Neil Hanson’s humorous talks “Inn & Out at the Top” (about his time running Britain’s highest inn) and “The Ghostwriter” (about his ‘day job’ as a writer of other people’s books for them) have already been enjoyed by audiences all over the country, but in the years before he became a full-time author, Neil also had a multitude of other jobs and fledgling careers, and he’s now added a third humorous talk to his repertoire: “Champagne Breakfasts and Flying Pigs: How Not to Have a Career”. It draws on many more curious characters and tales of high life and low life, including a one-hit wonder with a surprising use for false teeth, a volatile chef’s unusual technique for tenderising steak, a thespian piglet, a booze up in a brewery, and how to flog a dead horse, dodge tribal warfare in a tropical hellhole, survive on a diet of beer and pot noodles and sell oil paintings of sausages for dogs. It’s all strange but true, and very, very funny.

• ‘We’ve had some good speakers over the years but that was the top of the pile.’ East Devon Luncheon Club
• ‘My husband laughed so much he was nearly crying!’ Society of Municipal Treasurers
• ‘A wonderful talk.’ Huntingdon U3A
• ‘Excellent, really enjoyable and entertaining.’ Everest Ltd.
• ‘Our members loved your talk and are probably still laughing.’ Tarporley U3A
• ‘I haven’t laughed so much in years.’ Audience member, Garforth U3A
• ‘The most entertaining speaker we've ever had.’ Sittingbourne Probus Club
• ‘The best speaker yet.’ Spalding U3A
• 'A huge hit with our audience, a great many enthusiastic and positive comments.' Ilminster Festival
• ‘A resounding success. Your delivery was very impressive, almost off the cuff.’ Spelthorne U3A
• ‘A great talk. Loads of compliments from people saying how much they enjoyed it! That’s unprecedented!’ Sheffield U3A
• ‘The best speaker I've ever heard.’ Audience member, Yate & Sodbury U3A
• ‘Very amusing and entertaining, wonderful feedback from our members.’ Potters Bar U3A
• ‘A brilliant talk, the best we’ve ever had.’ Leeds U3A
• 'Great talk, we enjoyed it very much.' British Association of Construction Heads
• ‘Superb, amusing and insightful.’ Yorkshire Countrywomen’s Association
• ‘Such an entertaining talk, polished, professional and greatly appreciated by the audience who thoroughly enjoyed themselves.’ Swanland U3A
• ‘Very eloquent and very amusing talk. Everyone has said how much they enjoyed it.' Bramhope WI
• ‘It really was a pleasure to host you. I have had nothing but positive responses – you really hit the right note.’ HMS Drake, Plymouth
• ‘Great to have someone who is so clearly at ease, not only with the subject, but also with presenting it.’ Holme Valley U3A
• ‘One of the best talks we’ve ever had.’ Cranleigh Probus Club
• ‘Our members thoroughly enjoyed your talk and your fluency and clarity.’ Bookham U3A
• ‘An entertaining and masterful performance.’ Bradford U3A
• ‘Best Speaker’ (vote by audiences), Brisbane Festival
• ‘Fantastic, a tremendous evening.’ Amanda Lydon, New York City
• ‘The best - and the best-received - of all the 100 events we have put on here.’ Pritzker Library, Chicago