Why ‘I Love You, Byeee!’ is a Must-Read

I Love You, Byeee! is the follow-up to Adam Buxton’s 2021 Ramble Book. Ramble Book inspired me to write my own book. Now it has a sequel, should I be working on one of my own?

Full disclosure. I have been a fan for years. Back in the 90s, the Adam and Joe show with its homemade toy-based spoofs of blockbuster movies and TV shows was essential viewing. I was delighted to randomly get to see his show, I Pavel, about a pretentious Russian animator, at the Edinburgh fringe Festival in 2005. In my book, I describe listening to the Adam and Joe XFM podcast through my headphones on the bus on my way to work, alarming the other passengers by laughing hysterically at R. Kelly’s Trapped in the Closet.

Listening to The Adam Buxton Podcast got me through the pandemic. I love the relaxed conversational style that he builds with his guests – based on thorough research and well engineered sound. I Love You, Byeee! Is actually the goodbye message that Adam shouts at the end of each podcast. I also love the warm and generous hug he gives listeners just before. He even records his own adverts and jingles. I get to hear from a lot of interesting people that I wouldn’t otherwise listen to and lot of tips for books, music and films to enjoy. Adam takes great care with his work and puts a lot into it. Same with this book.

Ramble Book (2021) covered his childhood and school years and his becoming a father and his relationship with his dad (Baaadad) who passed away in 2015. Adam was sent to boarding school and ended up at Westminster College, a couple of years above my cousins. Although full of humorous observations, Adam sketched over his partnership with Joe Cornish and his early career as a ground-breaking home-made TV star. But that was okay because his style of writing is so endearing.

Adam’s introspective and modest assessments of himself and his work could come across as annoyingly self-effacing, but his honesty and openness is actually the point. This is how he gets over his own ego. Adam is sensitive, he carries a lot of emotions and he confesses he overthinks things. But the end of day, he is sharing who he is – one of us, a human being who is unafraid to be seen. I think that’s incredibly powerful.

Adam was absolutely the inspiration for my own book, Disability Is Other People: My Superhero Story (2024). I even thought about asking him to record my audiobook! I tried to use the same level of honesty, wit and humour to present my own life in the same way. I wanted to tell my story, but not set myself up as an exemplar, but just as someone who is getting through a difficult situation in their own way. Especially important when discussing disability. A few readers have thanked me for my openness and honesty.

Adam often says it easier to share your most personal work with a supportive audience. If Ramble Book gave us the framework for the life of Adam Buxton, I Love You, Byeee! is it’s companion, lovingly filling in the detail for readers who want more. But that doesn’t mean you have to be super-fan to enjoy and Adam’s work. It is very perceptive, amusing and intelligently written stuff, In this book, he shows he has grown and become more comfortable with himself.

Adam discusses the death of his mother and sorting through her belongings. Looking through photographs she’d saved evokes a very interesting podcast conversation about the power of photographs he had with David Letterman. Adam also looks more closely at his partnership with Joe Cornish, his early years in TV and his continuing adventures in music (his debut album, Buckle Up is available from 12/9/25) and podcasting (The Adam Buxton Podcast has 253 episodes at the time of writing). Thankfully, he also reprises his journal of arguments with his wife.

As a black-squadron veteran and ‘podcat’, I listened to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed it. I knew it would be a great listen and it also includes a bonus chapter on David Bowie and a discussion with Joe Cornish about the book itself.

Am I planning a sequel to my own book? Not just at the moment; although life keeps happening! Sales of my book have been quite modest, I don’t think there is any demand for more of my story right now. I will still keep writing and sharing on my blog. Maybe I’ll have a numerous and supportive audience of my own one day!

Richard C Brown MBE – July 2025