Ricky Gervais: The Story So Far
by Michael Heatley
Michael O'Mara Books £18.99, pp224

Early in this 'unauthorised' biography, Michael Heatley reveals that 'Ricky has described his upbringing as "nice" and "normal" with no life-shaping traumas'. Does today's celebrity biography hold any real appeal if it doesn't include proof of childhood suffering, the standard preamble to success? Do we not demand the marriage break-up, the cocaine addiction and the eventual comeback?

Sadly for voyeurs, the laureate of cringe comedy has not had the classic angst-filled career. Diehard fans would probably like to know that he grew up on a Reading estate in the Sixties ; that he was the youngest of four brothers; that he studied philosophy before short-lived jobs, including being the manager of Suede. He was also in a band called Seona Dancing, whose two hits were big ... in the Philippines.

The only real edge comes in snippets from the funny man's TV appearances: 'Being half-English, half-French, I get the best of both worlds, which means I am crap in bed but at least I've got bad breath.'