Radio Times
type: channel
link: https://www.radiotimes.com
date: 2026-03-11T09:21:24.000Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: Nadiya Hussain reveals feelings on parting ways with the BBC: "I'd had really difficult conversations"
items: How to read Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books in order
items: Nick Hornby crowns Nero Book Awards winner as he discusses his next novel
items: Rose Ayling-Ellis: "When you grow up not seeing yourself in stories, you don't stop imagining"
items: Author Sarah J Maas confirms next books in best-selling A Court of Thorns and Roses series
items: How to read the Young Sherlock books in order
items: Dept Q books in order: How to read Jussi Adler-Olsen stories
items: Richard Osman confirms brand new sequel novel with "lots of thrills" and when fans can expect it
items: Harriet Tyce: 'No jury in the land would be able to crack The Traitors'
items: Next Heated Rivalry book release date delayed as author Rachel Reid offers health update
items: Why Lord of the Flies author William Golding didn't put girls on his classic novel's island
items: I quit my job of 25 years to write a book – I felt frozen with fear
items: Beloved author Marian Keyes reveals why 'chick lit' exposes the "hollowness" of post-feminism
items: How to read James Patterson’s Alex Cross books in order
items: Need more Bridgerton now? 17 steamy historical romances and raciest Regency books to whet your appetite
items: The Gruffalo series to get sequel with new character – more than 20 years after last instalment
items: Gossip Girl author confirms sequel novel about Blair Waldorf with major time jump and release window
items: 26 book-to-screen adaptations in 2026: Including contentious Brontë film and Frankenstein (but not as you know it)
items: Harriet Tyce books in order: How to read The Traitors star's crime novels
items: When is the next Heated Rivalry book released?
items: The Young Ones' Nigel Planer says Adrian Edmondson "regrets" falling out with late Rik Mayall before death
items: Queen legend Brian May argues we've lost the ability to "discuss" and "respect" other people's point of view
items: Best books released in 2026: including anticipated next novel from best-selling author
items: Michael Rosen: "This may sound extraordinary, but I'm not traumatised by the death of my son"
items: 39 best books of 2025: From Stephen King epic to the Booker Prize winner
items: Joanna Trollope on ditching 'Aga sagas' for career women and gay relationships
items: Jane Austen’s enduring and universal appeal revealed by hit writers, from Pride & Prejudice 1995 screenwriter to David Baddiel
items: The Witcher's Joey Batey reveals how his new novel embraces his Northern identity and being "forgotten" by those in power
items: 23 best sci-fi books to help you escape reality: From Dune to The Martian
items: 23 best romance books to make you believe in love again: From Emily Henry to Jilly Cooper

Nadiya Hussain reveals feelings on parting ways with the BBC: "I'd had really difficult conversations"
type: item
date: 2026-03-09T17:00:34.000Z
creator: Gemma Calvert
subject: Books
subject: Interview
subject: Magazine
description: Nadiya Hussain on the end of her relationship with the BBC – and why she’d like to be more like Prue Leith.
encoded: This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. After winning The Great British Bake Off in 2015, Nadiya Hussain became one of television’s biggest breakout stars – a stay-at-home mum turned global cooking personality with a string of TV programmes, books and endorsements to her name. Then, last year, the BBC cancelled her shows and Hussain, 41, retreated from public view, only recently stepping forward again to promote her latest book Nadiya’s Quick Comforts – this time without a supporting TV series. “It’s sad because I love showing people how to make recipes and how excited I am about them,” says Hussain, before admitting that “near the end” of her relationship with the Beeb, she had voiced concerns about how her programmes were being made. “I’d had really difficult conversations,” she says. “I was like, ‘These are the people I don’t want to work with any more. This doesn’t align with me any more. I need the recipes to be the focus. I need it to be less about what I’m wearing, the props and the colour of my lipstick. It needs to be about the food.’ Not long after, my show was cancelled.” A recent news story suggested one reason the BBC pulled the plug was because Hussain had become “increasingly difficult to work with”. What’s her take? “If I was less vocal and I’d shut my mouth and did as I was told all the time, there’s a likelihood that I would have jobs that I don’t have now,” she replies. “Unfortunately, as a woman – and a woman of colour – if you speak up, often it’s considered ‘being difficult’ or ‘being a nuisance’, whereas I know, from experience, that if I was a man, they’d be like, ‘Oh, you know what he’s like.’ ” To date, “other offers” from broadcasters have “for now” been declined, but if Hussain’s next chapter is in television, she insists the terms will change: “Unless it’s with purpose, I’m not doing it. I’ve been doing this for 11 years and I very rarely see a diverse set or meeting. Often, people of colour and from ethnic minority backgrou…

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How to read Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books in order
type: item
date: 2026-03-09T11:13:10.000Z
creator: Fleurine Tideman
subject: Books
subject: RT Book Club
description: We've put together the ultimate guide to the beloved time-travel series.
encoded: Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series has become an absolute phenomenon, celebrated for its epic blend of romance, historical adventure and time-travel twists. Its devoted fan base is made up of readers of all ages, inspired not only by the main novels but also by the hit Outlander TV adaptation and spin-offs such as Blood of My Blood. Whether you’re a longtime enthusiast of Jamie and Claire or just discovering the allure of the Scottish Highlands, here’s a complete guide to reading the Outlander books in order. How to read the Outlander books and spin-offs in order Virgins (a novella found in Seven Stones to Stand or Fall) Outlander Dragonfly in Amber A Fugitive Green (a novella found in Seven Stones to Stand or Fall) Voyager Lord John and the Hellfire Club (a short story featured in Lord John and the Hand of Devils) Lord John and the Private Matter (a standalone novel) Lord John and the Succubus (a short story found in Lord John and the Hand of Devils) Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade (a standalone novel) Lord John and the Haunted Soldier (a short story found in Lord John and the Hand of Devils) The Custom of the Army (a short story found in Seven Stones to Stand or Fall) The Scottish Prisoner (a standalone novel) A Plague of Zombies (a short story found in Seven Stones to Stand or Fall) Besieged (a short story found in Seven Stones to Stand or Fall) Drums of Autumn The Fiery Cross A Breath of Snow and Ashes An Echo in the Bone Written in My Own Heart's Blood A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows (a short story found in Seven Stones to Stand or Fall) The Space Between (a short story found in Seven Stones to Stand or Fall) Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone What happens in Outlander by Diana Gabaldon? In Outlander, Claire Randall, a World War II-era combat nurse, is mysteriously transported back in time to 1743 Scotland while on a second honeymoon with her husband. She becomes entangled in the Jacobite uprising and must navigate a dangerous and unfamiliar world, whe…

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Nick Hornby crowns Nero Book Awards winner as he discusses his next novel
type: item
date: 2026-03-05T17:32:33.000Z
creator: Rob Leane
subject: Books
subject: Exclusive
subject: Interview
subject: RT Book Club
description: What is Hornby working on?
encoded: “ It's incredibly helpful to win a prize like this with your first book,” Nick Hornby told us backstage at the Nero Book Awards last night (Wednesday 4 March 2026). Hornby — the acclaimed author behind such beloved books as High Fidelity, Fever Pitch and About a Boy — served as the Head Judge at this year’s Nero Book Awards, which ultimately gave its top prize to debut author Claire Lynch for her book A Family Matter. “I won a prize for my first book,” Hornby recalled, “and I know the difference that it made for me at the time. And it's not just this one. It’s Claire's second book, as well, which will have more attention as a result of the first book doing perhaps better than she might have anticipated because of the spotlight that will be on it after today.” So, what made Lynch’s novel — which tells the story of a family torn apart by secrets across two generations — deserving of the prestigious Nero Gold Prize? “We were all impressed with how confident a debut it was,” Hornby explained. “I mean, it's not the sort of book where you think, ‘Oh, when she's written three or four, she'll be up and running’. It really feels like she knows what she's doing straight away. “I think, tonally, it was pitched perfectly. It's moving, but it starts off with a sad and funny comic set piece. That, I think, immediately got us all on side. It's got this dual time narrative, and the section of the book set in the past, set in the 1980s, was actually quite shocking, in terms of what it indicates about social morals in the eighties, which… the eighties feels quite close to me, and reading this book made it seem a lot further away.” Fans of Hornby’s own work will be wondering, of course, what is the man himself writing at the moment? We couldn’t help but ask. Hornby revealed, “ Well, I've got a novel that I'm halfway through, which will be out next year. “And I have three or four screenplays or TV series, all completely marooned at various points in the process. Waiting for money, wait…

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Rose Ayling-Ellis: "When you grow up not seeing yourself in stories, you don't stop imagining"
type: item
date: 2026-03-05T12:42:20.000Z
creator: Rose Ayling-Ellis
subject: Books
subject: Comment
subject: RT Book Club
description: Rose Ayling-Ellis wrote The Big Bang! to celebrate World Book Day – here, she tells Radio Times why books teach us much more than just how to read.
encoded: I loved Sleepovers, like I did all of Jacqueline Wilson’s books. Usually late at night, hiding under my duvet with a torch, trying to not get caught on a school night. I loved the emotional depth, the messiness, the tragedy, the way her stories never pretended that everything is perfect. What stayed with me, however, was something that felt small at the time but was actually huge. There was a disabled character in that book. Not as a lesson, not as a historical figure. Not a ‘problem to fix’. Just a character. A person. Existing. That representation mattered, but the sadness came with it too, because even as a child, I noticed how rare it was; what I never saw were deaf characters. So I did what children do. I imagined them. I pretended characters were like me. I drew hearing aids on my Barbie. I made space for myself where none existed. When you grow up not seeing yourself in stories, you don’t stop imagining. You imagine more, but imagination shouldn’t have to replace representation. So, I didn’t wait for change – I created the children’s book I wished I had growing up. The Big Bang! is a story about three cats learning how to communicate with each other. I didn’t want the story about “overcoming”, I didn’t want an “inspiration” narrative. I wanted this story to be about trying and trying again. About making mistakes, learning, adapting and meeting each other halfway. Halo and Rocky don’t just expect Casper to change, they learn that they have to do the work too. No one is left behind, no one is made to prove themselves. That is what real inclusion looks like. Not spotlighting difference, but normalising it. Some people may ask, “Surely no child is thinking in that much depth?” Or, “Why is everything so ‘woke’ these days?” But if you’re only noticing representation now, then you’re one of the lucky few who didn’t need it. For some of us, not seeing ourselves was impossible to ignore. And the truth is, I don’t want children to think about representation at all, in …

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Author Sarah J Maas confirms next books in best-selling A Court of Thorns and Roses series
type: item
date: 2026-03-05T12:31:22.000Z
creator: Molly Moss
subject: Books
subject: News
description: The book series has become a global phenomenon.
encoded: Best-selling “romantasy” author Sarah J Maas has announced the release dates for the next two new novels in her A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Maas’ series, which was first published in 2015 and consists of five books, follows 19-year-old huntress Feyre Archeron, who is taken prisoner into the mystical faerie lands of Prythian. During an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast on Wednesday evening (4th March), Maas revealed that the sixth and seventh novels in the series are set to hit shelves on 27 October 2026 and 12 January 2027, while also revealing that a third is in the pipeline. She clarified that this will be one story split into four parts across the three books. “The story that was finally ready to come out of me was big — really, really, really big,” she explained. “By the time I got to the end of part one, it was like 400 pages long.” She went on to explain that book six will be part one, book seven part two and three, while book eight will make up part four. “Part one was this huge, huge thing and then I realised it was going to be a book told in four parts. Then I wrote part two and part three and those were really f***ing long," she said. She continued: “Part four has yet to be written because right now I’m trying to just get part one [out]… It’s basically going to be three physical volumes, but it’s one thing all together. It’s meant to be read in one long story, but it’s not a trilogy.” Writing on Instagram after appearing on the Podcast, Maas said: "I wish I had the words to express how grateful I am - truly, deeply, overwhelmingly grateful - to be able to share this news with you. In just a few short months, ACOTAR 6 & 7 will be yours!!! "I know how long you've waited. I know how much these characters mean to you. And I also know these stories deserve more than speed and deadlines. They deserve my best self. They deserve the right moment." She continued: "When the moment came, what I thought would be one book... very quickly became something…

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How to read the Young Sherlock books in order
type: item
date: 2026-03-04T08:00:33.000Z
creator: James Hibbs
subject: Books
subject: Amazon Prime Video
subject: On demand
description: The new Prime Video series focuses on Sherlock's investigations at age 19.
encoded: Following on from his Sherlock Holmes films released in 2009 and 2011, director Guy Ritchie has returned to Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic character with Young Sherlock, a new Prime Video series starring Hero Fiennes Tiffin as the title character. The series sees a 19-year-old Sherlock team up with a new friend, one who will go on to be his arch-nemesis - James Moriarty. At this point, they are detectives together, looking into a case which unravels a globe-trotting conspiracy and leads to an explosive showdown that alters the course of Sherlock's life forever. All eight episodes of the series are available to stream now, but is the show based on a book or series of books? Read on for everything you need to know about the Young Sherlock book series. Is Young Sherlock based on a book? Yes and no. Young Sherlock is loosely based on the spin-off books by Andrew Lane, the Young Sherlock Holmes series, but the use of the word 'loosely' is key. Predominantly, the series tells a brand-new story, and focuses on Sherlock's investigations at a later age than the books. While the books start with Sherlock being aged 14, in the series he is 19 at the start of the run. The novels are all written by Andrew Lane, who has also written a number of books and audio dramas related to Doctor Who and Torchwood. There have been a number of links between Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes over the years, most prominently the fact that Sherlock, the BBC series which transposed Holmes's adventures to the modern day, was created by two Who writers, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss. Episodes of that series were also written by Steve Thompson, another screenwriter who has worked on Doctor Who and who has also returned to writing for Holmes in the new series. Thompson is not only a writer on Young Sherlock, but also an executive producer. How many books are there in the Young Sherlock Holmes series? There are eight novels in the Young Sherlock Holmes series in total. They were released between 2010 and 20…

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Dept Q books in order: How to read Jussi Adler-Olsen stories
type: item
date: 2026-03-03T12:00:31.000Z
creator: Helen Daly
subject: Books
subject: RT Book Club
description: Get to know the Dept Q team.
encoded: Jussi Adler-Olsen’s Dept Q series is a cornerstone of modern Scandinavian crime fiction, blending dark, intricate mysteries with sardonic humour and a cast of unforgettable characters. The novels follow Detective Carl Mørck as he heads Copenhagen’s cold case division, unearthing secrets that others would rather stay buried. With the arrival of the Netflix adaptation – relocating the action to Edinburgh and bringing the stories to a new audience – there’s never been a better time to explore the original books in the order they were published. Bear in mind, the books have different titles in the UK compared to the US, so we've stuck with the UK translations here. So here’s your definitive guide to reading the Dept Q series from start to finish. Dept Q books in order: Mercy (2011) - also known as The Keeper of Lost Causes in the US Disgrace (2012) - also known as The Absent One in the US Redemption (2013) - also known as A Conspiracy of Faith in the US Guilt (2013) - also known as The Purity of Vengeance in the US Buried (2014) - also known as The Marco Effect in the US The Hanging Girl (2015) The Scarred Woman (2017) Victim 2117 (2020) The Shadow Murders (2022) Locked In (2024) Mercy (2011) The series opens with Mercy, introducing Detective Carl Mørck, who is sidelined to the newly-created Department Q after a traumatic shooting incident. Tasked with investigating cold cases, Mørck begins with the disappearance of politician Merete Lynggaard, a mystery everyone else has written off as unsolvable. This first novel establishes the series’ signature blend of psychological depth, grim humour and the complex moral landscape of Danish policing, while setting up the dynamic between Mørck and his soon-to-be indispensable assistant, Assad. Disgrace (2012) Disgrace sees Department Q handed a closed case – the brutal murder of a brother and sister two decades earlier. Although someone has confessed, Mørck is unconvinced by the official version and is drawn into a world of privil…

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Richard Osman confirms brand new sequel novel with "lots of thrills" and when fans can expect it
type: item
date: 2026-02-27T13:16:29.000Z
creator: Molly Moss
subject: Books
subject: News
description: Steve, Amy and Rosie D'Antonio will be back...
encoded: Richard Osman has announced a second book in his We Solve Murders series and confirmed when fans can expect it. We Chase Shadows, which Osman has teased will be filled with “lots of thrills, lots of laughs, and lots of murders", is set to be released in September 2026. The author of the best-selling Thursday Murder Club mystery novels – the first of which was recently given the big-screen treatment – said in a video posted on his social media: "I have great news for fans of We Solve Murders: We Solve Murders 2 is on its way. "To celebrate I have got a perfect facsimile of Trouble the Cat on my lap. Steve, Amy and Rosie D'Antonio are back." We Chase Shadows is available for pre-order now. We Solve Murders hit shelves in September 2024. It follows private security officer Amy Wheeler and her father-in-law Steve Wheeler, an ex-policeman turned reluctant private investigator, as the pair solve murders while dodging death at every turn. View oEmbed on the source website “It’s a bit more airport thriller-y than The Thursday Murder Club," Osman told Radio Times of the novel at the time of its release. "I knew I wanted to set myself a new challenge, but this book absolutely has the same sensibility, the same warmth and humour based in characters. I get to go around the world with it, which is nice, but Steve has no interest in that. "I thought a fun character to send on a cat-and-mouse chase around the world would be somebody who’s thinking, 'I hope we get this done by Tuesday because I want to get back for the pub quiz.'" In another interview, Osman also told Radio Times that there will be a television series adaptation of the novel, though he didn’t provide any further details. Add Radio Times as a Preferred Source on Google Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from Radio Times – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google. The official synopsis for We Chase Shadows teases: …

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Harriet Tyce: 'No jury in the land would be able to crack The Traitors'
type: item
date: 2026-02-26T09:00:50.000Z
creator: Helen Daly
subject: Books
subject: Exclusive
subject: Interview
subject: RT Book Club
description: Tyce talks Witch Trial, her latest book out now – and it's unintentional link to The Traitors.
encoded: It's been quite the year already for Harriet Tyce. Fresh off an iconic stint on The Traitors where she put the cat among the pigeons in an explosive episode, Tyce has now returned to the day job – writing crime novels. Her first, Blood Orange, was published in 2019 and immediately climbed charts and placed her firmly in the batch of exciting crime writers to watch out for. But it's her latest novel Witch Trial, which is out today (Thursday 26 February), that's got the most attention. "It's always an exciting time [around publication]. I have to say this time it's like it's on steroids. It's been amplified so much," Tyce tells Radio Times a couple of days before her novel is published. Witch Trial tells the story of two girls who are on trial for the murder of their best friend, Christian. As the trial begins, the story is uncovered through the eyes of the jury who can barely comprehend the story they're being told – and when it takes a supernatural turn, it makes us question everything. "My editor at the time suggested I write a book about teenage serial killers. I wasn't so much interested in a serial killer, but a teenage defendant stuck in my head," Tyce explains about the origins of the novel. "I had become very interested in the idea of jurors, in what each individual person brings to the jury room. And the third bit of the puzzle that was missing was the supernatural element, which came from going to see a production of The Crucible. "I've never done anything with a supernatural element before and I've always been terrified of that kind of thing. It was frightening but it was an interesting frightening because I was looking at subject matters I knew nothing about – and that always brings a level of excitement as well, to embark on a completely new topic." A dark puzzle set in Scotland, supernatural presence and an unlikely bunch of people coming together to determine if someone is guilty or not? Sounds an awful lot like Tyce's recent turn on The Traitors. She …

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Next Heated Rivalry book release date delayed as author Rachel Reid offers health update
type: item
date: 2026-02-25T13:48:31.000Z
creator: Molly Moss
subject: Books
subject: Contains Trailer
subject: News
description: The novel has been delayed by almost a year.
encoded: Rachel Reid, the author of the Game Changers series upon which hit HBO hockey drama Heated Rivalry is based, has delayed the release of her next novel due to health reasons. Unrivaled, which was due to be released in September 2026, will now be published on 1 June 2027. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Reid, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2023, explained that her symptoms have “gotten a bit worse”, which has made “it difficult physically to write”. She added: “Ultimately it’s going to be a much better book and that’s the most important thing to me, and I think it’s going to be better for the readers and better for the characters." Rachel Reid's Game Changers book series is available now Reid published her first novel in the Game Changers series in 2018, before following it up with five further books. Unrivaled is the seventh book in Reid’s novel series, and will continue Ilya and Shane’s story. Following its release on Crave in Canada and HBO Max in the US last November – and on Sky and NOW in January in the UK – Heated Rivalry quickly became a significant hit. The show, which is adapted and directed by Jacob Tierney, follows two rival and closeted NHL superstars – Canadian Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Russian Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) – as they navigate a years-long love story and an environment in which coming out could damage their careers. The series has been praised by fans and critics alike for its sex positivity and its groundbreaking representation of LGBTQ+ athletes. In December, Reid shared that the success of the TV adaptation had helped her access better care for her Parkinson’s disease. In an interview with Variety, the author revealed that a Parkinson’s expert had contacted her after hearing about her diagnosis in a publicity interview for the show. She added: "I've never gotten to talk to a Parkinson's expert. I've been on a five-year waiting list here because I live in a very small place. Now he's found me a Parkinson's expert, a n…

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Why Lord of the Flies author William Golding didn't put girls on his classic novel's island
type: item
date: 2026-02-23T17:00:20.000Z
creator: Mark Lawson
subject: Books
subject: Interview
subject: Magazine
subject: RT Book Club
description: William Golding’s daughter Judy Carver recalls the seismic effect Lord of the Flies had on her father’s life and work.
encoded: This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. When Judy Carver was a child, her schoolmaster father regularly sent off a parcel to London that always, to his dejection, came back. She eventually understood that it was a story called Strangers from Within. One day, there was elation in the house. The story was going to become a book. Judy heard the words “Faber and Faber” so often she thought that was now the book’s title rather than the name of the publisher, but Lord of the Flies, written by her father William Golding, was published in September 1954, when Judy was nine. The book is now 72 years old and flourishing again as a four-part BBC One drama that concludes this week. Judy – Carver is her married name – remembers that much-travelled and long-unwanted manuscript: “It was dog-eared. That was one of the things that [editor] Charles Monteith at Faber spotted: other publishers had been reading it, but it was well read only up to a certain point, when people gave up. So he pushed on further, and transformed my father’s life.” Judy agrees that Faber’s choice to call the book Lord of the Flies – a traditional name for the Devil, that also alludes to a buzzily scary scene in the novel – was an improvement on her father’s original. It reflects ominous, mystical qualities in the story of a group of schoolboys stranded on a tropical island following the crash of a government plane evacuating them during a nuclear crisis, who descend into violently competing cliques. Does Strangers from Within, though, address more directly the book’s theme of how people can transform when in extremis? “Well, indeed,” says Judy. “That word ‘strangers’. Another phrase, in an essay my father wrote, is that we are suffering from ‘the terrible disease of being human’. And you could say what he is talking about is an internal intrusion or a malignant growth or something like that.” In one way, the famous title became an irritation to Golding. His daughter’s 2012 memoir, The Children of…

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I quit my job of 25 years to write a book – I felt frozen with fear
type: item
date: 2026-02-23T17:00:04.000Z
creator: Ed Grenby
subject: Books
subject: Interview
subject: Magazine
subject: RT Book Club
description: Jennie Godfrey's new novel is out now.
encoded: This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Jennie Godfrey is the author other authors hate. “I think, being really honest, that some of them absolutely do,” she confirms. It’s not that she’s unpleasant or a bad writer (she’s very much neither); what’s put literary backs up is her success, and the apparent ease by which she came by it. Her first novel, 2024’s The List of Suspicious Things topped The Sunday Times charts, was one of the UK’s all-time bestselling debuts, sold 10,000 copies in its first week – and (can you hear those teeth grinding?) was the first thing she’d ever written. “I’ve had lots of people cast aspersions on my route to the bestsellers charts,” she sighs. “I wrote a SubStack post [about it], and I got accused of lying, of having connections in publishing, of secretly working for publishers, of being rich, of having a rich family…” It would all be quite depressing if it weren’t for the fact that, on the other hand, “there are a lot of people who’ve taken great hope from my story. Because when you do start writing, all you hear is how difficult it is, how you’ll never get an agent, you’ll never get a book deal… And particularly women of a certain age [Godfrey is 55], you’re told you’ve missed your chance. And I’m the opposite of all that.” Hers is certainly an inspiring backstory: after a 25-year career in corporate HR, she chucked in the job to pen a book – “before I’d started writing it or even had the idea for it. Which was like jumping off a cliff without a parachute.” The day job that Godfrey says she was “insane” to quit was a good grounding, though, it seems: “As an HR person, people tell you stuff. You get to know their secrets and what lies behind everyone’s façades.” Handy, because that’s very much the subject of her new novel, published earlier this month: “The Barbecue at No 9 is set in July 1985, and takes place over the 12 hours of the Live Aid concert. It’s the story of the residents of a new-build cul-de-sac, and how they …

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Beloved author Marian Keyes reveals why 'chick lit' exposes the "hollowness" of post-feminism
type: item
date: 2026-02-16T17:00:38.000Z
creator: Rosie Millard
subject: Books
subject: BBC
subject: Interview
subject: Magazine
description: Marian Keyes’s novels were seen as fluffy fiction, but a new drama about her Walsh sisters is fun and fearless.
encoded: This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. The award-winning Irish author Marian Keyes has sold millions of books in an internationally acclaimed career, but still behaves as if she has everything to prove. A few years back she was invited to be on the BBC arts programme Imagine. Her reaction? “You’ve rung me by mistake, it’s Roddy Doyle you want.” And despite the fact that two of her novels have now been adapted into a six-part series, The Walsh Sisters – a cracking, tragicomic saga of five sisters living it large in Dublin – she still doesn’t think she deserves it. “Well, it’s 30 years since my first book was published, and things have been suggested all the time, and nothing ever gets made, and it’s the hope that kills you,” she says. “So I just never bothered expecting it, because I felt there was no point.” When I ask why she’s so down on herself, she widens her green eyes and looks directly at me. “Because I write popular fiction. People were so keen to tell me that that my voice was worthless and my books were worthless…” she shrugs. Not only does Keyes write popular fiction – albeit peppered with Shakespearean allusions and quotes from the King James Bible – but that fiction often comes with pink covers. “I have stayed the course and I have defended myself for a long time, especially with men. I mean, sexism was so rife. It was OK for men to mock books with pink covers.” The eyes get even wider. “The patriarchy was so confident. One great way of hanging on to the power and the money is to mock the things that women love. A woman might read a book and love it. And a man will say, ‘You’re not reading that pink fluff, are you?’ And immediately a woman feels foolish and embarrassed.” Keyes is charming, but there is anger just under the smiley surface. Take her first novel, Watermelon. It deals with a number of the most urgent of female issues (single parenting, the pay gap, body dysmorphia). Yet, when it was published in 1995, it was put into a pink du…

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How to read James Patterson’s Alex Cross books in order
type: item
date: 2026-02-10T15:00:45.000Z
creator: Fleurine Tideman
subject: Books
subject: RT Book Club
description: We've put together the ultimate guide to James Patterson’s Alex Cross series, from his very first case to his latest showdown.
encoded: As Aldis Hodge returns as Alex Cross in the second season of Prime Video's adaptation, simply titled Cross, now could be the perfect time to revisit or read for the first time the novels that inspired it. Over more than three decades, Alex Cross has emerged as one of suspense fiction’s most enduring characters, appearing in 34 novels to date by James Patterson. Of course, the Alex Cross series isn't the only one written by Patterson, but it is a fan favourite, with readers finding themselves hooked by the adventures of the Metropolitan Police Department. Whether you're a newcomer who's enjoying the Prime Video series, a seasoned Cross-head who's read all of the novels, or someone looking for a lighter spin-off fix, you’ll find everything you need to know in this guide to Patterson’s most popular series. Here’s how you read the Alex Cross books in order. How to read the Alex Cross books in order Along Came a Spider (1993) Kiss the Girls (1995) Jack & Jill (1996) Cat & Mouse (1997) Pop Goes the Weasel (1999) Roses Are Red (2000) Violets Are Blue (2001) Four Blind Mice (2002) The Big Bad Wolf (2003) London Bridges (2004) Mary, Mary (2005) Cross (2006) Double Cross (2007) Cross Country (2008) Alex Cross’s Trial (2009) I, Alex Cross (2009) Cross Fire (2010) Kill Alex Cross (2011) Merry Christmas, Alex Cross (2012) Alex Cross, Run (2013) Cross My Heart (2013) Hope to Die (2014) Cross Justice (2015) Cross the Line (2016) The People vs. Alex Cross (2017) Target: Alex Cross (2018) Criss Cross (2019) Deadly Cross (2020) Fear No Evil (2021) Triple Cross (2022) Cross Down (2023) Alex Cross Must Die (2023) The House of Cross (2024) Return of the Spider (2025) What’s the appeal of the Alex Cross series? Meet Alex Cross: a forensic psychologist turned DC detective, a widower raising children and a dogged crime-solver with a heart. Since the first novel was published in 1993, readers have followed Cross through gruesome murders, ruthless masterminds and personal heartache. Patterso…

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Need more Bridgerton now? 17 steamy historical romances and raciest Regency books to whet your appetite
type: item
date: 2026-02-10T09:30:46.000Z
creator: Fleurine Tideman
subject: Books
subject: RT Book Club
description: Gentle Reader, it's time to actually read a book.
encoded: Gentle readers, if you binged the first half of Bridgerton season 4 and devoured Benedict and Sophie’s blossoming romance, you’re probably now staring at the calendar, counting down to Part Two on 26 February. We feel you. To pass the time, why not become a true gentle reader? Close that Netflix tab and pick up a book, it’s the best way to immerse yourself in the Regency romances of Bridgerton and other period dramas. To make it easier, we’ve rounded up the best historical romances and Regency-style reads to tide you over until the next episode. Let's get into some historical fiction. What to read after finishing Bridgerton An Offer from a Gentleman by Julia Quinn Marry Me By Midnight by Felicia Grossman Bookshop Cinderella by Laura Lee Guhrke A Waltz on the Wild Side by Erica Ridley A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin A Lady For a Duke by Alex Hall A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore Desperate Duchesses by Eloisa James Much Ado About Margaret by Madeleine Roux A Gentleman’s Gentleman by TJ Alexander Hathor and the Prince by JJ McAvoy Remember When by Mary Balogh The Duke Undone by Joanna Lowell Notorious by Katherine Harlow Denying the Duke by Callie Hutton The Duchess Takes a Husband by Harper St George Lady Sophia's Lover by Lisa Kleypas 1. An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn It’ll come as no surprise that if you’re looking for books like Bridgerton season 4, the place to start is the novel that inspired it. The third book in the Bridgerton series follows Benedict and Sophie’s love story – a classic Cinderella tale, though even more enchanting on the page. Sophie Beckett was adapted into Sophie Baek for the series to suit the brilliant Yerin Ha and add extra layers to the role, and the novel has been rereleased with a series tie-in, making it the perfect follow-up to the season. Sophie never imagined she’d sneak into Lady Bridgerton’s legendary masquerade ball – or that her very own ‘Prince Charming’ would be waiting. Though the daughter of an…

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The Gruffalo series to get sequel with new character – more than 20 years after last instalment
type: item
date: 2026-02-06T11:47:52.000Z
creator: Helen Daly
subject: Books
subject: RT Book Club
description: The Gruffalo's family is expanding.
encoded: Beloved children's author Julia Donaldson has confirmed she has written a new story about her iconic character, the Gruffalo, and will be introducing a new character. Gruffalo Granny will mark the third book in the series about the creature and his family and friends, and currently is due for release in September. As previously, it will be illustrated by long-term collaborator, Axel Scheffler. Donaldson made the exciting announcement during an appearance on BBC Radio 4's Today programme (Friday 6th February), saying: "It'a always a challenge to write a sequel. I've had this idea for the best part of two decades but I've just been so busy writing other things. And now of course I'm a granny myself, so maybe that's what spurred me on..." Scheffler added: "I've been saying for more than 20 years there wouldn't be a sequel, and it's taught me to never say never. It was a complete surprise for me, but Julia came up with such a wonderful story and I got very excited about it." The Fox, Snake, Owl and Mouse will all return for the sequel. So far, one line has been revealed: "The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay." The Gruffalo was first published in 1999, with The Gruffalo's Child following five years later. It was turned into a short film for the BBC by Magic Light Pictures in 2009, with a star-studded cast made up of Helena Bonham Carter, Rob Brydon, James Corden and more. The film would go on to be nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 83rd Academy Awards. The Gruffalo's Child was adapted in 2011 with the same cast returning. The Gruffalo's Granny will be released on 10th September 2026. You can pre-order it here. For all the latest RT Book Club news, interviews, Q&As with the authors, reviews of previous books and more, visit The Radio Times Book Club. Looking for more reading recommendations? Join the Radio Times Book Club here - we offer 3-month or 6-month memberships as well as monthly or quarterly subscriptions wh…

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Gossip Girl author confirms sequel novel about Blair Waldorf with major time jump and release window
type: item
date: 2026-02-05T12:17:39.000Z
creator: David Craig
subject: Books
subject: News
description: The announcement will ignite fresh hope of further TV adaptations.
encoded: The world of Gossip Girl is about to expand with a brand new novel from original author Cecily von Ziegesar to reveal what became of one of the franchise's standout characters. Simply titled Blair, the book will follow fan favourite Blair Waldorf, now in her 40s, as she returns to New York City and resumes navigating the Upper East Side's wealthy socialite circles. Further details about the plot are being kept under wraps, but speculation is already brewing that this new book could pave the way for a(nother) revival of the once-dominant TV property. Blair is scheduled for release in summer 2027, with Grand Central Publishing to handle the release in the US, and Orion Fiction to publish in other international territories, including the UK (via Deadline). Based on Von Ziegesar's young adult novels, Gossip Girl had a hugely popular run on television between 2007 and 2012, helping to launch the careers of stars including Blake Lively (It Ends With Us), Penn Badgley (You) and Chace Crawford (The Boys). However, an HBO Max follow-up featuring an all-new cast couldn't recapture the magic, receiving mixed reviews from critics and ultimately getting axed after only two seasons. Could the upcoming Blair novel offer a fresh chance for Gossip Girl to thrive on-screen? Potentially, although it's unclear whether actor Leighton Meester has any interest in returning to the role that she originated. The actor recently addressed her Gossip Girl past at last year's SAG Awards, where she appeared alongside the show's narrator Kristen Bell for a skit targeted at some of the famous faces in the crowd. View oEmbed on the source website However, when the HBO Max revival was launching, Meester appeared unsure about the prospect of reprising her role, telling Fox 5 New York that she didn't feel she would "fit in" to the new iteration. Meester recently appeared alongside Bell and her own real-life husband Adam Brody in Netflix's Nobody Wants This, in addition to roles in Apple's period drama …

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26 book-to-screen adaptations in 2026: Including contentious Brontë film and Frankenstein (but not as you know it)
type: item
date: 2026-01-23T07:00:59.000Z
creator: Helen Daly
subject: Books
description: From BookTok to classics, there's a wealth of great books being adapted this year.
encoded: Film and TV makers are increasingly looking to page-turning books for their inspiration for stories to tell - and why shouldn't they? There's a wealth of gripping plots and twists just waiting to be projected onto the big (and small) screen. This year, there's set to be a plethora of delightful book-to-screen adaptations for us to enjoy, with classics like Mary Shelley's Frankenstein being adapted (again... but not as you'd think), and of course, Emerald Fennell's already-contentious Wuthering Heights film. For those over on TikTok, there are a few titles coming up you'll definitely recognise from #BookTok, like Colleen Hoover's Reminders of Him and Verity, among others. The best bit of all? We've rounded up the hottest adaptations coming to the big and small screens in 2026 - so you can read the books in good time. Make sure to keep this page bookmarked in case any new adaptations are slotted into the release schedule. TV and film adaptations in 2026 Agatha Christie's Seven Dials - out now A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms - out now H is for Hawk - out now Hamnet - out now His and Hers - out now People We Meet on Vacation - out now Bridgerton season 4 - 29th January Wuthering Heights - 13th February Outlander season 8 - 6th March The Bride! - 6th March Scarpetta - 11th March Reminders of Him - 13th March Imperfect Women - 18th March Project Hail Mary - 20th March Margo's Got Money Troubles - 15th April Remarkably Bright Creatures - 8th May The Odyssey - 17th July The Book of Magic - 28th September Verity - 2nd October Remain - 23rd October Sunrise on the Reaping - 20th November Dune: Part Three - 18th December Carrie - TBC Pride & Prejudice - TBC The Love Hypothesis - TBC The Other Bennet Sister - TBC 1. Agatha Christie's Seven Dials How to watch: now on Netflix Agatha Christie is a master of suspenseful whodunnits, making her works prime suspects for adaptations. The latest on Netflix is a three-part series based on The Seven Dials Mystery which investigates a myster…

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Harriet Tyce books in order: How to read The Traitors star's crime novels
type: item
date: 2026-01-14T10:00:05.000Z
creator: Fleurine Tideman
subject: Books
subject: RT Book Club
description: All of the barrister turned crime writer turned Faithful's books, including her upcoming release.
encoded: As the UK becomes captivated by the latest season of The Traitors, one Faithful is standing out for her cunning strategy: Harriet Tyce. Not only is Tyce a successful crime writer, but she’s also a former barrister – though her fellow Faithfuls and the Traitors themselves remain blissfully unaware. Her sharp mind and calculated approach have made her a standout on the show, proving that her legal and writing skills translate perfectly to reality TV – and she's already caught one Traitor. While viewers cheer for Harriet on screen, many are also turning to her novels off screen, eager to dive into the dark, twisty worlds she creates and to support their crime-solving hero. Born and raised in Edinburgh, Harriet holds a Master’s in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia and has published four gripping crime novels, with a fifth on the way. Her books have been praised for their clever plotting, so perfect for fans of suspense and thrillers. Here’s everything you need to know about Harriet Tyce’s books, how to read them in order, and details on her newest release. Harriet Tyce’s books in order Blood Orange (2019) The Lies You Told (2020) It Ends at Midnight (2022) A Lesson in Cruelty (2024) Witch Trial (2026) Blood Orange (2019) Harriet Tyce released her debut novel in 2019, drawing on her own legal experience to craft a far wilder tale of fiction. The story follows Alison, a woman who seemingly has it all: a doting husband, an adorable daughter, and a career on the rise. But Alison has just been handed her first murder case to defend, and beneath the perfect façade lies a life full of secrets. She drinks too much, neglects her family, and is having an affair with a colleague whose appetite for pushing boundaries may be more than she can handle. When her client wants to plead guilty to stabbing her husband, Alison senses that something isn’t right. Meanwhile, someone is watching her… and they know all of her secrets. Can Alison save her client? Can she save he…

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When is the next Heated Rivalry book released?
type: item
date: 2026-01-13T13:57:38.000Z
creator: Fleurine Tideman
subject: Books
subject: RT Book Club
description: Your guide to Rachel Reid's Game Changers series.
encoded: Who would’ve thought we’d all be tuning in to watch men play ice hockey? Only, of course, we’re not really watching Heated Rivalry for the hockey — we’re here for the magnetic romance between the two star players, Shane Hollander (played by Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie). Their fierce on-ice rivalry is mirrored by undeniable off-ice chemistry, as the pair struggles to balance a secret relationship with the intense demands of their professional lives. It’s high-stakes sport meets high-stakes romance, and viewers have been hooked. The series became an instant hit when season 1 premiered in its native Canada in December 2025, with such a strong response that a second season is already in the works. UK viewers were finally able to dive in when the show landed on 10 January 2026, and many of us have been eagerly devouring it ever since. What some viewers may not realise, however, is that Heated Rivalry is adapted from a hugely popular book series. The show is based on Heated Rivalry, the second novel in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series, which centres on different gay couples navigating love, ambition and life in the world of professional ice hockey. Once you’ve finished binge-watching the TV adaptation, chances are you’ll want even more heat on the ice. That’s where the books come in... Here’s everything you need to know about the Heated Rivalry novels — also known as the Game Changers series. Happy reading. When is the next Heated Rivalry book out? Unrivaled is currently set for release on 29 September 2026. The Heated Rivalry duo are easily the most beloved characters in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series — a fact made clear by one very important detail: Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov are the only couple to receive not just a sequel novel, but now a third book as well. On 12 January 2026, Reid officially announced that Shane and Ilya would be returning for another instalment. Titled Unrivaled, the upcoming novel is the seventh book in the Game C…

The Young Ones' Nigel Planer says Adrian Edmondson "regrets" falling out with late Rik Mayall before death
type: item
date: 2026-01-12T17:00:45.000Z
creator: Ed Grenby
subject: Books
subject: Interview
subject: Magazine
description: Nigel Planer discusses his role as Neil the hippy in The Young Ones and much more in his new memoir.
encoded: This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Even Nigel Planer’s own mum used to confuse him with Neil the hippy, the character he created for The Young Ones back in 1982. “She usually got my name right, at least,” he sighs, admitting that his friends sometimes don’t, “but she did think I was vegetarian, simply because he was.” He’s not the first actor, of course, to become indelibly conflated with a part he’s played. But with a career that’s also taken in TV shows from Blackadder to Blackeyes, West End musicals, writing poetry and plays and more than 100 episodes of The Magic Roundabout, it must annoy him, no? “Should I be like a lot of comedians, and go, ‘I don’t want to talk about that’? My colleague Adrian [Edmondson, who played punk Vyvyan in The Young Ones] has an attitude that’s done him a lot of good: saying, ‘That was two months of my life, 45 years ago. Why should I be talking about it now? I want to move forward.’ That works for him, and all power to him – but I can’t seem to get away from it. “When we’re going around together, he avoids people but I always end up chatting to them. Maybe it’s because I’m 6ft 3in, or because I’ve got a stupid face: he can just walk past people and they don’t notice, but I still get 'Neil, Neil, orange peel' [one of the show’s many memorable phrases] three times a day. "But why be mean to them? I just think about my favourite series, Dad’s Army, and the people in it: the actors might think, ‘I’ve been cornered now,’ but I love those characters. And if I can generate in other people just a quarter of what I feel about Ian Lavender – ‘Don’t tell him, Pike!’ – I can die happy.” Certainly Planer’s new memoir gives a satisfyingly significant chunk over to his most famous role (and takes its punning title, Young Once, from the show, too). But the multi-hyphenate has many more stories to tell: married three times, a grandfather at 29, with stints as bellringer, gravedigger and Top of the Pops performer on his CV, he descri…

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Queen legend Brian May argues we've lost the ability to "discuss" and "respect" other people's point of view
type: item
date: 2026-01-05T17:00:51.000Z
creator: Caroline Frost
subject: Books
subject: Interview
subject: Magazine
description: "There's so much suffering in the world, why would we want to add to it?"
encoded: This article originally appeared in Radio Times Magazine. Brian May has an affinity with big numbers. When he stood on the roof of Buckingham Palace in 2002 and played the national anthem on his electric guitar to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, it was in front of a reported worldwide audience of 200 million. Prior to that he walked out on stage at Live Aid with Queen, who stole the show in front of an estimated two billion viewers. And in a musical career spanning more than half a century, his band has sold more than 300 million records, including 1975’s Bohemian Rhapsody, which remains the most streamed song of the 20th century. Yet all these figures are dwarfed by the numbers on May’s mind today, as he reels off the jaw-dropping statistics at the centre of his new book, Islands in Infinity: Galaxies in 3-D, the first publication to present galaxies in three-dimensional form, thanks to stereoscopy, a historic photographic method using pairs of images to simulate depth. “This is the culmination of a series of projects linking stereoscopy with astronomy,” May tells Radio Times. “We previously did Mission Moon 3-D (about the Apollo landings), Bennu 3-D, about a rendezvous with an asteroid, and Cosmic Clouds. Where do you go from there, once you go outside our galaxy? The answer is: other galaxies. And there are billions of them – we’re only now realising how vast the universe is and how densely packed. “Astronomy is marching forward, daily, at a vast speed, and it’s hard to keep up. But if you know what makes galaxies tick, you know what makes the universe tick. So we’ve tried to make an easy way for people to be completely up to date.” May, who has a doctorate himself on the velocity of the zodiacal dust cloud, has co-authored the book with renowned experts in the field Derek Ward-Thompson and J-P Metsavainio, and describes his role as “the catalyst, the guy who puts it together, and the editor”. He explains: “When it’s mapped out, I ask every question under t…

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Best books released in 2026: including anticipated next novel from best-selling author
type: item
date: 2026-01-02T07:00:43.000Z
creator: Helen Daly
subject: Books
subject: RT Book Club
description: Get your tote bag - it's time to go shopping.
encoded: Last year was a great 12 months, packed with fantastic books to keep you entertained all year. And luckily for us bookworms, 2026 looks to be no different. It can be a little overwhelming finding something to read in a bookshop, and while it's fun browsing the shelves, it's good to know what's worth your time. Thankfully, RadioTimes.com is on hand with our pick of the hottest fiction releases in 2026 you'll want to add to your TBR immediately. And in good news for you, it will be updated as more fantastic books appear on the release calendar – so keep it bookmarked. Read on for our picks of the best books in 2026. 21 best books of 2026 so far Meet the Newmans - Jennifer Niven Half His Age - Jennette McCurdy The Old Fire - Elisa Shua Dusapin (translated by Aneesa Abbas Higgins) Helen of Nowhere - Makenna Goodman Glyph - Ali Smith Greedy - Callie Kazumi Lost Lambs - Madeline Cash Orange - Curtis Garner Suckerfish - Ashani Lewis Cleopatra - Saara El Arifi Gloria Don't Speak - Lucy Apps Strange Buildings - Uketsu Hooked - Asako Yuzuki (translated by Polly Barton) Six Little Words - Sally Page Minor Black Figures - Brandon Taylor Tangerinn - Emanuela Anechoum (translated by Lucy Rand) The Ending Writes Itself - Evelyn Clarke My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein: A Fiction - Deborah Levy The Calamity Club - Kathryn Stockett Land - Maggie O'Farrell Agrippa - Robert Harris 1. Meet the Newmans - Jennifer Niven Released: 15/01/26 Niven's latest novel is about America's favourite TV family - but when the façade starts to crack, secrets and explosive truths come to light. This one's for fans of Lessons in Chemistry and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. 2. Half His Age - Jennette McCurdy Released: 20/01/26 From the bestselling author of I'm Glad My Mom Died, McCurdy is back with an equally sad and funny novel about sex, class, desire and power. Waldo is going through a range of emotions, but above all, she's desperate to have Mr Korgy, her creative writing tutor. This novel is …

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Michael Rosen: "This may sound extraordinary, but I'm not traumatised by the death of my son"
type: item
date: 2025-12-29T17:00:51.000Z
creator: Ed Grenby
subject: Books
subject: Interview
subject: Magazine
description: Writer and broadcaster Michael Rosen has had more than his fair share of difficult times – but in his latest book, he comes up with hints on how to find the positive.
encoded: This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. "This may sound extraordinary,” says Michael Rosen, “but I’m not traumatised by the death of my son.” While I try to take that in, the broadcaster and writer continues. “And I’m not traumatised by having been in a coma for 40 days. I’m concerned, I’m worried, I’m saddened, I’m all those things. But that word ‘trauma’ means something else: it comes from German, the idea of a dream you can’t get out of – you’re stuck in it, and at a loss. And I can genuinely say: I think about it, but I’m not stuck. I can love my son who died, and live with it, and not feel traumatised by it.” It’s perhaps the ultimate affidavit for Rosen’s new book, Good Days. There are plenty of self-appointed gurus out there telling us how to live our “best lives”, but Rosen is a man who’s faced some truly dark times – and if he can come out the other side untraumatised, his advice is probably worth listening to. He’s written before about the sudden death of his son, Eddie, aged 18, in 1999, and about his own near-death experience with Covid, and that almost biblical-sounding 40-day coma. (He’s also, of course, written, some of Britain’s best-loved children’s poetry, including the classic We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.) But this is his most practical work yet, an ‘A-Z of Hope and Happiness’ as the publishers have subtitled it – complete with not just the author’s trademark profound-but-amusing observations on life, but also “hints, reminders, tips and suggestions” that readers might want to “imitate, adapt or adopt”. Rosen is a natural pedagogue: his much-memed poetry readings are as popular with kids as his studies of language are on Radio 4’s Word of Mouth, which returns for its 34th year this week. But the tone of Good Days is anything but lecturing. “It’s a little bit like a recipe book,” he agrees. “It’s saying, ‘If you want to try and make a cake this way, then this is how you can do it’. It doesn’t tell you that’s what you have to do. So, for…

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39 best books of 2025: From Stephen King epic to the Booker Prize winner
type: item
date: 2025-12-29T07:00:22.000Z
creator: Helen Daly
subject: Books
description: Like we needed another excuse to go book shopping.
encoded: It's been a fantastic year for book lovers with some extraordinary releases. From Stephen King's latest in the Holly Gibney series to the winner of the Man Booker prize, there's been a wealth of literary feasts to devour. It can be a little daunting seeing so many releases and not quite knowing which books are worth a trip to the shop (not that we really need an excuse). We at RadioTimes.com have picked out the books you need to buy from 2025 – in no particular order. 39 best book releases of 2025 Here is our list of the best book releases of 2025: Normal Women - Ainslie Hogarth Blessings - Chukwuebuka Ibeh So Thrilled for You - Holly Bourne Water Moon - Samantha Sotto Yambao Confessions - Catherine Airey Made Up, but Still True - Donald Sutherland We All Live Here - Jojo Moyes The Voices - Natalie Chandler Carrion Crow - Heather Parry Show Don't Tell - Curtis Sittenfeld Dream Count - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Hunchback - Saou Ichikawa (translated by Polly Barton) Universality - Natasha Brown A Thousand Blues - Cheon Seon-ran (translated by Chi-Young Kim) Deep Cuts - Holly Brickley I Want to Go Home but I'm Already There - Róisín Lanigan Greater Sins - Gabrielle Griffiths The Vipers - Katy Hays Fair Play - Louise Hegarty Aftertaste - Daria Lavelle Onyx Storm - Rebecca Yarros The Impossible Fortune - Richard Osman The Long Shoe - Bob Mortimer Never Flinch - Stephen King Not Quite Dead Yet - Holly Jackson Strange Pictures - Uketsu, translated by Jim Rion The Man Who Died Seven Times - Yasuhiko Nishizawa, translated by Jesse Kirkwood The Compound - Aisling Rawle The Killing Stones - Ann Cleeves Buckeye - Patrick Ryan Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid Men in Love - Irvine Welsh The Eleventh Hour - Salman Rushdie Flashlight - Susan Choi What We Can Know - Ian McEwan Flesh - David Szalay Perfection - Vincenzo Latronico, translated by Sophie Hughes Sunrise on the Reaping - Suzanne Collins The End of the World as We Know It - Brian Keene & Christopher Golden Here is all you n…

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Joanna Trollope on ditching 'Aga sagas' for career women and gay relationships
type: item
date: 2025-12-12T13:00:37.000Z
creator: Liz Hoggard
subject: Books
subject: Going Out
subject: News
subject: TV
description: The writer spoke to Radio Times magazine in 2017 about redressing the balance with her novel, City of Friends.
encoded: Joanna Trollope, who has died aged 82, was a novelist with an unerring eye for the tensions shaping modern life. Though often – and inaccurately – labelled the "queen of the Aga saga", she bristled at the tag, arguing that it diminished the seriousness of her work. As Fay Weldon once put it, Trollope had “a gift for putting her finger on the problem of the times”, whether she was writing about marriage, family, faith or the shifting expectations placed on women. That instinct is clear in this Radio Times interview from 2017, resurfaced to mark her passing, in which Trollope discusses City of Friends, her novel about women, power and work in the City. Speaking with characteristic candour, she explains why she felt compelled to write about professional women on their own terms, challenging the idea that ambition, authority and success must look male. At 73, she remained sharply observant, intellectually curious and determined to interrogate the world as it was, rather than as clichés suggested it to be. This article was originally published in February 2017 in Radio Times magazine. "I just didn't think there were any serious novels about women and work," says Joanna Trollope. "There were a few novels about women in the City, on the trading floor, behaving like men, getting drunk and having sex with clients. They were tough-girl, ladette novels. But I couldn't find one about the way women work – because I don't think they work the same way as men." So the 73-year-old writer has set about redressing the balance. Her new novel, City of Friends, focuses on four 47-year-olds, who first met studying economics at university and are now City high-flyers. And it's an impressively diverse group. "I wanted to include a marriage that had no children, a marriage that had children, a gay relationship and a single mother, because that sort of covered everything." City of Friends is Trollope's 20th novel. The Oxford-educated daughter of a rector (and distant relative of novelist Anth…

