Never work with children or animals tells of John's early career as a child actor, when he appeared in various stage productions as well as playing parts in several dramas on BBC Television. It goes on to tell of adventures working with a host of entertainment stars of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, including Jimmy Edwards, Marti Caine, Billy Fury, Bob Monkhouse, Peter Goodwright, The Beatles, Dusty Springfield, Danny La Rue, Patricia Hayes, June Brown, Sacha Distel, Chris de Burgh, Lesley Garrett and Mark Knopfler. The later chapters tell how, with the help of a legion of household names from the entertainment industry, John and Annie set up the Michael Elliott Trust as a charity dedicated to rescuing abused donkeys and providing a sanctuary for them. The book features a foreword by June Brown and a personal message from Dame Judi Dench.