The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

Our favourite time-travellin’, Dalek-stompin’, devil-slayin’, world-savin’ gal, Billie Piper is the subject of no less than three biographies in the next few months. As Billie’s final two-part Doctor Who story is about to begin on BBC screens this weekend and the press discuss her failed marriage and now divorce from Chris Evans, Hodder announced Billie will have her own autobiography coming out in hardback this October. Given the subject and timing this is what we in the book trade refer to as ‘surefire Xmas bestseller’ and I suspect a lot of fans will want to read what Billie has to say about her life and career thus far. Hodder obviously think so – Bille reputedly received a six figure sum for an autobiography of her 23 years.

Before then there are two unofficial paperback biographies coming out over the summer. Chris Stevens has the first biography of Billie coming out in July, while Neil Simpson has his biography detailing from her teen number one pop chart days through the marriage to acting in Chaucer roles and now household fame as Rose Tyler in Doctor Who.

And as Billie prepares to leave the role of Rose and a nation mourns, I will again help myself to another slice of Humble Pie (with whipped cream… Mmmm…cream…) for I was one of many old Whovians who thought it was a disaster when her casting was announced. Now I can’t imagine anyone else in the role; she’s had such chemistry with both Chris Eccleston and now David Tennant. And Rose has been far more than many traditional Who companions, often being the equal of the Doc in many situations, not least when she saves him and the world by facing down the might of the Daleks at the end of the first season. Yes, I am going to miss Rose Tyler and Billie, so you may find me skulking in my corner at FPI’s Edinburgh Batcave sneaking a read of her autobiography. To ease the pain let’s have another picture of Billie: