THE lead character in a popular writer’s next book is going to be named after an area where his 99-year-old nan still lives.

Author Matt Cain has called the character Ted Ainsworth and his new novel, with the working title, There's Something You Should Know About Ted, again has a north west flavour.

The writer, who previously penned The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, has paid particular homage to Bolton in a number of his past works.

He is also celebrating a fresh deal with Eleanor Dryden, publisher of Headline Review, for two new books, of which 'Ted' will be the first, in late 2022, with another due in spring 2023.

Bury-born and Bolton-raised Matt, who also presents the flagship discussion show Sunday Roast on Virgin Radio Pride, said: "I’m chuffed to bits to be working once again with Eleanor Dryden and the same team who looked after The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle.

“It’s great to collaborate with a group of inspired, dynamic professionals who are all committed to building my profile as an author and who understand what I want to achieve creatively.

“I’m absolutely sure that I’ve found the right home and am thrilled that everyone at Headline is just as passionate as I am about increasing diversity in publishing. I’m so excited about what we’re going to achieve in the future.”

Eleanor added: “We are over the moon to have signed two more books with Matt Cain, whose The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle has developed a cult following in the UK in a matter of months.

“The way readers have taken our beloved protagonist Albert into their hearts and connected with its themes of isolation, challenging discrimination and celebrating hope, which resonate in these times more than ever, is wonderful testament to Matt’s passion, creativity and the sheer heart and vivacity of his writing.

“Matt’s centring of older, gay, working-class protagonists and lived experiences is a breath of fresh air and we’re thrilled to be working with him on these two new novels."

His first two novels were published by Pan Macmillan and this third, The Madonna of Bolton, became Unbound's fastest crowd-funded novel before it came out in 2018.

Matt, who now lives in London, is also an ambassador for Manchester Pride and the Albert Kennedy Trust.