Alison Maloney

With love affairs, class issues, glamour, great story-telling and social history, Mr Selfridgeis the biggest budget ITV-produced drama of all time. Beginning in 1909, Mr Selfridge follows a colourful cast of characters whose lives and fortunes are entangled with the founder of the magnificent department store. An American retail visionary, Harry Selfridge moved to London in 1906 with his family to build and open the most ambitious department store the world had ever seen. The drama is set at a time when women were revelling in a new sense of freedom and modernity. Harry wanted to indulge, empower and celebrate these women and so opened the doors of his opulent department store on Londons famous Oxford Street, changing the way the British shopped forever. This lavishly illustrated book is the official companion to the series. Written with a foreword by series producer Andrew Davies, the book takes fans on a journey through the world of Harry Gordon Selfridge. Rich with historical detail it explores the man himself, his relationship with his family as well as the store, its departments and changing fashions in the early twentieth century. Complete with hundreds of high quality photographs it takes a closer look at the cast and their characters before looking ahead to series three which will pick up in 1919, the point at which Harrys life really begins to unravel.

Magic moments and memories from the world capital of dance Ask a Strictly star at the start of their journey what their goal is and the chances are theyll say Getting to Blackpool. The iconic Tower Ballroom has been a Mecca to the ballroom dancing world since 1894, and Strictlys annual trip to the bright lights is a highlight of the series for contestants and viewers alike.Strictly Blackpool takes fans on a trip down memory lane, celebrating the most memorable routines from specials of the past and the dancers own Blackpool experiences, as well as a behind the scenes glimpse of how the BBCs flagship show is transported to the seaside town every year for the magical ballroom special. There is a fascinating look at the Tower Ballrooms amazing history and secrets - from the circus in the basement to the elephants that lived in the building and bathed on the beach - as well as special photos from the Towers archives.Bringing together the exciting history of the Ballroom and the magic of the annual Blackpool special, this beautifully-packaged book is a true celebration of Blackpools dance heritage, and a must-buy for any Strictly fan!

For No. 1 Mums everywhere, this is the perfect celebration of motherhood, filled with inventive ideas and clever tips and bubbling with joyful things. From chicken soup to Sunday roasts, bubble bath to balloons, No. 1 Mum pays tribute to the top 100 objects every mother will recognise, in a fun and handy book that promises to amuse and inspire in equal measure. Along the way, Alison offers great ideas to complement the objects top-ten ideas for travel games to play, a birthday cake recipe that will wow your childs friends, the perfect solution to the thorny school play costume dilemma in an entertaining and rewarding celebration of motherhood.

For the last 70 years, the guests of Womans Hour have been entertaining listeners with their compelling combination of wit, warmth, insight and humour. Womans Hour has interviewed many of the biggest female names from entertainment, politics, the arts and beyond.Words from Wise, Witty and Wonderful Women is a collection of quotes and extracts from 70 years of the Womans Hour archive, featuring some of the most memorable guests to appear on the programme, from Doris Lessing to Nora Ephron, Hilary Clinton to J.K. Rowling, and Bette Davis to Meryl Streep. Charting the social and political revolution that has taken place in womens lives over the past 70 years, as well as the perennial aspects of female life, such as love, family, relationships, the workplace, sex, ageing, and food, this delightful book shares fascinating insights and sage advice from the wise and wonderful women that have graced the Womans Hour airwaves over the decades.

Pope Gelasius, who canonized St George in 494, described him as one of those whose names are rightly reverenced among us, but whose actions are known only to God. The story of Englands Patron Saint is so encased in myth and legend that the truth of his remarkable life is unknown to the great majority of us.In many ways the attitude of the English, reflects the many contradictions in the story of St George and the growth of his legend worldwide. A Christian martyr, murdered by a Roman emperor in Palestine, he is a legendary dragon-slayer who saved a virgin princess from sacrifice - but not before insisting her entire town converts to Christianity. Yet he is also the model for mythical Islamic hero Al Khidr. He is the Patron Saint of England but never set foot on English soil and the legend of his knightly deeds came from the imagination of a bishop in Italy. In recent years, through national pride more than religious fervour, the popularity of St Georges Day has risen sharply, with more parades, parties and pub get-togethers than we saw in the latter half of the twentieth century.

El libro de las madres es el regalo ideal para el día de la madre, una alegre celebración del arte de ser mamá. Para las madres que disfrutan de la maternidad y todo lo que conlleva, este libro es una guia indispensable que contiene recetas deliciosas para elaborar la tarta perfecta o rapidos sandwiches de excursion, consejos para organizar las mejores fiestas para niños, trucos para mimarte cuando tus hijos ya se han ido a la cama, e incluso anecdotas y sabias perlas que otras madres han transmitido de generacion en generacion. ¡Ninguna madre deberia estar sin este practico y divertido manual!El libro de las madres es un manual en clave de humor para aquellas mujeres que deseen convertirse en la mejor madre del mundo. Un compendio de ideas, trucos y recetas para todas aquellas mujeres con hijos que disponen depoco tiempo y desean maximizarlo. La autora propone multiples sugerencias para que las madres puedan disfrutar de un rato agradable para ellas mismas, organizando un dia de compras con las amigas, elaborando coctelesa traves de refrescantes recetas o disfrutando de un nuevo look cambiando de peinado en la peluqueria.Ilustrado con divertidas imagenes que remiten a los años sesenta, aunque el texto va enfocado a las madres modernas de hoy dia.Lo mejor desde la invencion del pan de molde. OK Magazine

Bright Young Things is a thoroughly entertaining non-fiction account of the real Downton Abbey, which brings to life the historical backdrop of the series in an informative, fun and engaging book. As one viewer told The New York Times: Im just enjoying the show so much, I thought I needed to get a book about it. And I was watching [the historical scenes] and thinking, I dont know enough about this. So maybe I can learn something in the process.So step into a time of hot jazz and even hotter all-night dance halls, as Alison Maloney shares the gossip about life in the Roaring Twenties. Read all about it: high societys scandalous exploits, fresh new fashions, the Charleston dance craze, costume parties, talking movies and, of course, the feisty flapper. With chapters such as Makin Whoopee, Cocktail Hour and Upstairs, Downstairs, Bright Young Things takes a sweeping look at the changing society of the Jazz Age, as life below stairs vanished forever, loose morals ran riot, and new inventions made it seem anything was possible. Peppered with first-person accounts that convey the spirit of the era in the words of those who lived it, Bright Young Things is a scintillating celebration of a truly iconic decade.

Along with the fine art of queuing and proper tea, talking about the weather is the essence of Britishness. Were all a little bit obsessed by it. Will it snow this Christmas? Was this year really the warmest on record? And where on earth did raining cats and dogs come from? According to recent research, 94% of British people admit to having discussed the weather in the past six hours, while 38% say they have in the past 60 minutes. And Now, The Weather... is an almanac, a miscellany, and a celebration of our most famous obsession. Including beautiful illustrations, maps and line drawings, And Now, The Weather... is a perfect gift for the cloudspotter in your life.Features include:- The Lore of Weather myths, legends and old wives tales about the weather.- Lost in Translation Colloquial names for weather around the country, from Custard Winds to Mizzle. - Extreme Weather Bizarre events in the history of British Weather including red rain and a downpour of frogs and fish.- Plus tables showing record breaking sunshine, wind speed, rainfall, heat etc.