FORMER BBC correspondent Clinton Rogers has gone into print - to raise money for St Margaret’s Hospice.

Less than a year after retiring from BBC Point West, Clinton has written his autobiography, A Life in Broadcasting - Celebrities Wars and All.

It will be published in September and will sell for £12, with all the money going to the hospice.

Clinton, who used to work for the County Gazette, said: “A number of people asked me to write a book and I always said, 'no'.

"Then I had the idea to raise money for the hospice.

"But even then I said I would only do it if I could say that every penny of every book would go to the charity.”

At that point estate agents Willkie, May and Tuckwood stepped in to pick up all the production and print costs.

Managing partner John Wrelton said he was delighted to be supporting the project.

The book will cover Clinton’s broadcasting career, from his early days on BBC radio to setting up BBC Somerset Sound, reporting for HTV West and becoming the BBC’s television correspondent in Somerset.

It will also feature stories from his newspaper days, going back to when he started his journalistic career on the Wellington Weekly News at 16.

He talks about war zones he has been to, celebrities he has interviewed (some of whom come in for stinging criticisms) and corruption he has helped to expose.

There are tales of “mud and stars” at the Glastonbury Festival and how he once served a vodka martini (shaken not stirred, obviously) to James Bond.

“But more than anything I wanted to talk about the ordinary people I have met over the years who have had some extraordinary stories to tell,” said Clinton.

“They are the stories I have enjoyed the most.”

There's a chance to hear some of those stories when the hospice stages An Evening With Clinton Rogers at Wellington's Wellesley Theatre on Wednesday, September 29, from 8pm.

The evening will be hosted by BBC Radio Somerset breakfast show presenter Claire Carter, who promises “some tough questions”.

Tickets are £20, to include a signed copy of the book and a £5 donation to the hospice.

The book can also be ordered now from www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk.

St Margaret's chief executive Ann Lee said: “Clinton is a wonderful ambassador for the hospice, forever our friend.

"We are truly grateful that the proceeds from this book will help us continue our vital work.”