Tulisa Contostavlos has one of the most fascinating and shocking life-stories in show business. Her childhood included harrowing episodes of self-harm, bullying, witchcraft, drug abuse and suicide attempts. Then there has been the ever-present challenge of her mother's mental disorder which Tulisa--as the only child in a single-parent family--had to face alone. How did she rise from such a troubled and dangerous childhood to become first an edgy urban artist and then the much-loved people's princess of Saturday night television? And how authentic is the "street girl" image that is such a key narrative of her official story? This book, written by leading celebrity biographer Chas Newkey-Burden, tells her eventful and inspirational story for the first time. It uncovers the rich show business heritage of her ancestors and then follows her through her childhood, unflinchingly examining the horrors she faced. It then traces how music became her salvation, thanks to the loving mentorship of Uncle B - the man who formed N-Dubz. The book then follows this never satisfied, always ambitious young woman as she moved into the mainstream and became the nation's sweetheart on The X Factor. The reader is taken behind the scenes to discover the reality of her successful first series on the show, as she guided Little Mix to victory.

A polish bear in World War II rose to the rank of colonel. Penguins can't taste fish. The ashes of the man who invented the pringles container are buried in one. Houseflies buzz in the key of F. 'hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia' is the fear of long words. These are just 0.1% of all the facts in this incredible tome! Written by seven authors and covering subjects as diverse as The Universe, Art and Literature, The Natural World and Movies, The Colossal Book of Incredible Facts for Curious Minds is the ultimate trivia book! Why not amaze family and friends with the reasons pandas do handstands, the sinister source of the term 'rule of thumb', or that the patent for the fire hydrant was destroyed... in a fire. Every entry is weird, wonderful, inspiring and quite brilliantly, true!

A fascinating and entertaining collection of facts, quotes and stories, celebrating Sir David Attenborough's wicked sense of humour and astute wisdom. David Attenborough is a national treasure, known for his soothing voice, calming presence, passion for the natural world, and his humble, easy-going nature. Despite his incredible talent and influence, he tends to play it all down, one time stating that, 'I can't believe I'm still employed'. So if he won't celebrate himself, we'll have to do it for him. Filled with facts, tributes and anecdotes, as well as beautiful illustrations, this enormously positive book celebrates Sir David, providing a fascinating insight into his life as well as showcasing his brilliant sense of humour. Running chronologically, this book begins with his early days, to his first job at the BBC, to eventually becoming the most esteemed naturalist on the planet, as he is today. Such revelations include: - There are 18 plants and animals named after him - When asked by a reporter how many degrees he had, he said it would be 'rude to count'* - The single thing that would improve his quality of life is 'good, workable knees'. Blending his quips galore with his powerful messages on the environment and future of the planet, this timely book showcases everything we love about Sir David, making it the perfect gift for any fan. * He has over thirty!

Amy Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil's wild romance has gripped the nation. It has been a dramatic relationship from the start: the turbulent musical genius met the hedonistic likely lad in a north London boozer and together they have had a rollercoaster ride. But when Blake ended up in prison it was all over. Or so we thought - The story of Amy and Blake has been dominated by lurid stories of bust-ups, drugs and drama. Their worried parents feared daily that their children would die - even after they married in Florida. Every step of the way has been lived out in the unmerciful glare of the media and yet the couple seemed as unable to be without one another as much as they struggled to stay together. Following Blake's sentencing to a term in prison, Amy appeared ever more lost, interrupting chaotic live performances with heartfelt pleas for her other half. And yet, on his release, the pair divorced - This is the inside story of their rocky relationship.

An updated biography of the man behind the brilliant cuisine of three-Michelin-starred the Fat Duck--voted Best Restaurant in the World by fellow chefs Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal is a gastronomic alchemist who sees the kitchen as a laboratory where he loves to experiment with new ways to tantalize diners' taste buds. The story of his life is every bit as colorful and attention-grabbing as his famous snail porridge and bacon-and-egg ice cream. This biography traces his journey from a life-changing childhood holiday in France, through to his brief apprenticeship in Raymond Blanc's restaurant where he stood up to a kitchen bully. It then follows him as, constantly pushing the boundaries of his work, he reached the top of his profession and was knighted by the Queen. Here is the full inspirational story of the enthusiastic, self-taught genius who turned the world of cuisine on its head.

A soul-singing sensation and inspiring testimony to the rewards of perseverance, Alexandra Burke is the most exciting musical star to emerge in the United Kingdom for many years. This revealing biography chronicles how she rose from a childhood sharing her bed with her sister in a cramped north London flat to winning The X Factor and romping to the top of the charts. Alexandra faced countless obstacles including the wrath of jealous classmates and the heartache of her parents' separation when she was just six. She overcame everything and by the time she was a teenager she had sung on-stage to live audiences, to primetime BBC1 viewers and down the telephone to an impressed Stevie Wonder. Then came her X Factor journey that saw her reach the final seven of her category in the 2005 series before being sent home by Louis Walsh. Three years later she entered the show again and sailed to the final where she was crowned the winner. As her fame grew a former lover come out of the woodwork to haunt Alexandra. She also had to save her mother's life when she collapsed in front of her.