Author tells of new book on Phil’s TV show
Author appears on ITV daytime show supported by Gazette columnist Barbara Fisher
GAZETTE columnist Barbara Fisher has visited the set of ITV’s This Morning as interest in a book she helped produce gathers pace.
Barbara from Uxbridge, who has been writing the weekly BM@il column on our letters page for seven years, befriended nurse Phyllis Whitsell in 2004 and learned of her amazing life story.
Phyllis tracked down the alcoholic mother who gave her up for adoption and then, without ever revealing her true identity, spent nine years nursing the woman until her death.
Barbara encouraged Phyllis to get her story down on paper and assisted with the editing process.
The result was the book Finding Tipperary Mary, which goes on sale on Amazon next month.
After The Gazette featured the story in July it went on to make front page news in Birmingham, where Phyllis is from, and was picked up by the national papers and TV, while Hollywood director Ridley Scott’s film production company is one of five enquiring about the rights.
Phyllis was interviewed on September 28 by This Morning presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, with Barbara in the wings.
Barbara said: “The interview went well. I was able to stand behind the cameras and watch as a nervous Phyllis eventually found her feet and did a good job.
“The last couple of weeks have gone crazy with media offers still pouring in.”
While at the studio, Barbara and Phyllis got to chat to Falklands War hero Simon Weston who was another guest on the programme.
They also met This Morning showbiz presenter Alison Hammond, Big Brother presenter Rylan Clarke and TV agony aunt Denise Robertson, who told Phyllis she thought it was a good thing that her mother had never realised who she was, which was very comforting for her.
Turn to page 14 for this week’s BM@il.
The last couple of weeks have gone crazy with media offers still pouring in”