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Berserker!

The Deeply Moving and Brilliantly Funny Memoir From One of Britain's Most Beloved Comedians

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About this listen

Hilariously read by the author, Adrian Edmondson.

A Financial Times Best Audio of the Year


The instant Sunday Times bestseller

From brutal schooldays to 80s anarchy, through The Young Ones, Bottom and beyond, Berserker! is the one-of-a-kind, hilarious memoir from an icon of British comedy, Adrian Edmondson.

Ade Edmondson revolutionized the comedy circuit in the 1980s and, alongside Rik Mayall, brought anarchy to stage and screen. How did a child brought up in a strict Methodist household – and who spent his formative years incarcerated in repressive boarding schools – end up joining the revolution?

With wisdom, nostalgia and uniquely observed humour, Ade traces his journey through life and comedy: starting out on the alternative scene, getting arrested in Soho, creating outrageously violent characters and learning more about his curious (possibly Scandinavian) heritage. With star-studded anecdotes and set to a soundtrack of pop hits which transport the reader through time, it’s a memoir like no other.

Nominated for Radio Times Moment of the Year for sharing his memories of Rik Mayall on Desert Island Discs.

'The Berserker from The Young Ones and Bottom tells his story with self-effacing charm and no end of backstage anecdotes' - Ian Rankin

'Amazing' - Richard Osman

'Gloriously candid and wise all at once' - Sara Pascoe

'It is incredibly funny, but it is also a lot, lot more than that' - Miles Jupp

‘More fun than reading Hegel, and also more enlightening’ - Louis de Bernières

Entertainment & Celebrities Entertainment & Performing Arts Film & TV Performing Arts Comedy Biography Celebrity Funny Witty Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Alcohol Entertainment Feel-Good

Critic reviews

Boarding school, despair, love, music, Rik Mayall – everything Adrian Edmondson writes about makes you love him desperately (Caitlin Moran, journalist and author of How to Be a Woman)
The berserker from The Young Ones and Bottom tells his story with self-effacing charm and no end of backstage anecdotes (Ian Rankin, author of the Inspector Rebus series)
This is a bloody good book. Lots of people live interesting lives, but very few people can write genuinely interesting books about those lives. Adrian Edmondson has done both. And while it is incredibly funny, it is also a lot, lot more than that (Miles Jupp, comedian and author of History)
The bravest, most affecting celebrity book of the year
Edmondson can be very funny and very poignant simultaneously
A hilarious romp through a golden era of comedy and a searingly honest and moving memoir
Gloriously candid and wise all at once (Sara Pascoe, comedian and author of Weirdo)
More fun than reading Hegel, and also more enlightening (Louis de Bernières, author of Captain Corelli's Mandolin)
Absolutely brilliant (Marina Hyde, author of What Just Happened?! and co-host of The Rest Is Entertainment)
All stars
Most relevant
Discovered so much about this talented actor & musician.

At times your laughing out loud and others your on the verge of tears. Written in a very open and honest way we discover perhaps the reasons behind some of his greatest characters that he's played.

His brutal honesty about his relationship with others is eye opening but you do feel he was correct in his choices.

Most people from similar generations will feel some kind of affiliation to parts of his story.

Totally enjoyed it.

Heartfelt and Eye Opening

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A beautiful and humorous life that has educated me more about Adrian and make me want to meet him and have a chat over a coffee

Beautiful and inspiring

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This was not what I expected but an excellent and personal account. I listened to this and played it at every opportunity over a couple of days. It is sad in many places, reflective, and open and honest. A little gem from someone I have followed since the young ones.
Thank you

Fantastic, deep, and honest

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I’ve always had a soft spot for Adrian. A little because he looks like my dad and reminds me of him. Catastrophically hilarious, but with an inviting and warm undertone to his work. This book is just that! Thank you for sharing this with us Mr Edmondson. I enjoyed every word.

Just, loved it.

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An amazing, honest and moving biography, beautifully written and delivered by the author, I will miss my daily listens..

Brilliant

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