• No Shame

  • By: Tom Allen
  • Narrated by: Tom Allen
  • Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (102 ratings)

Prime member exclusive:
pick 2 free titles with trial.
Pick 1 title (2 titles for Prime members) from our collection of bestsellers and new releases.
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts.
Your Premium Plus plan will continue for $14.95 a month after 30-day trial. Cancel anytime.
No Shame  By  cover art

No Shame

By: Tom Allen
Narrated by: Tom Allen
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.30

Buy for $18.30

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

When I was 16 I dressed in Victorian clothing in a bid to distract people from the fact that I was gay. It was a flawed plan.

No Shame is a very funny, candid and emotional ride of a memoir by one of our most beloved comedians. The working-class son of a coach driver and the youngest member of the Noel Coward Society, Tom Allen grew up in '90s suburbia as the eternal outsider.

In these hilarious, honest and heart-breaking stories Tom recalls observations on childhood, his adolescence, the family he still lives with and his attempts to come out and negotiate the gay dating scene. They are written with his trademark caustic wit and warmth, and will entertain, surprise and move you in equal measure.

©2020 Tom Allen (P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

What listeners say about No Shame

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    81
  • 4 Stars
    19
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    81
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    68
  • 4 Stars
    17
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Cried laughing

What can I say? I'm a fan. Tom Allen's sense of humour is genuinely brilliant. I recommend to anyone who loves a more intelligent British style of comedy, with odd naughty bits thrown in for good measure. So good.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Charming!

One of the best memoirs I’ve listened to. I laughed a lot and shed. some tears as well. The man has a poignant story to tell and does it with great humor and grace.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Hilarious and Moving

Such a wonderful book to listen to, so funny and so powerful and hearing the author read it is such a treat! Already can’t wait for his next book!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What a delight ❤️

I loved this book. I listened to it in two sittings, it's charming, witty, enlightening and heartwarming. I'm sure it will also be very comforting to some people. Tom Allen in a gem.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Laugh out loud

Listened to this 3 times already and no doubt will do again. Thank you Tom for cheering up the day.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful!

I first saw you on Mock the Week. I really enjoy your comedy, especially your delivery. I watch YouTube videos to see you but someday hope to venture across the pond to see live in concert.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great performance and fun stories.

Very amusing anecdotes and comments on life around him. Inspiring too because of the love and support of his mom and dad, brother, teachers and friends.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I laughed, I cried: legitimately

Tom has such a way of explaining his life occurrences in a way that everyone can relate even if it’s not exactly their life. I have never been a gay man in London, and yet I felt connected to his stories of a life of being “different”. His stories of the shame he has felt throughout his life and how he pushed through and rose above made me tear up more than once. 10/10 would always recommend!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Funny, insightful, and honest

The best thing about this book is how relatable it is, the introspection and looking back at the motivations we all had when we were young to appear cool and normal and interesting. The second best thing is his reading style, it is hilarious and puts a smile on my face every time. Wonderful book, wonderful author, Tom Allen is crushing it!

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Helen RP
  • Helen RP
  • 11-13-20

Listened without stopping

Bit disappointed with MYSELF for not having the self control to save some of this wonderful book for another day.

It’s brilliant on many levels but as a 46 year old woman (sadly, actually 46) I was thrilled with how utterly relatable it was. Universal truths, or maybe it’s like when Victoria Wood said she couldn’t bear how people wrote in library books, and once she found “this happened to me too” scribbled in a copy of Shakespeare’s Richard III. Who knows.

What I do know is that Tom Allen’s ‘No Shame’ was a joy to listen to from beginning to end.

I don’t usually write reviews but I was just hoping Tom might see this and validate me.

56 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Adam
  • Adam
  • 11-27-20

I loved Tom's book

What a brilliant storyteller!! I had pretty much a constant smile on my face listening to to this book. I had several strange looks on my daily walks from people. I could relate to a lot of stuff that Tom wrote about even though I am 10 years older than him. My favourite chapter was cruising (and not that sort!) just hilarious and I now want to book one! Just brilliant. I also loved the letters at the end section. Had a very warm glow afterwards. Just buy the book 😍😍.

