Allen's publishers diappointed with biography

Neurotic film-maker Woody Allen penned a $2m (€1.6m) book deal with publishers Harpercollins for his autobiography, which was supposed to be a no-holds-barred account of his life.

But latest reports have him locked in a furious battle with the publishing house because he has refused to lift the lid on his notorious private life. The Manhattan star, 68, is writing his life story but won’t write about his past with wife Soon-Yi Previn and former lovers Mia Farrow and Diane Keaton.

Harpercollins are not impressed with this development, and are threatening not to release the book.

An insider at HarperCollins says: "Woody wouldn't agree to write at length about his personal relationships. And if it wasn't going to be a tell-all book then we weren't getting our money's worth."

Woody’s relationship with 33-year-old Soon-Yi once generated intense world-wide interest, as they met when she was a school-girl living with her adopted mother Mia Farrow, who at the time was in a long-term relationship with the film-maker.