Look! We’ve uploaded lots of lovely new photos from Russell and Benjamin’s 2008 book signings. Check ‘em out further down this News & Reviews section - or by selecting ‘Photos’ from the drop-down ‘Categories’ menu near the top right of this page - or just click on the following links:

National Theatre, London - 7 November 2008

Borders Cardiff - 10 October 2008

Borders Bristol - 10 October 2008

Waterstone’s Manchester - 9 October 2008

Waterstone’s Birmingham - 9 October 2008

Waterstone’s Piccadilly, London - 8 October 2008

Random House, Colchester - 9 September 2008

Plus! We’ve added a video of Russell and Benjamin’s appearance on the frankly bonkers Halloween edition of Richard & Judy’s New Position (see here), and another of R & J’s review of The Writer’s Tale - featuring Stephen Fry and Four Poofs and a Piano - in November (see here).

Happy New Year.

The Christmas edition of Outnorthwest, the free monthly magazine of the Lesbian & Gay Foundation, features an exclusive interview with Russell - its cover star! Topics covered include Russell’s life as a gay public figure, his celebrity crushes, the critics who accuse him of bringing a gay agenda to Doctor Who, and The Writer’s Tale.

Grahame Robertson, editor of Outnorthwest, said: “We first spoke to Russell nearly ten years ago, at the height of Queer as Folk-mania. Since then, he’s gone on to become the most influential person working in television today. I’m over the moon he’s taken the time to speak to us again.”

And the magazine has this to say about The Writer’s Tale: “Like Russell himself, it’s a substantial volume (he’s still extremely tall), and is probably the best book on writing for TV that you’ll ever read. Full of angst, worry, self-doubt, exuberance and enthusiasm, it’s a guilty read that is as close as any of us will get to what it’s like to carry the biggest TV show on the planet on your shoulders.”

Outnorthwest’s Crimbo issue is available online.

The Scotsman is still raving about The Writer’s Tale, following Jenny Colgan’s recommendation in the paper last week. In today’s issue, The Scotsman’s team of arts writers choose The Writer’s Tale as “the perfect Christmas present”, describing it as offering “a fascinating insight into the writing of one of TV’s biggest hits”.

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In The Scotsman newspaper today, some of Britain’s finest writers select the books that they would most like to give or receive this Christmas. Chick-lit novelist Jenny Colgan, author of romantic comedies such as Amanda’s Wedding, Looking for Andrew McCarthy and, most recently, Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend, chooses The Writer’s Tale. “I’ve read extracts,” she says, “and it seems to be a brilliant exposé of what writers actually do all day – fiddle, write e-mails and think about boys mostly – whether you’re the genius behind the biggest TV show in the UK or a hack like me.”

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This week’s edition of Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe, on BBC4, is a writers’ special - inspired by The Writer’s Tale, apparently - in which Brooker is joined by some of the best in the business to answer “a load of questions about the nuts and bolts of writing”. Russell is interviewed, of course - a clip of which was uploaded onto the BBC’s YouTube channel today. Or you can just watch it here:

The entire episode is available on BBC iPlayer until 9 December, and is repeated on BBC4 on 5 December at 11.45pm and 7 December at 11.30pm.

Doctor Who Online’s Trevor Gensch interviews Benjamin about The Writer’s Tale in this week’s podcast (”DWO WhoCast Episode 98″), which is available from today - for free - on iTunes or at Doctor Who Online. The interview with Benjamin begins 31 minutes into the podcast.

Stephen Fry and covers band Four Poofs and a Piano appeared on UKTV Watch’s Richard & Judy’s New Position today, as part of the show’s Christmas Presents book strand, to review the four books - including The Writer’s Tale - featured in the Serious Non-Fiction category. “If I woke up and found this in my Christmas stocking, I’d be very happy!” Watch a clip from the show here:

SFX magazine is still raving about The Writer’s Tale, following September’s five-star review. In their Christmas issue, on sale today, Nick Setchfield describes the book as “Absorbing and, blimey, so honest… Often hilarious, sometimes scabrous, occasionally rip-away-the-public-face bleak.”

★★★★

“We learn, brilliantly, the difference between bellowing media personage Big Russell and the apprehensive, chain-smoking obsessive who exists alone and silent in the early hours… This is great reading.”

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In The Guardian today, Maev Kennedy discusses the Richard and Judy Christmas Books list, on which The Writer’s Tale tops the Serious Non-Fiction category.

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