Seven Dials scoops Kemp’s ‘brilliantly funny’ tales from an unexpected life

Seven Dials has acquired Take Nothing for Granted: Tales From an Unexpected Life by Ross Kemp.

Vicky Eribo, executive publisher, acquired world all language rights to the “brilliantly funny” book from Alex Segal, managing director at InterTalent Rights Group. It will be published on 28th September 2023 in hardback, e-book and audiobook.

The publisher says: “From Albert Square to Afghanistan comes a collection of heartfelt, hilarious and candid life stories from actor and documentary maker, Ross Kemp. Famous for his portrayal of the ’EastEnders’ hardman Grant Mitchell and as the maker of documentaries exploring the most dangerous people and places on the planet, BAFTA-winning Ross Kemp is one of the UK’s most-loved TV stars. Here, for the first time, Ross shares tales from his remarkable life.

“From his childhood in Essex, where he used to pretend the woods and irrigation ditches in the fields behind his house were the Amazon rainforest, to finding himself travelling through the real thing 30 years later, Ross’s life has taken many twists and turns. Through it all there’s been no plan, no roadmap, no strategy. Ross has gone from one wild adventure to the next, and never quite known what’s round the corner.

“From getting lost at sea to setting a sacred island on fire, auditioning for his part on ’EastEnders’ to filming shows in active war zones across the world, these are the heart-warming, hilarious and hard-hitting stories of the unexpected adventures that have happened to Ross along the way. Warm, energetic and endlessly entertaining, it is a fascinating snapshot of a life lived to the full.”

Eribo said: “From our very first meeting I knew working with Ross Kemp was going to be a lot of fun. He’s had lots of publishing success before, but with this book, for the first time, he will be sharing some of his personal stories – and they are well worth the wait. Ross is an amazing storyteller, and this book is sure to delight and entertain in equal measure.”

Kemp said: “I’ve always been passionate about finding and telling stories, and trying to understand what makes people tick. And now, for the first time, here are mine. I’m not going to start at the beginning and tell them in chronological order because that’s not the way my brain works. Instead, this is a collection of tales, a snapshot of some of the many funny, scary and exciting things that have happened to me; the things that have made me who I am.”