BBC jumps on book-club bandwagon with new show
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A NIGELLA LAWSON cookery book, an Ian Rankin thriller and a debut novel by a Cambridge undergraduate are among 24 books to be featured in a new television book club, which the BBC insists will not be a "copy cat" version of the successful Richard & Judy reading group.
The reading list for Page Turners, the forthcoming BBC1 daytime show hosted by Jeremy Vine and designed to tap into the nation's recently rediscovered love of literature, was unveiled yesterday.
A panel of well-known authors, media figures and literary commentators, including Fay Weldon, Marian Keyes and Rod Liddle, whittled down a longlist of 67 books to a varied shortlist of 24 titles. As well as Lawson's Feast and Rankin's Fleshmarket Close, the judges selected 20-year-old Helen Oyeyemi's first novel, The Icarus Girl.
Publishers hope the featured titles will receive a sales boost similar to that enjoyed by books featured on Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan's book-club slot. Eight out of the 10 titles currently featured on their teatime show are in the top-50 bestseller list. But the BBC says that Page Turners is not an imitation, pointing out that unlike the Channel 4 show, there will be no winner at the end of the eight-part series.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments