Martine McCutcheon cashes in with new diary

Martine McCutcheon signed a six-figure deal today to write a diary of her years in the spotlight, inspired by Marilyn Monroe.

Publishing firm HarperCollins has snapped her up to write her “most intimate and honest recollections”.

The book – which follows an earlier autobiography – will also feature her own snapshots as well as specially commissioned photos.

The “personal diary”, to be published next autumn, will look at her life since finding fame.

McCutcheon found fame on EastEnders before launching a singing career and winning acclaim for her part in West End musical My Fair Lady, although her run was truncated due to ill health.

She said she was inspired to work on the diary after being given a book as a child about Monroe by Eve Arnold.

McCutcheon said: “I really want to take the same approach with my own illustrated diary and look at celebrity from the other side of the lens.

“I’m delighted that HarperCollins are publishing my book. I’ve no doubt it’s going to be a bestseller for Autumn 2003.”

Amanda Ridout, HarperCollins’s managing director of general books, said: “In the past year Martine has broadened her already extraordinary singing and acting career to include musicals, her own TV shows and working on the new Richard Curtis film.

“This book will be her frank and engaging look at what her life is really like behind the glamour of celebrity.

“We expect it to be a huge bestseller.”