As the air turns brisk and the nights draw in, prepare to settle down with host Sara Cox for the next instalment of Between the Covers, the TV book club devoted to the joy of reading – from fictional debuts to timeless page-turners and everything in between.
Each week, Sara will introduce four new renowned guests, who will bring along their all-time favourite book and reveal what it holds for them.
Sara Cox remarks: “I’m eagerly anticipating delving into six brilliant brand-new titles and six gems from the Booker backlist. The books we’ve picked for this series, I believe, are some of the finest we’ve ever had; outstanding writing that will captivate and delight our viewers – and, of course, plenty of other wonderful reads courtesy of our superstar guests, who arrive bearing their cherished books to share with our fantastic audience.”
The celebrity panellists eager to share their love of reading include Rob Delaney, Geri Halliwell-Horner, Nish Kumar, Sandi Toksvig, Richard Armitage, Ellie Taylor, Ade Edmondson, Kerry Godliman, Bill Paterson, Annie Macmanus, Chris McCausland, Alex Jones, Ben Miller, Andi Osho, Ed Byrne, Suzi Ruffell, Omari Douglas, Angela Barnes, Adam Kay, Anita Rani, Ahir Shah, Laura Smyth, Jo Brand and Miles Jupp.
As in the previous series, each episode will comprise two review segments: one highlighting a newly released book, showcasing a blend of styles and genres, and the second featuring a classic from The Booker Prize archives.
The discussion continues on social media throughout the six-part series, and viewers will depart from each episode armed with exciting new reading lists to accompany them through the winter evenings.
The six freshly published books meticulously chosen for the series, in the order of broadcast, are:
The Seventh Son, by Sebastian Faulks
The Square of Sevens, by Laura Shepherd-Robinson
Remember, Mr Sharma, by A.P. Firdaus
Falling Animals by Sheila Armstrong
Devil’s Breath, by Jill Johnson
The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou, by Eleni Kyriacou
The books from The Booker Prize archives, in the order of broadcast, are:
The God Of Small Things, by Arundhati Roy
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, by Roddy Doyle
The Light of Day, by Graham Swift
My Sister, The Serial Killer, by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Any Human Heart, by William Boyd
Redhead by the Side of the Road, by Anne Tyler
Amanda Ross, co-founder and CEO of Cactus TV, says: “I am often asked how we find and select compelling books for the series, and the simple answer is we read them! Our job was especially tough this series because there have been so many amazing and original books published this season; consequently, we were spoilt for choice, so I’m more confident than ever that we have something for everyone.
“Our six picks from the Booker Prize nomination backlist for this series have given us the excuse to read some truly brilliant books that I’m delighted to be able to spotlight for our audience. The celebrity guests’ selections are a joy! I can’t wait to see what our viewers think.”
Between the Covers offers BBC audiences across the UK the chance to participate in an inclusive book club, inspiring both new readers and devoted book enthusiasts. The 12 chosen books featured in the series will be adorned with Between the Covers labels in stores, libraries, and online, enabling audiences to read and engage in the conversation on social media using #BetweenTheCovers.
Between the Covers (6 x 30) is commissioned by Alistair Pegg for BBC Arts and BBC Two. It is conceived and produced by Cactus TV. The Executive Producer is Amanda Ross, and the Series Producer is Pollyanne Conway.
Sara Cox continues to host her weekday show on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds from 4 pm to 7 pm.
