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Simon Mayo's Books of the Year

Bauer Media
London
We All Live Here
Jojo Moyes
Presumed Guilty
Family Politics
Meet the Newmans
Cuckooland
The Restless Republic
States Of Play
Sportswashing
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes313Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

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Artwork for Simon Mayo's Books of the Year

Latest Episodes

David Baldacci is angry - and he's ploughed his feelings into his latest books.

Join Simon and Matt - and the international bestselling novelist - for a special Q&A episode, where he reveals his reading inspirations and who he would invite to his f... more

International superstar author, David Baldacci, joins Simon and Matt for a chat about his novel 'Nash Falls'.

They chat about the 'American Dream', the US economy, feeling jaded with the super wealthy, being angry at the status quo - and how he's p... more

Dr Who and Broadchurch screenwriter, Chris Chibnall, joins SImon and Matt for a Q&A episode.

They discuss his writing processes, favourite books and authors, jobs he'd have liked to do (if he hadn't become a successful writer) and whether he always... more

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

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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Recent Guests

David Baldacci
International best-selling author
Author of Nash Falls and Hope Rises
Episode: David Baldacci
Russell T Davies
Television writer and producer
BBC/television
Episode: Chris Chibnall Q&A
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 introduced as the guest of the episode
Episode: Elizabeth Strout
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
Author of the featured book
Author, Capital and other works
Episode: John Lanchester

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 Kingdom3 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 States7 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 Kingdom3 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
#43
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#110
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#114
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#62
Finland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#124
Ireland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#137
Indonesia/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

David Baldacci Q&A
Q: What is the last book Baldacci really enjoyed reading?
He names a Mark Twain-related work, highlighting the author's cleverness, imagination, and the enjoyable experience of reading a winner like the Pulitzer-winning Twain-related retellings.
Chris Chibnall Q&A
Q: Finally, you're throwing a fancy dinner party—three authors, living or dead—who's invited?
Douglas Adams for his genius, Geoffrey Chaucer for pioneering vernacular writing, and Donna Tartt for her masterful, rare interviews and deep literary mind, creating an imagined conversation among them.
Chris Chibnall Q&A
Q: Is there an idea in a book or a plot that you wish you had come up with?
I tend to admire, rather than envy, other writers' ideas, though some books stay with me for life and influence how I think about storytelling.
Chris Chibnall Q&A
Q: What is the last book that you really enjoyed reading?
London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe stood out for its forensic journalism and emotional, moral core, making a strong impression as a contemporary landmark.
David Baldacci
Q: How did the idea for Walter Nash evolve across Nash Falls and Hope Rises?
Walter Nash began as a fairly straightforward corporate figure, but Baldacci describes letting the character's backstory and the antagonist Victoria Steers shape a two-book arc, with Nash's transformation and the revelation of deeper motives driving the narrative.

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. Take Four Books
4. A Good Read
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 313 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. David Baldacci
2. Russell T Davies
3. Chris Chibnall
4. Nick Hornby
5. Elizabeth Strout
6. Dawn French
7. Anthony Beaver
8. Anthony Horowitz

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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