Sergeant pays back book advance

Sergeant has written two books for publisher Macmillan

John Sergeant has revealed he paid back a book advance worth tens of thousands of pounds because he could not face writing another memoir.

The former ITN political journalist told the Radio Times he gave the money back to his publisher because the book would have been too "boring".

"You can't go on writing the same book - not only is it boring, it's a terrific strain too," he said.

As well as a memoir, Sergeant has also written a book about Margaret Thatcher.

"What I was really expecting to do when I left ITN was to write books, because I had a two-book contract with Macmillan," the 65-year-old said.

'Mutual agreement'

"Had I been less well-known, I could have written a book on the history of the police, or something that would have interested me hugely, but all they really wanted was my memoirs."

He added he felt an enormous sense of relief when he had paid back the advance, saying he "felt incredibly free".

A spokeswoman for Macmillan told the BBC News website: "We cancelled the contract early three years ago by mutual agreement.

"Books only work when authors feel passionate about their subject, but sadly we couldn't find a subject that John felt sufficiently excited about," she added.

Sergeant is soon to be seen in new TV series John Sergeant on the Tourist Trail for ITV1.