John Murray scoops new book of prank letters by Robert Popper

John Murray has snapped up a new book of prank letters by Robert Popper, who created Channel 4’s "Friday Night Dinner" and produced "Peep Show".

Publishing director Kate Hewson acquired world rights for The Elsie Drake Letters from Jo Unwin at Jo Unwin Literary Agency, and the book will be published on 24th October 2024.

"At 104 years of age, Mrs Elsie Drake of Granville Gardens, London, is the sixth oldest woman in Britain," the synopsis says. "But fed up with sitting in her armchair all day, Elsie is ready for new adventures. And so, armed with a computer she can barely operate, she fires off dozens of letters to everyone from the Prime Minister to Greggs Bakeries, to see if they can help."

Under the pseudonym Robin Cooper, the author also wrote the The Timewaster Letters (Michael O’Mara), and the follow-up, Return of The Timewaster Letters (Sphere). "Having basically lived as a 104-year-old lady for over a year, I can’t wait to finally unleash Mrs Elsie Drake and her wild letter-writing on the great British public," he said.

Hewson added: "The Timewaster Letters has always been the book I hold up as an example of a book that can make you cry laughing. So, I was completely delighted to discover that Robert has kept up his unusual hobby over the last twenty years, and even more delighted to discover that Elsie Drake is every bit as hilarious, chaotic and ridiculous as Robin Cooper ever was."