Piers Morgan Stunned by Wife Celia Walden’s Secret Book Deal
Piers Morgan was left genuinely stunned after a major reveal about his wife Celia Walden hit the headlines. It turns out she’s been working away behind the scenes on a mystery writing project that’s now sparked a massive bidding war and she didn’t even let her husband read it.
According to Deadline, Celia’s latest manuscript, Partial Hands, has been snapped up by Universal Studios and Working Title Pictures, who plan to turn it into a television series. The deal, based on just a partial manuscript, is said to be worth a hefty six figures and possibly edging close to seven a massive coup for any author, let alone for a project still in development, reported the Express.
Piers couldn’t hide his surprise and pride when the news broke on Tuesday. Taking to X, he said: “Blimey…! She kept that quiet… I haven’t even been allowed to read it yet.” He doubled down on the reaction over on Instagram, writing: “That’s what Celia’s been doing upstairs for the last year…! I haven’t even been allowed to read it yet. But it sounds rather good…”
Celia will serve as an executive producer on the show alongside Peter Dealbert, Josh Varney and Ben Pugh from 42, the production company involved. Although the book hasn’t yet been picked up by a publisher, it’s reportedly just the first in what could be a full series of thrillers.
The plot of Partial Hands follows a young British woman with a shadowy past who finds herself caught up with an elite gang of female thieves operating along the French Riviera. As the pressure builds from a local police investigation, she has to navigate the tangled web of loyalties and secrets within the group, all while trying to keep her own history buried.
The book’s title apparently came after Celia had a chat with a policeman in Saint-Tropez, who used the term “les petites mains” — or “little hands” — to describe skilled but seemingly unthreatening female criminals known for flying under the radar.
Before this dramatic pivot into screen thrillers, Celia was already well-established in media circles. She began her career as a journalist, writing for the Daily Mail and serving as the final editor of The Daily Telegraph’s diary column, ‘Spy’. She later penned features for publications like Glamour, GQ, and The Spectator, and in 2008, she published her debut novel Harm’s Way.
Celia studied French and Italian Literature at Cambridge after attending Westminster School, setting the foundations for her career in writing. She married Piers Morgan in 2010 after his divorce from first wife Marion, and the pair tied the knot in a private ceremony in Swinbrook, Oxfordshire. The following year, they welcomed their daughter Elise.
While Piers is often the one in the headlines, this time it’s Celia who’s stolen the spotlight — and judging by the reactions, she’s only just getting started.
Blimey… ! She kept that quiet… I haven’t even been allowed to read it yet.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 10, 2025https://t.co/8TV78F8ibP
Don’t Miss These:
- Morning Live Star Gethin Jones Steps into National Role for 2026 Games
- Kate Middleton’s Surprise No-Show at Royal Ascot Sparks Concern
- Big Beauty Shake-Up as Industry Powerhouse Max Rangel Joins Sally’s Board
- Rachel Reeves Backtracks? Treasury May Soften Tax Blow After Rich Flee UK
- Meghan Markle Accused of Using Her Kids for Cash in Instagram Post