About The Book
“My dad would look at me, this daft kid. ‘You know,’ he’d say, ‘he’s got a head full of magic.’ He was right. There was something inside me, building up. I had only one thought – I want to perform.”
Will Mellor is one of British television’s best‑loved actors and entertainers, known for standout roles in Mr Bates vs the Post Office, Hollyoaks, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Coronation Street, Line of Duty and Casualty. A fan favourite on Strictly Come Dancing 2022, he reached the semi-finals before bowing out in the final dance‑off.
But Will’s path has been anything but straightforward. His story is one of exhilarating highs and devastating lows – a lad from Stockport, Greater Manchester, who by all logic shouldn’t have made it, yet whose grit, determination and the will to keep going refused to be extinguished.
In this no‑holds‑barred memoir, Will reflects with trademark honesty on the moments, relationships and turning points that shaped a turbulent life.
Beginning on the Strictly dancefloor – an emotional journey made even more powerful by the recent loss of his dad, Bill – Will travels back to his childhood in a loud and frantic council house with his mum and four older sisters, one of whom was mentally and physically disabled, and a father who spent time in prison.
It was in that house that Will first dreamed of stardom. He genuinely wanted to run away to the circus. But this working‑class kid from Stockport had no idea how to make those dreams real… until a chance encounter changed everything.
About the Author
Born in Bredbury, Greater Manchester in 1976, Will Mellor shot to fame playing Jambo in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks – a role which saw him gain a huge fanbase and led to roles in hit programmes like Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, Casualty, Where The Heart Is, White Van Man, Waterloo Road, Broadchurch, Line of Duty, No Offence, Celebrity Juice, In The Club, Coronation Street, more recently the critically acclaimed, BAFTA award winning ITV X Drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
Will has also been known to sing a song or two, reaching number 5 in the UK Charts with his debut single When I Need You and he recently released a heartfelt rendition of Bring Him Home in support of the When You Wish Upon A Star charity.
In addition to his extensive acting career, Will remains a familiar face on both TV and social media. Most notably, he co-created and starred in the social-first podcast series Two Pints with Will & Ralf, which has enjoyed five successful seasons between 2020 and 2025 and led to a sold-out live tour in 2024. He also wowed audiences on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2022.
While the North will forever be his home, Will lives in the South of England with his wife, Michelle, and their two children.
