Listen to a sample
Playing Under the Piano: 'Comedy gold' Sunday Times
- Author
- Hugh Bonneville
- Narrator
- Hugh Bonneville
- Publisher
- Little, Brown Book Group
- Publish Date
- 13 October 2022
- Run Time
- 11 hours 3 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
- Genre
- Memoirs
- Rating
- 5.0 (1 review)
Not available in your country
We don't have the rights to sell this audiobook where you are. If it's already in your library you can still listen to it in My Books.
What to expect
Hugh Bonneville is one of Britain's most accomplished actors, whose credits include Downton Abbey, W1A and the Paddington films.
'Deliciously witty' Celia Imrie
'Utterly charming' Jack Whitehall
'Funny, touching, revealing' Gyles Brandreth
'A gorgeous book' Richard Curtis
'Beautiful. Touching. And funny' Gary Oldman
'Charming, joyous and entertaining' Griff Rhys Jones
'Shows a great verve for storytelling' The Independent
Hugh Bonneville is one of Britain's most accomplished actors, familiar to audiences worldwide for his roles in Notting Hill, the Paddington films and Downton Abbey. From getting his big break as Third Shepherd in the school nativity play, to mistaking a Hollywood star for an estate agent, Hugh creates a brilliantly vivid picture of a career on stage and screen. What is it like working with Judi Dench and Julia Roberts, or playing Robert de Niro's right leg, or not being Gary Oldman, twice? A wickedly funny storyteller, Hugh also writes with poignancy about his father's dementia and of his mother, whose life in the secret service only emerged after her death. Whether telling stories of working with divas, Dames or a bear with a penchant for marmalade, this is a richly entertaining account of his life as an actor.
Critics Review
-
It's a gorgeous book. It made me laugh out loud - and weep buckets
Esther Rantzen
-
A writer of considerable urbanity and wit. Gary Oldman says it is 'beautiful, touching and funny'. I agree.
Daily Telegraph
-
Comedy gold... I don't remember when I last read a book that gave me so many laughs... A riveting account of what it takes to be an actor
Sunday Times
-
Tremendously entertaining... if collapsing into laughter is what you need at the moment, then Playing Under the Piano could be the book for you... a delicious and endearing mode somewhere between utmost sincerity and utter bafflement
Observer
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
A great read
Graham Norton
-
An enormously entertaining memoir
Daily Mirror
-
The tone of Hugh Bonneville's autobiography is very much like the man himself - warm, charming, funny and thoroughly embraceable... There is a refreshing lack of narcissism in a narrative poised between detached observation and amused self-reflection... An enormously entertaining memoir
Daily Express
-
Really enjoyed this. Wonderfully funny and utterly charming - just like the man himself!
Jack Whitehall
-
By turns funny, touching, revealing - full of insights, delights and surprises. I couldn't have enjoyed it more
Gyles Brandreth
-
A gorgeous book. Warm, friendly, funny and sometimes surprisingly emotional. Very like Hugh himself
Richard Curtis
-
When other books have been forgotten, this one will be remembered. Hugh Bonneville's considerable talent for writing is on display page after page. Beautiful. Touching. And funny.
Gary Oldman
-
Charming, joyous and entertaining, just like Hugh.
Griff Rhys Jones
-
A collection of stories painting a brilliantly vivid picture of a career on stage and screen
Yorkshire Post
-
Bonneville is entertaining, with a clear-eyed view of his trade... Reliving it all so far with light and shade, bite and bonhomie, as a memoirist Bonneville passes the audition with flying colours
Mail on Sunday
-
You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll love Hugh even more
Woman & Home
-
Bonneville tells of his life with appealing modesty... he gives us plenty of backstage gossip
Reader's Digest
-
Witty and moving
Country Living
-
The Downton star proves himself to be a polished raconteur
Daily Telegraph
-
A beautifully poised memoir, both insightful and - occasionally - laugh-out-loud funny, with the gift for comic timing he reveals on screen and a sharp eye for detail... warmly engrossing
The Times
-
Bonneville's affable screen presence richly translated onto the page through anecdotes and adventures... there are many howling laughs in this frequently entertaining memoir
RTE Guide
-
Playing Under the Piano made me hoot
The Times
-
Though a funny raconteur, Bonneville also writes poignantly about his father's dementia and of his mother, whose life in the secret service only emerged after her death
The Gloss
-
Gloriously funny... Between the laugh-out-loud anecdotes are revealing stories of the less glamorous side of an actor's life, as well as poignant family memories
Daily Mail
User Reviews
Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
-
5.0 5.0
Such an interesting and hilarious book, full of little details, anecdotes, frustrations, joys, sadnesses, famous names and all those plays, films & TV series you remember, forgot about or never heard of. Amongst all the truly outstanding roles, I'm just glad one of them went to Iain Glen. The rest, I wouldn't have any other way.
Fenny 2026-06-01
Details
- Author
- Hugh Bonneville
- Narrator
- Hugh Bonneville
- Duration
- 11 hours 3 minutes
- Release Date
- 13 October 2022
- ISBN
- 9781405553926
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- Little, Brown Book Group
- Genre
- Memoirs
- Rating
- 5.0(1 review)
- Narration
- 5.0(1 review)
Synopsis
This exclusive recording includes 6 extended chapters that are unique to the audiobookHugh Bonneville is one of Britain's most accomplished actors, whose credits include Downton Abbey, W1A and the Paddington films. 'Deliciously witty' Celia Imrie'Utterly charming' Jack Whitehall'Funny, touching, revealing' Gyles Brandreth'A gorgeous book' Richard Curtis'Beautiful. Touching. And funny' Gary Oldman'Charming, joyous and entertaining' Griff Rhys Jones'Shows a great verve for storytelling' The Independent Hugh Bonneville is one of Britain's most accomplished actors, familiar to audiences worldwide for his roles in Notting Hill, the Paddington films and Downton Abbey. From getting his big break as Third Shepherd in the school nativity play, to mistaking a Hollywood star for an estate agent, Hugh creates a brilliantly vivid picture of a career on stage and screen. What is it like working with Judi Dench and Julia Roberts, or playing Robert de Niro's right leg, or not being Gary Oldman, twice? A wickedly funny storyteller, Hugh also writes with poignancy about his father's dementia and of his mother, whose life in the secret service only emerged after her death. Whether telling stories of working with divas, Dames or a bear with a penchant for marmalade, this is a richly entertaining account of his life as an actor.
About xigxag and the x-book®
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
Our x-book® format is the only fully integrated listen-and-read experience available. See the text on screen as you listen, look up words, take notes, search within the book, and share quotes. It is especially useful for accessibility, language learning, and getting more from non-fiction. Look for the purple x-book® ribbon on the cover, or filter your search by "x-book" to find them.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.