Take Nothing for Granted: Tales from an Unexpected Life

by Ross Kemp

'Jaw-dropping experiences' - THE SUN

***

Readers are also LOVING Take Nothing For Granted . . .

'So so good! Am listening to the audio book and your stories are funny and fascinating!!' - READER REVIEW

'From the opening chapter I was hooked' - READER REVIEW

'this is a great book, its funny and moving all at the same time' - READER REVIEW

'Got it in audio . . . Ross's voice just melts' - READER REVIEW

***

'These are the stories of some of the things that have happened to the funny things, the scary things, the exciting things; the things that have made me who I am. I don't want to start at the beginning and tell them in chronological order because that's not the way my brain works. And this certainly isn't going to be one of those books of life lessons . . .

'I've always been passionate about finding and telling stories. And now, for the first time, here are mine.'

Famous for his portrayal of TV hardman Grant Mitchell and as the maker of documentaries exploring the most dangerous people and places on the planet, BAFTA-winning Ross Kemp is one of the UK's best known TV stars. Here, Ross shares tales from his remarkable life.

From his childhood in Essex, where he used to pretend the woods behind his house were the Amazon rainforest, to finding himself travelling through the real thing thirty years later, Ross's life has taken many twists and turns. Through it all there's been no plan, no roadmap, no strategy. Ross has gone from one wild adventure to the next, and never quite felt like he's fitted in anywhere.

From getting lost at sea to setting a sacred island on fire, auditioning for his part on EastEnders to filming in active war zones across the world, these are the heart-warming, hilarious and hard-hitting stories of some of the unexpected adventures that have happened along the way.

Warm, energetic and endlessly entertaining, it is a fascinating snapshot of a life lived to the full.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 28, 2023

Reviews

[Annette Goodyear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ross put some funny twists in this book. It was a really interesting read.

[bookloversclub2023 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a life Ross Kemp has had. This autobiography was so interesting, Ross is certainly more than just “Grant Mitchell” from Eastenders. In fact this book focuses more on other aspects of his life. He has been in such dangerous situations and it is so hard to believe you were reading someones life story and not a made up story.

I’ve watched some of his documentaries so it was really interesting to read the bits that weren’t shown on TV. The potential kidnappings, sleeping in trenches, bullets flying past his head.

I found this book so interesting and the five star review is more on the way it was written as you can’t put stars on someone’s life!

[Kellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a 5 star read 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I absolutely loved reading this book. It was so interesting to read. Some of the topics in this book are hard-hitting, but they need to be on the book to make people aware of what is happening in the world.

The way Ross speaks about individual experiences and people throughout this book with so much emotion and sympathy is amazing to read.

The experiences Ross has had in his life will stay with him forever, and some of these experiences have made him the man he is today.

Ross is a huge inspiration for the work and documentaries that he has filmed over the years. I really enjoyed reading about his childhood and how it wasn't easy to get to where he is now.

The chapter about Barbara Windsor was lovely, and their friendship on and off eastenders was a true blessing to them both. I love eastenders, and I am looking forward to Grant coming back into it. I have also watched a lot of the documentaries that Ross has done, and they are brilliant.

This book is so inspirational, and you can learn so much from reading this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone as it is absolutely amazing, and you get a fantastic insight into his journey.

[Chelsea May xxx · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so very interesting to read and some of the topics in this book are hard hitting but they need to be in the book to make people aware of what’s happening around the world. The way Ross speaks about individual experiences and people in this book with so much emotion and sympathy is amazing to read about he even feels sorri for some of the bad people. The experiences Ross has had in his life will stay with him forever and some of these experiences have made him the man he is today strange and courageous. He is is so an inspiration for the work and documentary’s he has filmed over the years. I really enjoyed reading about his childhood as it showed it wasn’t easy journey to get to were he is now he went though some hurdles and learnt some things the hard way. The chapter about Barbara Windsor broke me and had me sobbing my heart out as there friendship on and off eastenders was a true blessing to them both and the way her death affected really moved me. This book is so inspirational and so many people can learn from this book. Xxx

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant biography. I felt like I was actually sitting in a room with Ross. I think the audio book of this would be great!

This was Ross' story for the first time written down, some crazy stories from his life first as an actor and then making documentaries. Arguably, that side of his life when he makes documentaries is more interesting than when he was in Eastenders for such a long time!

I've watched some of his documentaries, but not all. I hadn't actually realised how much he has done in that side of things but it seems he has made hundreds of documentaries! Lots of them are detailed in the book and some hair raising and funny stories as well.

Very easy read, very good to pick up and put down with short chapters which is always a bonus. A Great format as well, not written chronologically which I think made it more interesting. He just gives us stories as he remembers them. Great read!

[Holly Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ross Kemp, what a fantastic insight into his journey well his life over the past few years. Actually reading this makes you think he’s actually achieved and done a lot since being in Emmerdale and Eastenders.

