What The F**k is Normal? out next year

Francesca Martinez has signed a deal to write her first book, based on her live show What The F**k is Normal?

The autobiographical book, to be published in June next year, is described as the comedian’s ‘personal, funny and insightful’ look at being labelled abnormal because of her cerebral palsy.

Virgin Books editorial director Kate Moore, who bought the worldwide rights, said: ‘She's full of passion for her debut and has enthused the whole of Random House about her important – and very funny – book. I can't wait for Francesca's many fans to read it and I know it's going to win her many more.’

Martinez writes: ‘After a very happy childhood, I strode into high school as a wobbly, fashion-deprived teenager and was promptly transformed into an unhappy, insecure wreck who desperately wanted to be seen as normal by my bitchy classmates.

‘Five years on Grange Hill, one stand-up comedy workshop and a passionate love affair later, I finally realised I had the power to stop judging myself by society's standards and create my own.’

The publisher said: ‘[This] is Francesca's attempt to stick two shaky fingers up to the superficial values around her by refusing to be labelled abnormal, normal, or anything other than Francesca.’

Published: 21 Aug 2013