Details of Publication - Apex Publishing Ltd.

What a Life!: The Autobiography of Jim Whelan
	Author: Jim Whelan Classification: Autobiography/Television Sorry this book is Out Of Print	Brief Description: Many people may not have heard of actor Jim Whelan but he has appeared in some of the most iconic programmes on British television over the past four decades, from Crown Court and Last of the Summer Wine to The Royle Family and Heartbeat. What a Life is the story of one man’s passion for acting and his determination to follow his dream at all costs. From humble beginnings and an unpromising start, leaving school with no qualifications and few job prospects, Jim went on to enjoy a long TV career, receiving accolades from respected directors and working alongside such famous actors as Ray Winstone, Martin Clunes, David Tennant, Christian Bale and Rod Steiger. This autobiography explains how a shy and insecure Salford boy went from being a dockland worker to become a recurring character in Coronation Street and documents the successes and disappointments of a jobbing actor. In this honest account of his life Jim spills the beans on some of the big name stars he has worked with and provides the reader with a fascinating insight to the television industry and some of the larger than life characters who inhabit the world of ‘soap’. This book is a riveting read that is certain to hold your attention from the first page to the last.

Special Note: This book is now out of print.

About the Author: Jim Whelan was born in 1942 and grew up in post war Salford. The second of five children in a first generation Irish immigrant family, Jim left school at the age of 15 without any qualifications to work on Manchester Docks.
A youth club worker kindled an interest in acting and despite having no training, Jim went on to become a club entertainer and Redcoat at Butlin’s Holiday Camp, progressing much later to parts in theatre and television. In spite of several disappointments when coveted roles failed to materialise and frequently having to take other jobs to pay the bills, Jim has continued to follow his dream, working alongside many famous actors during his 50 years in the entertainment business.
Jim has appeared in Coronation Street during each of its five decades playing different characters and is probably best known for his role as the Reverend Todd. During his long career, Jim has appeared in a number of iconic series including The Liver Birds, Crown Court, Cracker, Heartbeat, Emmerdale, The Royle Family, Blackpool and Last of the Summer Wine. He has also had film roles in Velvet Goldmine, Snake Eyes and There’s only one Jimmy Grimble.
Jim is married with two grown-up children.

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Downloads:
Publication Date:	27 July 2011
Digital eBook ISBN 13:	978-1-908548-21-4
Digital pdf ISBN 13:	978-1-908382-59-7
eBook Price (UK):	£5.99
eBook Price (USA):	$9.76
	Based on Amazon's Kindle Store

-- Reviews by the Famous and well Known

I have just finished reading Jim's book, and enjoyed every word. I can sympathise with his triumphs and disasters, as we've all been through it. Jim's style of writing made it a joy to read.
Dave Dutton, Actor

I first met Jim back in the early seventies at Oldham Rep - and I always enjoyed working with him. We've met up now and again down the years, and he always has a colorful tale to tell. This book shares many of these stories, and gives an insight to his varied career and life.
Roy Barraclough MBE, Actor

Jim and I have been the best of pals for the past 40 years and have worked together in most fields of ‘The Business’, I found his story fascinating and learnt a lot about him I didn’t know. One of my most cherished memoriesof Jim is doing panto together. This book will be enjoyed by all readers who will find his story interesting.
David Williams, Actor

-- Newspaper and Website Reviews

WHAT A LIFE!
The Weekly News

WHAT A LIFE!
The Sunday Post

WHAT A LIFE!
Tenby Observer

WHAT A LIFE!
Rochdale Style Magazine

WHAT A LIFE!
Oldham Evening Chronicle

WHAT A LIFE!
Lancashire Life Magazine

E-BOOK STORY OF JIM'S LIFE
VETERAN Bury TV actor Jim Whelan has fulfilled his latest “role” with relish after swapping the clapperboard for the keyboard.
For in just six months, after attending a senior citizens’ writing course at the town’s adult education centre, he has had his autobiography What a Life! published as an e-book.
After starting his career in the amateur theatre and repertory in Oldham, 69-year-old Jim went on to appear in some of the most iconic programmes on British television.
During the past four decades, his credits have included Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Last of the Summer Wine, Heartbeat and The Royle Family.
Additionally, he has received accolades from respected directors and has worked with such luminaries as Ray Winstone, Martin Clunes, David Tennant, Christian Bale and Rod Steiger. Jim has also had film roles in Velvet Goldmine, Snake Eyes and There’s Only One Jimmy Grimble.
Father-of-two Jim, of West Drive, has carved out something of a TV niche by cornering the market for playing men of the cloth on around half a dozen occasions.
He conducted a marriage ceremony in Emmerdale and another two in Coronation Street, including the fiery wedding of Steve and Karen McDonald.
Reflecting on his life as a jobbing actor, he said: “This was something I’d always wanted to do and the main reason why I’ve never had a proper job.
“In the early ‘60s, I was a club singer and comedian. My first TV appearance was on Family at War and then I was an extra on Coronation Street in around 1964.”
Jim was encouraged by adult education centre tutor David Willis to chronicle his life and career in words. “We’ve all got one story and I was told that I should write something about my last 50 years. I did it on a computer and the autobiography runs to 55,000 words.”
Subsequently, he got in touch with a literary agent and that helped him secure a publisher, Apex.
What a Life! is only available as an e-book on all major sites, including a kindle edition from Amazon.
Bury Times

