Yes indeedy, David Thewlis the actor. I read The Late Hector Kipling last summer, it was his debut novel. If I remember rightly it's set in the art world and it was an ok read. I finished it anyway and I don't always. If he wrote another book I'd read it. And it was interesting to see what else he could do.
I know what you mean about Jo Brand. I've read two of her novels, and enjoyed them both. Not the world's best literature or anything, but interesting and amusing yarns that rattle along.
I absolutely loathe the celebrity obsessed culture we live in. As far as writing goes, I find it so wrong that celebs get the opportunities that real writing talent could make much better use of.
I was thinking more about well known people, with a talent or with some expertise in another field rather than anyone who's been in Heat.
Alan Titchmarsh, Edwina Currie and, God help us, Anne Widdecombe.....none of these would tempt me. Quite frankly I wouldn't use them to steady the leg of a wobbly table.