Sir Ian McKellen shelves 'painful' memoir plans

Sir Ian McKellen returned a £1 million memoir advance because he found writing it "painful". The 'Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' star had signed a deal with publisher Hodder & Stoughton to release a book about his life but changed his mind because he didn't want to "go back and imagine things that I hadn't understood so far". Speaking at the Oxford Literary Festival, he said: "I put nine months aside to do it, and I got a very handsome advance. Then I sent the money back. "It was a bit painful. I didn't want to go back into my life and imagine things that I hadn't understood so far. The privacy of my life I don't quite understand myself, and it has nothing to do with what I do for a living. So there you go, I'm sorry." Meanwhile, the 76-year-old actor previously revealed he finds fame quite "comforting" because he's generally quite a shy person. He said: "As someone who started out life pretty shy, and who is still pretty shy, it's very comforting to be known. "You'll walk into a room, some people come up and say hello and tell you why they're saying hello, because they liked a play or a film and I know where I am."

More from Entertainment

Coming Up on Dubai Eye

  • The Debrief

    4:00pm - 7:00pm

    Join Dane on Dubai Eye 103.8 for The Debrief from 4pm to 7pm, the perfect way to unwind after a busy day at the office.

  • The Score

    7:00pm - 9:00pm

    Hosted by Chris McHardy, The Score is your comprehensive guide to the world of sport.

BUSINESS BREAKFAST LATEST

On Dubai Eye

  • Is There Sufficient House Supply In UAE

    Dubai’s current population is more than double compared to almost twenty years ago, which now stands at 3.7 million. Lots of families are also moving to the UAE now. So what does it mean for the property market?

  • Noon's First Female Delivery Driver

    Glory Ehirim Nkiruka is Noon’s first ever female delivery driver. In her first ever interview, she explained why she loves her job, despite the heat!