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One of Them

From Albert Square to Parliament Square

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One of Them

By: Michael Cashman
Narrated by: Michael Cashman
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About this listen

Bloomsbury presents One of Them written and read by Michael Cashman.

LONGLISTED FOR THE POLARI PRIZE 2021

‘From the East End to Westminster ... A beautifully written, funny memoir’ Jo Brand

Growing up in post-war East London, the son of a docker and an office cleaner, young Michael Cashman’s life changed when he was discovered, aged twelve, and transported to the West End stage. Cashman would make history – first as an actor, one half of the first gay kiss broadcast on a British soap, BBC TV’s EastEnders, and then as a campaigner and politician, founding Stonewall with Ian McKellen, and embarking on a fight for gay rights across the world that would lead him and his partner Paul Cottingham from tea in LA with David Hockney to flying the rainbow flag over the Royal Albert Hall with Elton John.

One of Them contains as many multitudes as its author: glorious nostalgia, showbiz gossip and a stirring history of a civil rights movement. And above all things, it is a love story – a tender account of a partnership that changed the world.

©2020 Michael Cashman (P)2020 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Biographies & Memoirs Entertainment & Celebrities Politicians Politics & Activism Celebrity Inspiring Feel-Good Heartfelt Thought-Provoking
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Even though at times you feel like you follow in someone's footsteps, Michael's reassuring perception of just how lucky we might have been leaves you with a healthy and life-confirming sense of gratitude, and thankful for life's divergences.

What an achievement!

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Michael Cashman is more than an actor from Eastenders and his book is more than showbiz anecdotes.

It is a love story. A love of London, a love of show business, a love of equality, a love of Labour and the love of his husband Paul Cottingham.

Michael shares the highes and lows of a life well lived. Paul is as much a part of this book as is Michael.

He writes openly and honestly about love and loss and he narrates the book, injecting the emotion like a classical singer does at the opera.

I believe this book will be seen by futures generations as a snap of social history in the period we live.

Thank you Michael.

One of the best books of the decade

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This made me laugh out loud and almost reduced me to tears, a wonderful life, wonderfully read. The LGBTQ community owes an awful lot to this man read his story.

Fantastic

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Wow where to start? Michael is brutally honest about his life experiences. From a poor background in London to becoming a member of the House Of Lords. He tells his story and doesn't flinch with the details. Some of which are heartbreaking to listen to.

His appalling treatment at the hands of the very worst of the notorious British press and his battle to put an end to the truly awful discriminatory laws that demonised gay people, such as Clause 28 back in the 80s, under the Margaret Thatcher government. He co-founded Stonewall with Ian McKellen And Lisa Power to fight for LGBT equality.

Acting with some of the greats such as Elizabeth Taylor and in films also, to becoming a well known face and a household name in Eastenders. There are some laugh out loud moments, which got me odd looks heading back on my train to Liverpool. And Michael also shares with us his time spent with Paul, including his brave battle living with cancer. His pain of losing Paul is very apparent as their story together unfolds. This will bring a tear to your eye.

Michael has certainly lived one hell of a life and thankfully here he shares it with us. It's a great book and one that I won't ever forget reading and, I believe, nor will you.

Fabulous.

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Sharing such an amazing suite of stories, experiences, of love, loss, and life.

I knew little of this mans wonderful works, and life; heartbreaking, emotional, and so uplifting too.

Autobiographies are like punctuation, I do hope it is a semi-colon not a full-stop.

Wow.

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