17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Claire Gard
  • Claire Gard
  • 11-18-20

Brilliantly heartfelt

What a fantastic book. Just what we need in 2020. A truly beautiful story, funny and Toms reading is perfect. I loved every second. Thank you

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Alison Murray
  • Alison Murray
  • 11-18-20

Absolutely brilliant

Just wish it had been longer, could listen to him all day!
He was hilarious 😂

11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Matthew
  • Matthew
  • 11-19-20

Loved it!

I don't know this guy but thought his book and narration was brilliant. Very reminiscent of my growing up and very relatable. Definitely recommend!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for JW
  • JW
  • 12-10-20

Lovely and endearing

Very funny, mostly because it’s narrated by himself and he doesn’t have to do much else to make you laugh.
I really want to go shopping with him now.

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Deborah T.
  • Deborah T.
  • 11-29-20

Loved it

Hugely entertaining and enjoyable memoirs from my favourite comedian, with the added bonus of Tom narrating. Touching at times, very funny and totally absorbing.

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Customer
  • Amazon Customer
  • 11-18-20

Fabulous

Absolutely loved this book, I did not want it to end , it had me laughing out loud and believe me I don’t do that often,i also shed a tear, best book I have listened to on Audible.

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Love Goats
  • Love Goats
  • 12-07-20

I'm not alone!

Great read. I thought I was the only one who took a briefcase to school. Reading that Tom did too has lifted a weight I have been carrying for over twenty years!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for bookworm
  • bookworm
  • 12-04-20

So funny and endearing

Made even funnier by Tom's distinctive voice and delivery. Really cheered me up in these uncertain times.

6 people found this helpful

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Ash
  • Ash
  • 04-06-22

Wonderful!

I was expecting it to be terrific and my expectations were surpassed. Just lovely. So enjoyable

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Carla Mercer
  • Carla Mercer
  • 03-22-22

Eloquent and charming, Tom, dear Tom

Get ready to experience a life well lived, in Bromley no less. Tom takes us on a journey through his life with hilarious and thoughtful reflection and insight. Much more than a memoir, that sounds good, doesn't it. The story of a humble, kind man who bares all. Feel good chuckles. Love, love, love it.

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for libity
  • libity
  • 09-05-21

Tom is wonderful as always

Big fan of Tom from all his tv work and his podcast. Wonderfully read, funny and heartfelt. Glad I did the audiobook instead of the hard copy for this one. Great to hear his voice tell the story

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 06-21-21

Fabulous!

Loved it. Wonderfully told witty tales had me laughing out loud and wincing with pain at all the struggles of growing up and living life. And heartening to know all those British comedians I love, are not only funny, but beautiful warm kind people as well. Beautiful indeed Tom.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Katy Jones
  • Katy Jones
  • 05-31-21

Wonderful

Funny, heart-warming, honest and endearing. Sad that I've finished it. I hope he writes another book.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 05-01-21

Thoughtful & funny

Listening was like having a deep & meaningful - but very funny - conversation with a best friend.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Brian Walsh
  • Brian Walsh
  • 02-10-21

Perhaps the best audiobook so far

Tom Allen shares his most personal struggles as a youth and an adult. It is both heart wrenching and hilarious.
A truly wonderful listen!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Boe Schramm
  • Boe Schramm
  • 01-22-21

Fantastic relatable hilarious

I loved this book. Listening to the author read out their own book, particularly a British comedian makes me so happy. Toms book was so good. He painted scenes I could see as well as shared such personal stories that I could relate to in the way that everyone feels different and goes through a period of hating themselves. I learnt slot from this book, and written things down Tom has said that really resonates. Thank you Tom. And I hope you never go back to self doubt and hatred again. You're just lovely 💕

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Louise
  • Louise
  • 01-01-21

Deprecating and clever

This is much more than a memoir and much, much more than just a funny read. Tom touches on insecurities so many people face and, while taking a funny stance on these, opens himself up to analysing those feelings. I really empathised with his constant sense of trepidation and cheered him on as he faced his fears and found success. I loved that he didn’t dwell on his own success, almost making light of the amazing achievements he has made, in favour of funny stories about his aunt in New York and hilarious descriptions of top hats and shoe polishing. He does a great job of narrating this and it would be hard to imagine anyone else doing it.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 12-15-20

Another great Lgbt+ story.

Very nice, Tom is so sweet! The best bit for me was his collection of soup spoons, laughed out loud in my car.