Like many comedians, Alan eventually found the love and attention he craved when he became a stand-up comic. And I also contribute my thought, that when someone does have the courage to tell their story I hope they are fortunate enough to have someone who really listens and believes them and acknowledges the trust placed in them. Alan Davies - Jonathan Creek, the curly-haired good-natured fall guy of QI - the comedian - with excellent Aussie-accent - Oh, Alan. I’ve quoted from the transcript at some length to convey the awkwardness of the moment and the bizarre premise of the whole interview.

Having the presence of these people in your life who look at you like nobody else does and really do care about you – to feel that love coming your way is really something.

The memories of happier times in Davies' childhood with his mother juxtaposed his life following her death, which were a moving yet tragic tribute to her. I spent most of this book wanting to reach through the pages and give him a hug, all the while overwhelmed by his bravery. Just Ignore Him is not only an autobiography, it is a testament to a survivor's resilience and courage. So hold on – do you not want [even] any reference [to the abuse] in the piece without me asking you any questions?

When Spectrum was offered the interview, there were no restrictions on what could be asked – indeed, the publicist's letter explicitly refers to "the abuse from his father" whom Davies years later "takes to court".According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Davies was reluctant to engage in press work for the book, wishing his audience to discover the nature of its subject matter through reading it. Support is available for those who may be distressed by phoning Lifeline 13 11 14; Mensline 1300 789 978; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636. Come down the travelators, exit Sainsbury's, turn right and follow the pedestrianised walkway to Crown Walk and turn right - and Coles will be right in front of you.

The most poignant part of the book for me was this line “I know he won’t ever go away, not until I’m dead. I explain the abuse has been mentioned by his Australian publishers when this interview was offered to Spectrum. As an actor, it's possibly surprising that he hasn't developed a script to deal with how to talk about this trauma. His extended family maintained a façade of middle class respectability which prevented even the death of his mother much less the possibility of his father’s perversion to be revealed. Davies has appeared in almost every regular episode of the show, though in one episode (Episode 10 of Series D, "Divination") he appeared, pre-recorded, in only the first few minutes, as he was in Paris attending the UEFA Champions League Final between Barcelona and his beloved Arsenal during the recording.Stephen Fry told me Moby Dick is a great novel but I’ve tried it twice and given up both times before they get on the boat. The Sunday Times chose it as the best film and theatre book of 2020, in their list of "The 37 best books of 2020". I had no idea that his mother had died when he was six, or that his father had sexually abused him, as well as emotionally manipulating him and his siblings. a very heavy, heartbreaking read, but a necessary one nonetheless that i hope will inspire others to tell their stories. At its core, which permeates almost every page, is the greatest betrayal – after his mother died of leukaemia, when she was 38 and he was six-and-a-half, his father sexually abused him from the age of eight to 13.

This book teaches us that kindness and humour are not only attractive qualities of one’s character but they are also essential for one’s survival. This may result in small marks to the dustjacket and title page, please also bear in mind that each signature will be a little different from the one we show here.

In fact it wasn’t until many years later, when his step mother gave Alan a bag full of pornographic pictures of naked teenage boys engaged in sexual act, that Davies plucked up the nerve to lay the ghastly childhood trauma by going to report the abuse to the police. I have no doubt that his father was a manipulative, horrible man, but Davies fails to acknowledge that the people around him treated in not a nice way at times because, frankly, he was acting like a complete shit. The book details the sexual abuse that he suffered as a boy from his father between the ages of 8 and 13. The letter refers to the death of his mother, his memories of her, as well as him emerging with a “survivor’s” resilience.