Too Much: the hilarious, heartfelt memoir

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He has his own BBC Radio 4 show, Tom Allen Is Actually Not Very Nice, and appears on Just a Minute, the News Quiz and is a regular co-host of Loose Ends. Whether it was Zoe Ball or Jamie Redknapp or my friend AJ Odudu, so many people supported me in different ways.

I loved living at home, but when you lose a parent, you have to confront the realities of life, which is that none of us are here for a long time, life is ticking for all of us, and I don’t say that in a negative way.

Beautifully written with his heart on his sleeve, Tom reflects on the time that followed his family's bereavement and the impact such an enormous loss has on those everyday practicalities of life. This is the second autobiographical book by Tom Allen, focusing on stories about and lessons from his dad as he recently died. But none feel as profound as the moment you realise you no longer have the grown up protection you had when you were a child. Chapter 11 - “He is right here in the vegetable patch, in the time I make to spend with my new families, in the things he said to me, repeating in my head - you can never have too much love.

In Too Much, with his trademark wit and insight, Tom Allen takes a funny and moving look at how he’s been thrown into adulthood, as he finally leaves the family home and starts a relationship with a new boyfriend. That wink or raised eyebrow is very ingrained in camp culture; it’s about playing with meanness so it loses its power. But ultimately, he has to grow up fast in the wake of the unexpected death of his father in late 2021. Tom’s Absolutely tour of 2018 and 2019 was extended multiple times, selling over fifty-thousand tickets, including an unforgettable sold-out show at the London Palladium which was filmed and broadcast on Channel 4 in 2019. t the only major life change to come, as his father suddenly passed away from a heart attack towards the end of the year.As this book began with the death of the author's father, I wondered if it was the right one for me.

It’s been running for years in a high-ceilinged room, a bit like a church with a high stage to match, so high that you feel like you are on a tightrope. This has been a brilliant companion and it is nice to know that how you are feeling is OK and you are not alone in that. This may result in small marks to the dustjacket and title page, please also bear in mind that each signature will be a little different from the one we show here. He has a perfectionist’s eye (and an obsession with interior design) and is expert at skewering the banality of grief – such as when a funeral home “resembled less a threshold between this life and the next and more a conference suite … the sort of space a local accountancy firm might hold its quarterly meetings”. Allen reflects on his father's attitudes and behaviours have shaped him, how the parent and child relationship evolves (while in some ways remains the same) and how life goes on.

There’s always somewhere to go, something to do, someone to compare yourself to on social media,” he reflects. The love the author felt for his dad was clear with the anecdotes and descriptions, there wasn’t a need for obvious elaboration. Other people do the DNA Journey and find they are related to royalty, and in a way I suppose I am too.

With each chapter headed by a quote from his dad, Allen explores his relationship with his father as a way of attempting to come to terms with his grief and its complexities. Tom Allen's unique style of sharp, acerbic wit and camp, riotous storytelling has seen him become a household name in the UK. The comedy started just a minute in when Matt introduced Tom, with the stand-up star replying: "It's a real thrill. It wasn’t bad some funny moments but I read his first book and this just seemed like a collection of stories that didn’t make the cut.He’s currently performing warm-up gigs before going on the road in February with a new standup tour, Completely. Living with his father, learning from his father, still hearing the echo of his voice laid down some of the core foundations that made Tom the man that he is today. I feel passionate about making people laugh and giving them a chance to smile and laugh at the world. The book was written as Tom grew up, as we live in the same area, the references to places within Bromley really resonated.