CHARISMATIC comic Alan Carr brought smiles to many a face in Peterborough yesterday when he dropped in for a book-signing event.
The Sunday Night Project and Celebrity Ding Dong star was at Waterstone's bookshop, in Bridge Street, to greet hordes of fans at the launch of his autobiography.
His appearance came on the second day of a nationwide tour to promote Look Who It Is! – My Story, and followed a visit to his home town of Northampton.
The queue to meet the comedian snaked throughout the store, and expectant fans gave him a warm and noisy welcome when he arrived.
And there was a plentiful supply of quips and one-liners to keep people smiling as he made sure everyone went home happy.
Among the first in line was 19-year-old Hannah Beamish, who made the journey from Huntingdon with friend Sophie Yates (22) especially to meet her comedy hero.
Hannah said: "I love Alan Carr, he's amazing. I think some people find him a bit annoying at first because he's quite loud, but he wins most people over with his humour in the end.
"It was lovely to actually meet him, and he was even funnier than I thought he'd be."
Service adviser Steph Kierman (22), from Wisbech, took a break from shopping to take her place in the queue of Alan Carr fanatics.
She said: "I'm a big fan of his, and I went to see him in King's Lynn when he was last on tour. He's just as funny in person as he is on the telly. He's just hilarious, and nice as well."
One of the rising stars of British comedy, Mr Carr grew up in Northampton and is the son of former Northampton Town football manager Graham Carr.
His first television appearance came on Channel 4's Friday Night Project alongside West Country comedian Justin Lee Collins, and he has since been rewarded for his growing popularity with his own comedy gameshow, Celebrity Ding Dong.
People waiting to meet Alan Carr , signing copies of his new book at Waterstone's in Peterborough. (8BD0930204) Picture: BEN DAVIS
Look Who It Is! tells the story of his rise from an awkward schoolboy in the '80s to one of the nation's best known television comics.
Mike Davies (21), a travel agent from Orton Waterville, Peterborough, has followed Carr's career since he first shot to fame, and said he was delighted to meet him in the flesh.
He said: "I have seen his stand-up a couple of times and I love his sense of humour, which really brings out the best in people.
"He really knows how to laugh at himself, and his facial expressions just kill me.
"I have never met a celebrity before, and I was a bit worried, but he was really cool."
The full article contains 457 words and appears in Peterborough ET newspaper.
