HE'S an acid-tongued restaurant critic, an outspoken campaigner on law and order and the director of some of modern cinema's most controversial films.

But Michael Winner was charm personified as he regaled a Bournemouth audience with tales of his 40-year career in films - as recorded in his autobiography Winner Takes All.

A wayward microphone - which kept slipping down until a member of staff at Borders stood next to Winner and held it - caused a few laughs at the beginning, and set the tone for the rest of the talk.

Winner spoke fondly of many of the big names he's worked with over the years - Sophia Loren, Marlon Brando, Charles Bronson, Burt Lancaster, Oliver Reed and Faye Dunaway - as well as revealing his admiration for modern-day actress Renee Zellwegger ("I think she's incredible - a staggeringly good actress, she really can tear at your heart").

He explained how writing the book took on an urgency after reading a newspaper article about a man claiming to have "a letter of authority" to publish Michael Winner's biography.

"He did a terrible biography of Oliver Reed so I thought I'd better do this quick before somebody like that does one from newspaper cuttings."

Winner, 69, has courted controversy with three Death Wish movies, The Wicked Lady and Dirty Weekend. These days he is just as well-known as an insurance salesman in TV ads for the company Esure (catchphrase: "Calm down, dear!")

His book reveals his sensitive side, relating his childhood as a Jewish boy in a Quaker boarding school, and writing about his mother, a compulsive gambler.

After talking at Borders, for the best part of an hour, Winner invited people to have their books signed.

In return for her autographed copy, Lauren Avey, 19, from Poole, handed over a gift of a Poole Pottery mug and a Poole Pottery chocolate bar.

"I miss reading his column in the News of the World every Sunday. He's a very intelligent man and he's met a lot of famous people," said Lauren.

First published: Oct 13