BONKERS.

 Entertainment & Celebrities Performing Arts Funny Celebrity Heartfelt Comedy Feel-Good Thought-Provoking Witty Memoir

Critic reviews

Fabulous? Yes. Funny? Absolutely
Beautifully written and frequently hilarious
Delightfully funny... she writes with moving honesty
Her account of battling breast cancer is as honest as it is uplifting
'Hilarious and brilliant' (Kirsty Young)
Endearing and hilarious. If only all celebrity biographies were this funny
All stars
Most relevant

What did you like most about Bonkers?

Jennifer Saunders reading her own book worked so well.... I loved the footnotes and rants.

What did you like best about this story?

I listened to this went out running and couldn't wait to continue the story. I liked the conversational style and how it shifted around different time zones

Which character – as performed by Jennifer Saunders – was your favourite?

Loved the fax conversations with "Jack" and Betty Jackson

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Made me laugh.....loved the bit when Jennifer says that when her and Aide aren't with Freddie, they are looking at pictures of him!!! Brought a tear to my eye at the end when she thanks those around her.

Any additional comments?

An uplifting, funny and hugely enjoyable read.

I loved this book.......laugh out loud

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Would you consider the audio edition of Bonkers to be better than the print version?

The audio edition has the benefit of being read by Jennifer Saunders - it is as if she is talking to us "dear readers". Loved that personal touch.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the personal, down-to-earth, self-effacing attitude of Jennifer. She is the first to laugh at herself and take you along with her.

Which character – as performed by Jennifer Saunders – was your favourite?

Giggle - is this a trick question?

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened to this book on the way to work over several sittings and I looked forward to the journey because of it. At one point I laughed out loud on the bus and turned heads - not in a good way you understand but a 'batty-odd-person' way. But it makes me smile just to think of it.

Any additional comments?

This is not one of those 'ghost-written' biographies. Oh no - this is Jennifer Saunders telling us about herself - well what she can remember that is. It is both personal and profound, witty and laugh-out-loud funny.

Down-to-earth Bonkers

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What did you like most about Bonkers?

The book is fun. Jennifer Saunders manages to stay away from a chronicle style, and instead starts each section with a short statement about where she is and why. Its a bit different and sets the scene well.

What aspect of Jennifer Saunders’s performance might you have changed?

Sometimes JS got a bit excited and while entertaining the rants sometimes got a bit "loud"!

Any additional comments?

I am new to biographies and enjoyed this one - I will certainly be reading more.

Does what it says on the tin (cover)

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Enjoyed every minute, laughed & cried, sad that it's finished. Felt like Jennifer was in the room with me, just gossiping about her life.

Bonkers & beautiful

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I know it's an obvious title but it really is! So well told as well

Absolutely Fabulous

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