The bumper Hot Press 2017 Annual features an in-depth natter with Paul Howard who, not content with collaborating with old mucker Ross O’Carroll-Kelly on Game Of Throw-Ins, has penned I Read The News Today, Oh Boy about ‘60s playboy and scion of the Guinness family, Tara Browne.
“Son of a peer, heir to the Guinness fortune, and the young man who first turned Paul McCartney on to LSD,” reads the cover blurb.
“He wasn’t just this social butterfly who floated across the London scene, he was a really vital figure,” Paul tells us. “You need someone to be the social grouting, if you like, and say, ‘Princess Margaret, have you met Mick Jagger?'”
As for Ross, Howard adds: “Lots of people ask if I was inspired by Adrian Mole, but actually it was Bridget Jones more than anything.”
With both Game Of Throw-Ins and I Read The News Today, Oh Boy featuring in the Irish bestsellers list, it's been one hell of a 2016 for the Dublin wordsmith.