No Shame

the hilarious and candid memoir from one of our best-loved comedians

By: Tom Allen

Narrated by: Tom Allen

'When I was 16 I dressed in Victorian clothing in a bid to distract people from the fact that I was gay. It was a flawed plan.'

No Shame is a very funny, candid and emotional ride of a memoir by one of our most beloved comedians. The working-class son of a coach driver, and the youngest member of the Noel Coward Society, Tom Allen grew up in 90s suburbia as the eternal outsider.

In these hilarious, honest and heart breaking stories Tom recalls observations on childhood, his adolescence, the family he still lives with, and his attempts to come out and negotiate the gay dating scene. They are written with his trademark caustic wit and warmth, and will entertain, surprise and move you in equal measure.

(P) 2020 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd©2020 Tom Allen

Critic reviews

Tom Allen is one of the funniest comedians in the UK, the best dressed man I know and now it turns out he is a superb writer. I hate him. (Josh Widdicombe)

Wonderfully funny, utterly charming and sharp as all Hell. Just like the man himself. (Sarah Millican)

This hilarious and touching autobiography is like a turbo charged episode of Terry and June. (Google it young people) . . . a delightful, touching side-splitter. (Jo Brand)

An absolute joy! Funny, witty and totally charming. You'll love him even more after reading this. (Alan Carr)

Tom's rich and unique comic voice bounces off the page beautifully (Matt Lucas)

This book is brilliant, funny and thoughtful just like Tom. I loved it! (Suzi Ruffell)

It's very funny but it is also heart-breaking and very sweet. It's everything you want in a book

This book is in turns extremely funny and achingly sad

Very funny as you would expect, but also quite sad sometimes...this is all about making all of us feel a bit less weird

A great read and very funny

It's a delight. It's funny and sweet and charming

I inhaled it, I absolutely loved it (Claudia Winkleman, BBC Radio 2)

Tom recounts the peaks and lows adolescence... all suffused with his trademark caustic observational wit

Wonderful!

I first saw you on Mock the Week. I really enjoy your comedy, especially your delivery. I watch YouTube videos to see you but someday hope to venture across the pond to see live in concert.

Charming!

One of the best memoirs I’ve listened to. I laughed a lot and shed. some tears as well. The man has a poignant story to tell and does it with great humor and grace.

Laugh out loud

Listened to this 3 times already and no doubt will do again. Thank you Tom for cheering up the day.

Cried laughing

What can I say? I'm a fan. Tom Allen's sense of humour is genuinely brilliant. I recommend to anyone who loves a more intelligent British style of comedy, with odd naughty bits thrown in for good measure. So good.

Hilarious and Moving

Such a wonderful book to listen to, so funny and so powerful and hearing the author read it is such a treat! Already can’t wait for his next book!