Six-book deal? Simples!

Meerkat character Aleksandr Orlov has signed a book deal.

The comparethemeerkat.com founder, famed for his "simples" catchphrase, has put pen to paper on a six-book contract about the characters from his home village of Meerkovo, Russia.

Orlov – who has already written autobiography, 'A Simples Life' - said: "I am very excite to announce new book deal, people say I remind them of a young William Shakesmeer, I never heard of him."

Andrew Goodfellow of Ebury Publishing is quoted by Digital Spy as saying: "'A Simples Life' was the publishing story of 2010 and the nation's obsession with Aleksandr and all things meerkat continues to grow with over half a million books sold so far.

"We are looking forward to the same mix of fun and success that we enjoyed with Aleksandr last time."