Podcast spin-off to be published in October

Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe have signed a publishing deal for a book based on their hit podcast Parenting Hell.

The title, about ‘the madness, absurdity and utter chaos of being a parent’  will be published in hardback on October 13/

Beckett said: 'For all those people out there with hot tired ears. It’s time to give your eyes a run out. There’s loads of new stories about our kids and failures at life. Plus you will hear from my parents and Lou. Mainly to take the pressure off me with the word count. It’s a family affair.’

Widdicombe added:  'Now we have been given a book deal it is probably the time for me to admit to myself that complaining for an hour a week to Rob about my life has become the most successful thing I have done in 14 years in comedy.

‘I can only imagine how much people will love it now they can read our moaning in book form rather than having to hear it coming from our annoying accents’.

But for fans who do want to hear it in their ‘annoying accents’, an audiobook will be released as well as the hardback and ebook.

The Parenting Hell podcast boasts 3.5 million downloads a month, totalling 55 million so far. And Widdicombe and Beckett are to perform a live version of the podcast in six arena dates next year - see below for listings and tickets.

Blink Publishing – which acquired the rights from the pair’s agents Off The Kerb - say that the comedians will ‘share the challenges and madness of their parenting journeys with lashings of empathy and extra helpings of laughs’ in the book.

The blurb adds: ‘Filled with all the things they never tell you at antenatal classes, it's a charming mixture of humour, rumination and conversation and is aimed at prospective parents, new parents, old parents and never-to-be parents alike.’

Publisher Matt Phillips said: 'With the Parenting Hell podcast, Josh and Rob have helped millions of people (and not just parents) face the madness, absurdities, and utter chaos of their daily lives. It is a guilt-and-shame-free zone filled with kindness, laughter, and the occasional 3am wake-up call.

‘I can’t wait for everyone to read the book, which reflects all the heart and humour of the podcast, but also goes beyond to a generation of parents wondering if everyone else is making as much a hash of it as they are.'

Parenting Hell Live Arena dates 2023

April 14: Manchester AO Arena. Tickets
April 19: Nottingham Motorpoint Arena. Tickets
April 20:  Cardiff Motorpoint Arena. Tickets
April 21: The O2, London. Tickets
April 23: Ovo Arena Wembley. Tickets
April 28: Birmingham Utilita Arena. Tickets

Published: 26 Apr 2022