Andy Richardson (writer)

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Andy Richardson is a British writer, promoter and publisher. He worked with the actor Pete Postlethwaite to ghostwrite his autobiography, A Spectacle of Dust (published Orion, 2011) and among other titles also ghostwrote John Lydon's I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right (published A Way With Media, 2020). He has worked at New Musical Express,^[1] where his cover features included Prince,^[1] Bono,^[2] Oasis^[3] and Radiohead.^[4] He has worked for numerous British and international newspapers and magazines. He publishes cookery books for Micheiln-starred restaurants.^[5] He promotes tours for a variety of rock stars, politicians, actors and other entertainers and public speakers.

Richardson had worked with Postlethwaite for two years on the actor's ghostwritten memoir, prior to its publication on 23 June 2011.^[6] It won encouraging reviews, with The Guardian's film critic Peter Bradshaw observing Richardson's sympathetic treatment and describing the memoir as "an extrovert, tender, charming and unselfconscious book, with some extraordinary, hell-raising and hair-raising anecdotes",^[7] and The Evening Standard noting that 'The closing chapter is deeply wrenching.'^[8] The book featured on The Sunday Times best-seller list and was recommended as one of its Books of the Year for 2011. The newspaper's tribute noted Richardson's contribution in finishing the book on behalf of Postlethwaite, who died prior to its completion. It reported 'The final chapter, as Postlethwaite succumbs to cancer, is immensely moving.'^[9]

Richardson has won a number of awards and nominations. He worked closely with Oasis during 1996–1998, becoming the first journalist to report on their worldwide hit (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, in exclusive interviews with Noel Gallagher.^[3] He is an investigative reporter and journalist, having completed assignments around the world.^[10] He assisted Benjamin Zephaniah with his autobiography, The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah before promoting subsequent tours for him.

As a food book publisher, he has worked with many of the UK's Michelin-starred chefs, at one, two and three-star level. In 2015, his company, Away With Media,^[5] published the debut cook book from Stephen Terry, entitled Inspired... By. Other chef books include those for Glynn Purnell, Brad Carter and Gareth Ward.

He has worked as a photographer with Michelin-starred chefs as Claude Bosi, from Hibiscus; Gary Jones, at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons; Michael Caines, at Gidleigh Park; Glynn Purnell, at Purnell's; Andreas Antona, at Simpsons; Sam Moody, at The Priory; and Hywel Jones, at Lucknam Park.

Richardson was a visiting lecturer in music journalism at Birmingham City University's school of media.

As a promoter, he specialises in acoustic and spoken word performances in theatres and arts centres. His tours have promoted such artists as Jason Donovan, Francis Rossi, John Lydon, former Home Secretary Alan Johnson, former Shadow Home Secretary Ann Widdecombe, the poet Benjamin Zephaniah, actor John Challis (AKA Boycie), Thunder and Dom Joly.

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