Taking Hollywood takes over Glasgow

I have to say, coming into Heathrow and seeing my novel on the bookshelves was a huge thrill.

But it didn’t make me as proud as arriving at Glasgow Airport and spotting it there, too.

Although, as usual when I’m home, it didn’t take long to have my ego bruised. Within 15 seconds, a passer-by saw me admiring my handiwork and said: “Well done, Ross the Boss, we’re proud of you. But I never knew you could read, far less write.

“I thought if you brought a book out it would come with crayons.”

Cheers, pal.

I had a little taste this week of how the stars feel when they’re interviewed over and over again. It got to the point where I couldn’t remember if I’d told the same story twice in the one interview.

One chat I won’t forget was when a radio DJ introduced me as Ross Kemp and said my book, Taking Hollywood, was called Talking Hollywood.

I don’t know if it was my Cockney accent that confused him or my bald napper, but I stopped him and said: “This isn’t live, is it? Well, I think you better start again in that case!”

I also called in to the STV studios, where I could have spent hours in the reception looking at the photos of shows from the past, including my comedy heroes Jack Milroy and Rikki Fulton as Francie and Josie.

I hope no one notices the blank space on the wall where the picture once was!

I filmed with my old Good Morning Britain colleague Gerry Cassidy for STV Glasgow show, My Life in 10 Pictures, which was quite emotional. And I also had the chance to meet up with another former co-worker, David Farrell, who I knew as DJ Romeo on Radio Clyde, when I appeared on The Riverside Show.

It was nice to go back to the Clyde studios, where it all began for me, to do an interview with John Leslie for The Greatest Hits Network.

The night of the book launch couldn’t have gone any better, either. My co-author, Shari Low, and I had a full house for the launch at Waterstones in Argyle Street, where the manager, Caron, looked after us very well. It was so busy they had to lock the doors and it was great to see so many faces from my past.

My old school chum, Kenny McKenzie, managed to embarrass me by telling everyone how I used to practice my autograph on my jotters. Yes, I’m afraid it’s true!

Paul Cooney, who employed me as a Saturday boy at Clyde, was also there, as were two other pivotal figures from my days on the radio station. Paul Young was the king of the voice-overs when I was there and taught me a lot, as did Sheila Duffy, who was a great interviewer.

Readers of a certain age will remember H2O, the Scottish band who had a big hit with Dream to Sleep in the early ’80s and featured Alan McGee, the man who discovered Oasis, as bass player. The group’s singer, Ian Donaldson, came along and as he was standing in the queue to speak with us he spotted we had named a chapter after his hit song. He was thrilled, but not as thrilled as I was when he presented each of us with a Tunnock’s teacake to help us through the rest of the signing.

Afterwards, the party continued at 29, one of the best venues in Glasgow, where we were treated like royalty by events manager, Michelle Mooney.

I had the chance to catch up with fellow Sunday Post columnist, the amazing June Field. Of course, I didn’t need to send her an invite because she knew I wanted her to be there.

Sorry, June.

Actually, June still hasn’t forgiven me for the time I told her that my dad was a medium. How did I know? Well, it said so on his underwear.

In all seriousness, June is extraordinary. She’s given Brianna and I readings back in Hollywood and I was so impressed that I had her read my family here. She gave me the best news of the night when she told me she reckons the book will be such a success that there will be five in the series.

If that’s the case, I’d better get back to work!