Author Tony Flood has released a new tell-all book, which is full of amusing anecdotes and revealing stories from his encounters with celebrities.

The first edition of My Life With The Stars was so successful that Flood has released an updated version which contains nine new chapters featuring stories about Elvis Presley, Kylie Minogue, George Best, Joan Collins, Frank Sinatra, Muhammad Ali and a host of other stars from showbiz and sport.

Flood’s previous publications include 2016’s Triple Tease, a spicy crime thriller set across Eastbourne, Bexhill, Peacehaven and Brighton, and the children’s book Secret Potion.

My Life With The Stars details plenty of stories about the stars, such as the showbiz pals who were targets for Eric Morecambe’s impish fun.

The mischievous Morecambe had a wicked sense of humour, both on and off stage – and some of his celebrity friends were on the receiving end, particularly Des O’Connor and the late Roy Castle.

Former Sky Television executive and Fleet Street journalist Flood, who lives in Eastbourne, says: “When I met Des he revealed Eric’s biggest put down. Des recalled ‘I once told Eric I had done a one-man show and he replied ‘let’s hope two turn up next time’.”

Fiona Castle, widow of popular entertainer Roy Castle, also tells how one of Eric’s pranks was at her expense after appearing with Morecambe and Wise at the Coventry Hippodrome where she was a dancer in the chorus.

She let slip to Eric that she would love to meet the multi-talented Roy, so some time later Eric invited her to a TV show to introduce her to him.

But he embarrassed her by saying: “Roy, this is Fiona, and she’s in love with you.”

She then learned that Eric had been even more outrageous when he had set up the meeting. He had told Roy: “I’ve got this sad little case coming to see you. She has braces and a pigtail – try to be nice to her.” But Fiona and Roy married a year later.

My Life With The Stars: Sizzling Secrets Spilled! has received glowing praise from singer Anita Harris, comedians Al Murray and Tim Vine and former world boxing champion Frank Bruno.

Anita Harris says: “Tony Flood has come up with virtually an A to Z of so many showbiz and sports stars from Peter Andre and George Best to David Walliams – and tells great stories about them.”

There’s tragedy in the book, too, as Flood recounts his exclusive interview with devastated Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar immediately after the Hillsborough disaster, and Bobby Charlton’s emotional memories of how Manchester United rose from the ashes of the Munich air crash.

More details about this book are available at http://www.celebritiesconfessions.com

Tony and his wife Heather will be donating part of the sales to Children With Cancer UK.

They are president and secretary respectively of the creative writing group Anderida Writers.

Tony says: “Everyone has book in them. We would be happy to help both those who wish to get published and those who want to write for fun.” He can be contacted at tflood04@yahoo.co.uk