Helen Lederer and Mark Ellen: The comedienne meets the rocker at book lovers’ club

Helen’s debut novel, Losing It, is about Millie, an agony aunt for a women’s magazine.

In debt, divorced and desperate, she agrees to be the front woman for a new diet pill – but has to take drastic measures when she fails to shed the pounds.

The novel draws inspiration from Helen’s own battles with her weight and she admits she has personally experienced all the ‘weird scenarios’ she writes about.

Dawn French calls her ‘the funniest woman in England’ and Joanna Lumley, Jo Brand, Stephen Fry and Ben Elton have all praised Losing It.

Mark Ellen fell in love with rock in the early ’70s and made interviewing rock stars his life’s work.

He became one of the best-known rock journalists of his generation, fronting Live Aid and hosting The Old Grey Whistle Test, as well as writing for all the major music magazines.

In Rock Stars Stole My Life Mark reveals the famous names he has encountered and writes about playing in the Oxford University student band Ugly Rumours with Tony Blair, being on the road with U2 – and seeing Lady Gaga naked. Tickets for The Book Lovers’ Supper Club cost £20 and include a tastebud-tickling, Turkish-style tapas supper courtesy of Ozgur Tuncay at Sultans Delights, a free glass of wine, readings, interviews and book chat.

There will also be the chance to buy personally signed copies of the authors’ novels from The Mint House at the end of the evening.

Tickets are on sale now from Ditchling Post Office, The Mint House, Hurstpierpoint, www.tabl.com and The Dome (01273 709709, www.brightonticketshop.com, booking fees apply).

Doors open at 6.45pm – not before.

The club is located at The Barn, Ditchling Village Green.

For more information visit www.facebook.com/BookLoversSupperClub.