| The 1980s was the best of times and the worst of times for the British tabloid press. Locked in a vicious war for readers it was a time when the phrase "anything goes" never seemed so apt. Privacy was invaded, stories made up and toes well and truly trodden on as Fleet Street's finest embarked on a period which, arguably, saw some of the best and worst reporting in the history of British journalism. And the paper that emerged from the contest with its head and shoulders way above the rest was the Sun. In Stick It Up Your Punter!, ex-national newspapermen Peter Chippindale and Chris Horrie take a behind the scenes look at the operations of the Sun and it's lewd, crude and brilliant editor Kelvin McKenzie. In the main, it's a tale of high farce as Chippindale and Horrie explain the truth behind stories including the rescue of a death-bound donkey from Spain and the infamous "Gotcha!" and "Freddie Starr Ate My Hamster" headlines. This humour is tempered, however, by more serious stories including the libel actions of Elton John and Jeffrey Archer against the paper. For anyone interested in the social history of Britain and the rise and fall of tabloid journalism this book is completely unsurpassed in it's depth and coverage. For those seeking light entertainment and Carry On style humour, there's plenty here to keep you amused. Stick It Up Your Punter is the finest book on British tabloid journalism ever written.
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