Some of the stories he tells you are quite funny
I’m suprised there isn’t much in there about how he met his wife or kids but I suppose it’s an autobiography about his work.

Well done Ross I must look at your other books x

[Susan Random · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't watch EastEnders, and neither have I seen any of the author's numerous documentaries, but I do enjoy a memoir. This was a series of short chapters telling stories from Kemp's life and extensive life experience gleaned from filming harrowing situations.

There's not a great deal about the man's private life nor his first marriage, which is fair enough, but it makes for a slightly disjointed narrative. Kemp's style of using footnotes on almost every page distracted from the prose.

[Aoife · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was younger I was obsessed with Ross Kemp’s documentaries. I thought it was so bizarre that he could pivot himself from a well known soap actor to a truth seeker and hard hitting investigative documentary maker and this book shares that journey, patching stories together of his time making it to Albert Square and switching the East-end for the Middle East and beyond.

It’s an interesting read for those trying to piece together the gaps between the actor and the documentary maker.

[Deborah Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ross Kemp comes over as a lovely guy and incredibly honest. However, I’m shocked by all the awful things that Ross has experienced and how much cruelty and evil that runs through our planet. To this day I do not understand how humans can treat a fellow human this way and how our beautiful planet is being destroyed. Greed and money surely can’t compare to the happiness that nature can provide us and love?

[Beachcomber · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Funny, serious, informative, reflective - an enjoyable and still thought provoking memoir by Ross Kemp, known for playing Grant Mitchell on Eastenders, making over 100 documentaries, and most recently, hosting quiz show Bridge of Lies. Fairly short chapters means you read quite quickly as it’s easy to “just do one more”…

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. The chapters flow into eachother but aren't necessarily in chronological order. What a career Ross has had! It's an insight into his personal experiences and his work life. Chapters weren't too long either. A great book

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn't expect to like this as much as I did. It's not an autobiography it's about all the highs and lows of his life. He comes across as a very genuine modest guy. I loved it one for my keepers list

[Susan Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, especially how the chapters are easy to read. It was a present, and from I started reading, it was hard to put it down.

[Nicky Bale · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insight into some of the dangerous places he’s been.

[Kelly Drain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big Ross Kemp fan, I’ve watched everything he’s been in. This was a fantastic read I thought I’d live it and I did!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read. Very much an eye opener to how the rest of the world truly lives.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

[Richard Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book of fun stories and anecdotes. Doesn’t take itself too seriously and perfect holiday read. If you like a footnote….you’ll love this book.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read , footnotes were a bit too frequent.

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a life. Jesus.

So many unexpected stories and it’s made me want to watch his documentaries again.

Always love reading about others lives.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never seen any of Ross' documentaries but for some reason this jumped out at me in the bookshop and I'm pleased I took the punt. It presents a different reading experience to most autobiographies as the subject's life is not presented in a linear way, for example a chapter where he discusses interviewing a head of a cartel could be followed by a chapter on a fishing trip in the Essex countryside when he was little. For most of the book I really enjoyed this fresh take but by the end I had started to find it a bit disorientating. Nevertheless, the effect is that we are earwigging on Ross' own authentic but haphazard trip down his memory lane, a feeling that is exacerbated by there usually being a thread which linked one chapter to the next. Therefore, although the topics of the two chapters weren't on the surface connected, you could follow Ross' train of thought in presenting them next to each other.

[Rich ✧ ✭ ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting overview of our TV favourite, Ross Kemp. What I like about Ross’s book was that it was different to your typical autobiography. It’s short chapters with short stories that cross-cut throughout his life. One chapter he’s a young lad, next he’s in a prison somewhere in the world interviewing dangerous thugs, then back to Albert Square, a story about college… and so on. They’re interesting stories told with humour and moving at the same time.

[Michelle (Clover Hill Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this unflinching account of a host of Ross ' experiences. From being in EastEnders, to becoming an actor, home life, to meeting a multitude of gangs and people whom most people would be grateful they'd never met...a page turning insight into Ross Kemp and his story and snapshots of the stories he has helped to put on the screen.

[Deborah Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, amusing how risk taking Ross and his younger brother were when children. Ross came over as a very kind decent man. Sadly, there is so much greed and corruption throughout this world. I honestly hadn’t realised just how much. I now know we shall never have world peace.

[Wmeakin459 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy the book, but it didn't delve into his life as I expected it would.

[MISS R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Got to love Ross Kemp. Very interesting & well written. Thought provoking, funny, heartbreaking & educational- all rolled into one.

[Marilyn Hardiker · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely read

I enjoyed reading Ross Kemps stories. I love how he links one story with the next and the next. Very brave to make those documentaries.

[JANE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

Excellent book. Enjoyed reading this book it was very interesting. Not really a fan of Ross Kemp but it was a good read

[Merlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting book about his time in tv