Publishing deal via Richard and Judy's doorstep

In The Telegraph: how aspiring author Ruth Saberton took an unconventional route to securing her first book deal.

Mrs Saberton drove to [Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan's] secluded house and placed a 400 page manuscript on the doormat and a note through the letterbox asking them to read it.

She was then stunned when Richard – who along with his wife hosted a regular book club on their TV show – phoned her and said he loved the novel.

Richard, 53, offered to write a foreword and allowed her to use their name when approaching potential publishers – and she soon secured her first deal.