Transworld wins Lost Voice Guy's first book

Transworld has won "a highly competitive" auction to publish stand-up comedian and "Britain’s Got Talent" winner Lee Ridley, aka Lost Voice Guy.

Ridley, who has cerebral palsy and uses a communication device to speak, says he been asked countless stupid questions about his disability over the years, from 'What’s it like to be disabled?' to 'Can you really not speak?' In his book, titled I’m Only In It For the Parking, he will use the best of these questions as a jumping off point to tell stories about his life and shine a light on disability.

As well as winning the 12th series of "Britain's Got Talent" in June, Ridley is a stand-up comedian with a sold-out Edinburgh Fringe show and forthcoming UK tour. He is a BBC New Comedy Award winner and the co-author of the Radio 4 sitcom "Ability", too, and in Transworld's words "perfectly placed to both entertain and challenge readers as he takes them on a funny (sometimes painfully funny) voyage of discovery around disability".

Ridley said: "I’m very excited to be writing my first book. It’s something I’ve wanted to do most of my life, so I’m delighted to be getting the opportunity, especially working with such a great team of people. I’m looking forward to telling everyone a lot more about me and life as a disabled bloke."

Transworld editorial director Andrea Henry said: "If you think you know exactly how to treat disabled people, and that this book is only for society’s idiots, then prepare to have your perceptions skewered. This is a book for you, too. For us at Transworld, I’m Only In It For the Parking feels like the right book at the right time – an enlightening and hilarious exploration of disability, with Lee’s brilliant storytelling at its heart. We’re really excited to be working with him."

UK and Commonwealth rights in I’m Only In It For the Parking were acquired from Diana Beaumont at Marjacq Scripts on behalf of Andrew Roach Talent. It will be published in hardback on 18th April 2019.