If you want to know what it's really like on the set of Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Britain's favourite soaps, Jim Whelan's the man to ask.
Having left school a shy lad with no qualifications and become one of the few actors to appear in Corrie in the '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and Noughties, this book also proves anyone can make it if they're determined enough.
Craig Campbell, The Weekly News

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BBC Radio Lancashire 95.5 FM

-- Radio and TV

16 August 2011 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on BBC Radio Manchester 95.1 FM. Jim answered questions about his book 'What a Life!'
BBC Radio Manchester 95.1 FM

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16 August 2011 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on BBC Radio Leeds 92.4 FM. Jim answered questions about his book 'What a Life!'
BBC Radio Leeds 92.4 FM

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16 August 2011 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on BBC Radio Jersey 88.8 FM. Jim answered questions about his book 'What a Life!'
BBC Radio Jersey 88.8 FM

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16 August 2011 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on BBC Radio York 103.7 FM. Jim answered questions about his book 'What a Life!'
BBC Radio York 103.7 FM

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16 August 2011 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on BBC Radio Stoke 94.6 FM. Jim answered questions about his book 'What a Life!'
BBC Radio Stoke 94.6 FM

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16 August 2011 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on BBC Radio Bristol 94.9 FM. Jim answered questions about his book 'What a Life!'
BBC Radio Bristol 94.9 FM

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18 August 2011 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on Talk Radio Europe. Jim answered questions about his book 'What a Life!'
Talk Radio Europe

23 August 2011 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on Leith 98.8 FM. Jim answered questions about his book 'What a Life!'
Leith 98.8 FM

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28 August 2011 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on BBC Radio Manchester 95.1 FM. Jim answered questions about his book 'What a Life!'
BBC Radio Manchester 95.1 FM

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28 August 2011 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on BBC Radio Kent 96.7 FM. Jim answered questions about his book 'What a Life!'
BBC Radio Kent 96.7 FM

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3 September 2011 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on 'Act On This' The TV Actors Network. Jim answered questions about his book 'What a Life!'
Act On This - TV Actors Network

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31 August 2011 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on BBC Radio Essex 103.5 & 95.3 FM. Jim answered questions about his book 'What a Life!'
BBC Radio Essex 103.5 & 95.3 FM

11 October 2011 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on BBC Radio Lancashire 95.5 FM. Jim answered questions about his book 'What a Life!'
BBC Radio Lancashire 95.5 FM

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October 2011 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on Salford City Radio. Jim answered questions about his book 'What A Life'
Salford City Radio

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12 October 2011 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on Swindon 101.5 FM. Jim answered questions about his book 'What a Life!'
Swindon 101.5 FM

16 October 2011 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on Swindon 101.5 FM. Jim answered questions about his book 'What a Life!'
Swindon 101.5 FM

13 December 2011 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on BBC Radio Three Counties 90.4 FM. Jim answered questions about his book 'What a Life!'
BBC Radio Three Counties 90.4 FM

Apex Media Player

21 May 2013 - Jim Whelan was interviewed on 'Salford City Radio 94.4 FM'. Jim was interviewed about his book 'What a Life!'
Salford City Radio 94.4 FM

I started to read this ebook, and couldn’t stop. I was amazed by the many and varied people who Jim has been lucky to work alongside, and the respect and warmth of his feelings for his colleagues is obvious. He has lived a dual life, working as a taxi driver and shopkeeper to support his family, at the same time as leading what some people would regard as a fantasy life in the world of the celebrity.
What makes this book special for me, apart from the fact that Jim was brought up in my home City of Salford is that, he is such a lovely man himself, and is oblivious to the fact that those he worked with had mutual respect and admiration for him too.
This humble man tells his story in a very warm and interesting way. What a great read!
Jill Bowyer, Salford City Radio 94.4 FM (Presenter)

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