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Artwork for Simon Mayo's Books of the Year

Simon Mayo's Books of the Year

Bauer Media
We All Live Here
Jojo Moyes
Presumed Guilty
Family Politics
London
Meet the Newmans
Cuckooland
States Of Play
Sportswashing
The Restless Republic
Rusty Sabich
The House Of Mirrors
You Are Here
Women's Football
Black Tag
Social Media
Aaron
William Boyd
Romantasy
Mental Health

Simon Mayo & Matt Williams invite the world's finest authors in for a chat

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes310Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Simon Mayo's Books of the Year

Latest Episodes

Screenwriter and author Chris Chibnall joins Simon and Matt for a natter about his new novel, Broadchurch, Agatha Christie and his inspirations for stories.

Chris discusses his writing routine, holiday parks, sitting on ideas for years before writi... more

Pulitzer Prize winning author Elizabeth Strout joins Simon and Matt for a special Q&A episode.

They discuss her writing routine, snacks, her favourite authors and how she organises her bookshelves.

We also surprise Elizabeth with a question from a... more

Pulitzer Prize winning author, Elizabeth Strout, joins Simon and Matt for a chat about her brilliant new novel, 'The Things We Never Say'.

She talks about her writing routine, inspirations, listening to conversations, making every word count - and -... more

Comedian and author Dawn French joins Simon and Matt for our Q&A episode.

We learn about her writing routine, favourite snacks, her love for Kae Tempest's writing, the people she always shares her book with first - and - who she'd invite to her fan... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Screenshot
ScreenshotBBC Radio 4
Kermode on Film
Kermode on FilmMark Kermode

Recent Guests

Chris Chibnall
Broadchurch creator and screenwriter/author
The Parkwood Murders (book)
Episode: Chris Chibnall
Nick Hornby
Bestselling author and fellow writer, featured via a voice note question
Episode: Elizabeth Strout Q&A
Elizabeth Strout
Pulitzer Prize–winning author and subject of the Q&A
Episode: Elizabeth Strout Q&A
Dawn French
Actor, comedian and best-selling author
Episode: Dawn French
Anthony Beaver
Historian, author of Rasputin (mentioned in discussion)
Author
Episode: Anthony Horowitz Q&A
Anthony Horowitz
Bestselling writer and screenwriter, Hawthorne detective series creator
Horowitz/Hawthorne universe
Episode: Anthony Horowitz
John Lanchester
Bestselling author and journalist
Episode: John Lanchester Q&A
Yann Martel
Best-selling author, Booker Prize winner
Author
Episode: Yann Martel Q&A
Francis Spufford
Acclaimed best selling author, writer of Nonesuch
Penguin Random House (publisher)
Episode: Francis Spufford

Hosts

Simon Mayo
Host of Books of the Year series; long-time broadcaster and author
Matt Williams
Co-host and producer; key driver of show dynamics

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • The adverts - oh my goodness!

    The length of the adverts and the amount of ad breaks is now becoming distracting. Ended the Anthony Horowitz episode early.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    MrsSmitb
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Is the podcast over or just on break

    Of course this is an awesome podcast!! The hosts’ enthusiasm for well written interesting works of fiction and non fiction has rekindled my interest in reading. Hopefully they are just on break and haven’t ended the show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    .3147652344
    United States6 months ago
  • Great to have them back

    Lovely to hear Simon and Matt back. They keep the politics to the genuine political subjects. I have dropped Simons film review pod as Kermode just wont stop dragging politics into everything.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DrewzyJ
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • David Nicholls

    Driving along, listening to the brilliant interview with David Nicholls I pulled over just so I could order his book ‘You are here’ - and it is living up to expectations.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alisouthampton
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Favourite Podcast Bar None 😍

    Love book/author podcasts and this is by far the best. Having Simon and Matt back like the good old days makes me so happy and the banter is great! Good spread of books and authors and I have now read a couple recommended that I wouldn’t normally have chosen and couldn’t put them down. Keep doing what you do guys, we love it! X

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    feeona78
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Strong positive feedback on episodes blending literary discussion with personal anecdotes.
Listeners praise the hosts' warmth, banter, and deep knowledge of books and authors.
Praise for diverse guest lineup and insightful Q&As with writers.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#30
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#80
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#242
Italy/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#85
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#147
Finland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#156
South Africa/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Elizabeth Strout Q&A
Q: Do your books get shorter or longer after you finish the first draft?
The book actually grew as she added more details to classroom scenes and refined the ending, indicating a developmental process of expansion before finalizing.
Elizabeth Strout Q&A
Q: What is the last book that you really, really enjoyed reading?
She describes discovering a forgotten collection by Andre de Boos, with a standout story The Fat Girl, emphasizing how the book's emotional arc and title-provoking premise left a lasting impression.
Chris Chibnall
Q: How do you balance planning with discovery when writing a complex mystery?
I use three six-foot whiteboards to map characters, plot shapes, and key events, plotting rigorously while staying open to new characters and revelations that emerge as the story develops.
Chris Chibnall
Q: Tell us about Alice, the cleaning staff member who becomes a crucial voice in Parkwood Murders.
Alice serves as the innocent observer who sees everything and offers a pure, unglamorous perspective that allows readers to enter the park's world and understand the dynamics between guests and staff.
Anthony Horowitz Q&A
Q: What was the worst thing that happened to you while writing a book?
Horowitz recounts a motorbike crash in Crete that left him with serious injuries, delaying a planned week with Meryl Streep for a film and forcing him to communicate notes from bed, which he frames as a pivotal, painful memory but ultimately a testament to resilience.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Simon Mayo's Books of the Year

What is Simon Mayo's Books of the Year about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers conversations with leading authors across fiction and non-fiction, blending in-depth book discussions with personal storytelling and industry insights. Episodes frequently feature Q&A formats, exploring writing processes, adaptations, and publishing realities, while hosts share banter and book recommendations that illuminate reading culture and current literary trends. The format often pairs high-profile guests with intimate, author-focused dialogue, delivering practical takeaways for readers and aspiring guests alike. A standout aspect is the seamless mix of literary analysis, personal anecdotes, and a warm, accessible host dynamic that has helped the series attract a loyal, dedicated audience of book lovers and industry ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Simon Mayo's Books of the Year?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Simon Mayo's Books of the Year:

1. Kermode & Mayo’s Take
2. Screenshot
3. Kermode on Film
4. The Waterstones Podcast
5. The Rest Is Entertainment

How many episodes of Simon Mayo's Books of the Year are there?

Simon Mayo's Books of the Year launched 8 years ago and published 310 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Simon Mayo's Books of the Year?

Recent guests on Simon Mayo's Books of the Year include:

1. Chris Chibnall
2. Nick Hornby
3. Elizabeth Strout
4. Dawn French
5. Anthony Beaver
6. Anthony Horowitz
7. John Lanchester
8. Yann Martel

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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