Don't Laugh, It'll Only Encourage Her: The No 1 Sunday Times Bestseller

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I’m so delighted I chose to review this in the audio format because what else could be better than Daisy May Cooper reading her own memoir? However, the hardback printed book shows lots of previously unseen photographs, plus copies of old school text books and random drawings. She tells every story with equal humor and enthusiasm, in the unique style that we have come to know and love about her. One of the most hilarious books I’ve read - so many anecdotes I was nearly crying with laughter on the train. She recently starred in Armando Iannucci's The Personal History of David Copperfield, and has featured on TV shows including Avenue 5, Doc Martin and The Wrong Mans.

The stories about applying for drama courses, and eventually RADA, dreadful auditions, semi-abusive relationships, none of it felt humorous. She came across well on Taskmaster, I find her really funny and loved This Country, especially coming from the same rural area I totally get it all, but this book does nothing to make me think she’s a particularly decent or kind person.Still the funniest book I’ve touched in a long time and I’d be up for reading any number of sequels. I grew up battling rural poverty which was a struggle enough but my family were completely insane to boot.

I love This Country, and reading about her early life showed how much of it has been written into the scripts, but I almost wish I hadn't read it. Together with my brother Charlie, I staggered my way through adolescence from one drama to the next until finally, after years of trying, we had This Country commissioned by the BBC. I didn't think it was necessary to have those parts because there were proper photos in 2 sections of the book. Daisy and Charlie are contracted to do a cleaning job for three hours, but manage to do it in 20 minutes. This audio version also has the added bonus of an exclusive interview with Daisy and her father Paul.Mum, I spent all my student loan accidently on a penthouse suite in a fancy hotel in Marble Arch, now I face getting kicked out of drama school. Daisy was such a tonic during the lockdowns with her Instagram romance escapades, so I couldn’t wait to read this. I expect hearing the author telling the stories would be very different, but reading them on a page left me desperately sorry that she and her family had been through so much. All the same Daisy May Cooper has fucking been THROUGH IT and she’s a walking example of how never giving up on something you really want will eventually pay off !

She won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Female Comedy Performance in 2018 for her role as Kerry Mucklowe in the BBC Three series This Country, a mockumentary-style show about the eccentricities of life in rural England, which she co-created and co-wrote with her brother, Charlie Cooper. There’s probably another book in the pipeline because there’s no mention of The Wrong Mans or David Copperfield which she acted in before This Country. Well, of course they don’t manage to do it in 20 minutes, they do the absolute bare minimum which is obvious to the staff who have to work in a dirty environment. I know it's supposed to make me laugh, but I just felt so very sad for Daisy May and her family - growing up in chaos, dealing with loss and severe financial worries. Her strength, courage and determination to succeed shines through this, under the protection of her signature hysterical, and eye watering humor.Daisy May manages to convey the brutal reality of living in poverty, feeling hopeless and desperately trying to make it with her dream career without what you’re reading being completely fucking harrowing. Wrote in a way that’s funny but also very truthful about the struggles Daisy faced breaking into the industry.