Chris Addison has signed a publishing deal for a novel and a book of comic verse.

The first title in his deal with Hodder & Stoughton is Cautionary Tales for Grown-Ups, which will be published in hardback in October.

In it, the twice Perrier-nominated comedian uses rhyme to rail against the dangers of modern behaviour ‘from crash dieting, to text messaging, to charging about town in a 4x4’.

Addison’s second book, the novel, will not be out until 2008.

Nick Davies, from Hodder & Stoughton said that Addison ‘reminds me of a young Stephen Fry – intelligent, eloquent, versatile and very, very funny’.

He added: ‘Chris has a very bright future as a comedian, actor, and now as an author.’

Addison said: ‘Like any good, middle-class boy I find myself spending an increasingamount of time seething about the imbeciles and ill-mannered goons thatwalk our streets. And like any good middle-class boy I'd far rathercomplain about it in a book of comic verse than have to confront these idiotsface-to-face.

‘So I'm delighted to have signed this book deal. I'm just not sure what to call it. I was thinking maybe: Is It Just Me Or Is Everyone AShit?'