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Jane Austen’s enduring and universal appeal revealed by hit writers, from Pride & Prejudice 1995 screenwriter to David Baddiel
type: item
date: 2025-12-03T17:01:35.000Z
creator: Caroline Frost
subject: Books
subject: Interview
subject: Magazine
description: As Radio 4 marks 250 years since Jane Austen’s birth, Philippa Perry explains why the author remains so influential today
encoded: This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. This year, the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen, has seen ample celebration of the life and works of this singular observer of English life in the early 19th century. So far on TV, we’ve had a three-part documentary exploring Austen’s rebel spirit, the drama Miss Austen starring Keeley Hawes, and soon to follow is another version of Pride and Prejudice, this time with some big Netflix bucks and an all-star cast. When it comes to Austen, it seems broadcasters never scrimp, and Radio 4 is proving no exception – celebrating this important anniversary in style, with a dedicated season that has already featured a new take on Northanger Abbey, Radio 4 Extra mining its archive of classic dramas, and newly commissioned radio dramatisations of Pride and Prejudice (see below right) and, next weekend, Sense and Sensibility. The latter is also explored in a special episode of Bookclub on Tuesday (Austen’s 250th birthday) with Emma Thompson. Fans can also feast on a ten-part factual series, When I Met Jane Austen, in which her biographer, Dr Paula Byrne, asks a star line-up of guests – David Baddiel, Katherine Rundell, Val McDermid, Kate Atkinson, Andrew Davies, Amy Heckerling, Gurinder Chadha, Marlon James, Colm Tóibín and Philippa Perry – about how Austen’s work has shaped and influenced their lives and own creative efforts. Like so many of Austen’s many millions of fans across the world, psychotherapist and bestselling author Perry can barely remember life without recourse to the wit and wisdom of the author she credits with “changing her life” after she first encountered her work aged 12, and studied Pride and Prejudice for English O-level. So, what is so special about Austen’s small but peerless collection of works that includes six novels (Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion), one novella (Lady Susan) and the tantalisingly unfinished The Watsons and …

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The Witcher's Joey Batey reveals how his new novel embraces his Northern identity and being "forgotten" by those in power
type: item
date: 2025-12-03T16:20:55.000Z
creator: Helen Daly
subject: Books
subject: Exclusive
subject: RT Book Club
description: Joey Batey's ambitious new novel shows life in the North - and the creativity that stems from there.
encoded: If anyone sings the ditty "Toss a coin to your Witcher", you'd immediately hear the voice and see the face of Joey Batey. The 36-year-old was propelled to fame after his appearance in the hit Netflix series where he performed the catchy tune. But acting is purely one string to Batey's impressive bow; he's one half of indie folk band The Amazing Devil and he's also an author, with his remarkable debut novel the topic of conversation with RadioTimes.com when we caught up. It's Not A Cult is an ambitious folk horror novel, centred around a rebellious band in the North East of England. Callum, Melusine and Al have no band name, but they take their sound across pubs in the locality which tell stories of the 'Solkats', fictional gods of small things. While no one really knows what they're singing about, the band is happiest when they're playing music together - until an act of violence at a pub catches the eye of an influencer and the band suddenly go from having a cult following to having that cult following them. Callum insists the Solkats just want to have an effect on the world, but as their music grows far and wide, and their gigs become more tumultuous, they soon discover that the fictional mischief they've been singing about might just be real after all - and in demand of a sacrifice. It's ambitious and expensive, potentially owing to the fact it had been sitting with Batey for a long time. "When I was about 19, I had met these characters," Batey explained. "I knew the outline of what I wanted to write, but for some reason I was hesitant to put it to paper. I ended up writing a number of other novels throughout my 20s and 30s, just to cut my teeth. I got to a couple of years ago and thought, 'This story's been banging on the door for so long that I think now's the time'. In those years, with the introduction of social media, the story suddenly felt like it was relevant. "I felt like I got all the ingredients for it but I just hadn't put the oven on. When I started …

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23 best sci-fi books to help you escape reality: From Dune to The Martian
type: item
date: 2025-12-03T10:42:22.000Z
creator: Fleurine Tideman
subject: Books
subject: RT Book Club
description: From epic space operas to mind‑bending thrillers, these are the sci‑fi stories that will transport you to other worlds.
encoded: Whether you’re craving distant galaxies, futuristic tech or alternate realities, sci‑fi offers the perfect escape from the everyday. From the sprawling deserts of Dune to the high‑stakes survival of The Martian, these 23 unmissable books will take you on journeys that stretch the imagination, challenge perception and remind us why we fell in love with the genre in the first place. There’s something for everyone on this list of the best sci-fi books, so buckle up and prepare to enter the stratosphere with us. 23 best sci-fi books Dune by Frank Herbert The Martian by Andy Weir Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell Brave New World by Aldous Huxley The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin Hyperion by Dan Simmons The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman Kindred by Octavia E. Butler Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Ready Player One by Ernest Cline The Road by Cormac McCarthy The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone Jade City by Fonda Lee Red Rising by Pierce Brown The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine 1. Dune by Frank Herbert Before it became a blockbuster film starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, Dune was Frank Herbert’s bestselling sci-fi epic, followed by five sequels that many fans still consider the pinnacle of the genre. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, it follows Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family tasked with ruling a hostile world where the most precious resource is the “spice” melange, a substance that extends life and heightens awareness. When House Atreides is betrayed, Paul is thrust into a perilous journey; one that will shape not only his destiny, but the fate of an entire universe. 2. The Martian…

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23 best romance books to make you believe in love again: From Emily Henry to Jilly Cooper
type: item
date: 2025-12-02T15:25:33.000Z
creator: Fleurine Tideman
subject: Books
subject: RT Book Club
description: Will it be love at first page? Crack open one of these swoon-worthy romances and find out.
encoded: When dating apps leave you frustrated or your other half is working late again, it’s time to escape into a great romance novel. From Emily Henry’s sun-soaked, self-discovery-filled summers to Jilly Cooper’s glamorous, high-stakes romantic sagas, these 23 books prove that the best romances can make you fall in love with every page. Covering everything from first crushes and second chances to enemies-to-lovers and heart-racing chemistry, they capture love in all its messy, magical glory and will have you believing in it all over again. 23 best romance books As a Last Resort by Kristin Wollett Rivals by Jilly Cooper Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt Funny Story by Emily Henry We Met Like This by Kasie West Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston It Happened on a Sunday by Tracy Wolff First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison Well, Actually by Mazey Eddings Friends with Benefits by Marisa Kanter Dukes and Dekes by Torie Jean The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks The High Dive by Chelsea Fagan Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey The Hating Game by Sally Thorne The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn August Lane by Regina Black 1. As a Last Resort by Kristin Wollett Sam left her small-town Florida roots behind years ago and never looked back. But when her work nemesis falls ill, she’s forced to take his place on a resort development project – right in the hometown she swore she’d escaped. Suddenly, Sam is face-to-face with everything she ran from: her addicted mother, her estranged best friend and the high school bullies now settled down with families of their own. The one bright spot? Austin Marcs, the town golden boy and her childhood crush, who seems determined to swoop in whenever she needs saving. Their chemistry is undeniable, but how can Sam imagine a futur…

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