KING NICHOLAS AND THE COPEMAN EMPIRE

Commoner-turned-royal, Nick Copeman is probably sitting in his caravan palace in Sheringham, eating a Taste the Difference ready meal and living the high life on the latest fashions from TK Maxx, drinking pink gin, watching trash TV and dreaming up his next scam. Living like a 'king' this is a funny, sad memoir of a man who creates ludicrous and funny situations. 25, unemployed, still living with his parents with absolutely nothing to move on to in life, Nick Copeman's answer was to change his name by deed pole to HM King Nicholas and found an empire from his royal seat - a caravan just outside Norfolk. Originally done as a bet, part of which was to arrive at Cromer Job Centre on a horse and wearing a crown, the prank soon escalated. Nick sells peerages over the Internet, receives corporate freebies, becomes a local celebrity, acquires a credit card in his name, and dreams of a date with Zara Phillips. But as His Majesty starts to believe his own hype, his evermore outlandish claims start catching up with him. Will the locals who hang around Costcutter make sure it's 'off with his head'? A great British eccentric who we believe still writes to Zara regularly. She has yet to reply. 274pp, paperback with photos.