Alan Carr: 'I gobbed on Kylie'

By Sarah Jane Griffiths
Newsbeat entertainment reporter

Alan Carr launches his new book Look Who It Is at Waterstones in London

Alan Carr has said he hopes people aren't expecting him to be confronting too many demons in his new book.

The comedian is currently embarking on a book signing tour for his autobiography Look Who It Is.

"I think people would be disappointed if they expected me to be all deep. I think people like me being shallow, don't they?," he said.

Alan says the best bit about writing the book was revisiting his childhood growing up in Northampton.

'Worst haircuts'

One episode he distinctly recalls was raiding the family album for the obligatory embarassing photo section.

"I was cute once. My poor mum though - she's got the worst hair cuts ever, poodle perm, demi-wave, choppy bob," he said

"They're all vile, and I'm like mum I've got to put one in, people are going to think I'm an orphan. So I put the least minging photo of my mum in and it's still minging."

Mariah Carey wanted me and Justin to be in her next video and we were like Oh My GOD! Alan Carr on Mariah Carey

Alan's dad managed Northampton Town FC when he was younger, but Alan says he wasn't exactly one of life's naturals at the game.

"It's funny now I can laugh at it, but at the time it was a bit grim," he said.

"My grandad played for West Brom, I had uncles playing. When your dad's a manager you'd walk around the town centre and people would go 'Hello are you good at football?'

"I'd go no I'm not, and they'd look at me like I was Rosemary's baby - 'You've created a monster!'"

Alan admitted that initially he had reservations about writing a biography because of his age.

He said: "I'm so proud of the book, I want everyone to see it. They asked me to write it and originally I said no, I'm only 32 and I've got my whole life ahead of me.

"Then I saw all the people who've written one, like that bloke Pete with the Tourettes from Big Brother has written a book and I thought, well at least mine might be a little bit funny."

Famous people

Alan's show Celebrity Ding Dong is back for another series on 10 October.

It pits celebrities against each other and Alan says he's got used to working with famous people.

Although there are still some that have the power to render Alan star struck.

"I went to see Kylie's gig and I'm sitting there and get a tap on the shoulder and they say Kylie would like to meet you backstage," he said.

"So I'm dead nervous and go into her dressing room and she pretends to lift her glasses, does an impression and says, 'It's me, Alan'. That is absolutely amazing.

"I just can't imagine Kylie sitting there in her gold hot pants watching the telly.

"I've met her a few times. I talked to her very drunkenly at the Brits and I swear I gobbed on her face because I was so drunk. Not deliberately, but you know when a bit comes out. Spittle it's called."

Celebrity frienships

After securing plenty of celebrity co-hosts on The Friday Night Project and now The Sunday Project, Alan's managed to forge a few celebrity friendships too.

"Jamie Oliver, Chris Moyles, Jessie Wallace. Obviously none of the A A listers," he joked.

"Mariah Carey said she wanted me and Justin to be in her next video and we were like Oh My GOD!

"And then I saw the next video on MTV and I hadn't even had a phone call!"

Alan Carr told Newsbeat about backstage tales with Kylie Minogue

Alan says the wish list of celebrities for the show is still endless.

He added: "George Michael - he would be so great but he's not keen on the show as we're always taking the mickey out of him. Kylie of course.

"If we could get Posh and Becks, that should be the last one ever as I don't think you can beat that one. Unless Michael Jackson and Madonna want to do a two hander, with Britney doing the coat of Cash."

Alan says his celebrity status has rocketed too and he does get stopped in the street a lot.

"I went to a Rufus Wainwright gig and Helena Bonham Carter was two rows down and she didn't get a single person come up to her.

"I had a queue who were like 'Alan can you sign my breasts?' Could be worse couldn't it? They could be putting dog muck through my letter box!""

Look Who It Is is out now.