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The Radio 2 Book Club

BBC Radio 2
Literature
The Two Roberts
The Compound
The Keeper Of Lost Children
The National Year Of Reading
Nesting
The Book Of Guilt
Witch Trial
World Book Day
Fundamentally
The Correspondent
World War II
Human, Animal
Summer Reads
Robert Macbride
Robert Colquhoun
Dead Lucky
Horror Literature
Identity
Artificial Wisdom

The Radio 2 Book club celebrates the best in new fiction and recommends great reads. Sara will be interviewing top authors about their latest novels, and she’ll be catching up with librarians and reading groups from across the UK. Whether you’re after a summer blockbuster, a twist-filled thriller, or want to curl up with a heart-warming love story, Sara has you covered!

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes91Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBooks

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Artwork for The Radio 2 Book Club

Latest Episodes

Fantasy author Sunyi Dean joins Sara for the Book Club, to chat about her new novel and the inspirations behind it.

They chat about Hong Kong, myths, legends, ghosts and dim sum!

We also hear a clip from the audiobook (*which has references to dro... more

Emily Howes returns to the Radio 2 Book Club to discuss her new novel, Mrs Dickens; a fictional story about the life of Kate Hogarth - who was married to the author Charles Dickens for 22 years.

Sara chats to Emily about writing women back into his... more

Sara welcomes international bestselling author, Douglas Stuart, to the Book Club.

They discuss his beautiful new novel - John Of John - and his inspirations behind the story. Douglas tells Sara about his epic trip to the Scottish Islands, the peopl... more

Superstar librarian, Stella Hine, joins Sara for a chat about this year's Carnegie Awards (the UK's longest-running children's book awards)

She also shares her top five reads of the year (so far) which is a mixture of non-fiction, fiction - and chil... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Douglas Stuart
Author, Booker Prize winner, former fashion designer turned best-selling author
Author of John Of John
Episode: 'John Of John' by Douglas Stuart
Stella Hine
Head judge of the Carnegie's Book Awards and a superstar librarian
Worthing College / Carnegies
Episode: The Carnegies 2026
Jo Murray
Author of Dissection Of A Murder
Macmillan (publisher)
Episode: 'Dissection Of A Murder' by Jo Murray
Laura Shepherd-Robinson
Author presenting next book; winner of inaugural award
Author, The Art of a Lie
Episode: The Radio 2 Book Club Award
Abir Mukherjee
Author of The Pinnacle; interviewed about his work
Author
Episode: The Radio 2 Book Club Award
Tony Robinson
Author; participated in discussion about debut fiction and platforming authors
Author
Episode: The Radio 2 Book Club Award
Lizzy Stewart
Author and illustrator of The Wreck
Jonathan Cape
Episode: 'The Wreck' by Lizzy Stewart
Neill Cameron
Creator of Donut Squad
Phoenix Comic / Donut Squad
Episode: A Comic Book Celebration - with Jamie Smart, Neill Cameron, Jess Bradley and more
Jess Bradley
Award-winning illustrator
The Phoenix/Indie publishing
Episode: A Comic Book Celebration - with Jamie Smart, Neill Cameron, Jess Bradley and more

Host

Sara Cox
Host of the show; interviewer's presence is a key draw for listeners; frequently steers conversation with warmth and curiosity.

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 81 ratings
  • Love it!!!

    Really great!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    QuartyPant13
    Germany6 months ago
  • Joe Hill

    Excited to hear Joe Hill on the show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    d1str0
    United States6 months ago
  • Bury Our Bones In The Midnight Soil by VE Schwab

    Just listened to this episode which i really enjoyed. But the book is NOT already out as stated it comes out on 10th June

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    itsmejanb
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Great pod but…

    I love this pod esp because of Sarah Cox. She’s such a natural ❤️Esp like the listeners’ choices as I always come away with lots of ideas for new books.

    However, have just tried to listen to most recent episode with a NZ author and had to turn it off due to HUGELY irritating music playing in the background for the duration of the interview! Totally unnecessary and utterly distracting. Please stop! Let’s just listen to the guest without annoying layered noise! Thank you. Apart from this, it’s s... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    ALBonGGG
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience enjoys librarian and award-focused episodes and diverse guest topics.
One episode criticized for distracting music level during an interview.
Listeners praise host and guest intimacy and book recommendations.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#17
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#47
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#33
Ireland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#34
Ukraine/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#61
Ukraine/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#80
Ireland/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

'John Of John' by Douglas Stuart
Q: What drew you to set the novel on the Isle of Harris and explore the father-son dynamic in a close-knit community?
I wanted to ground the story in a place with a strong sense of tradition and place, where the landscape and the church shape everything, and the relationship between Cal and his father becomes a lens for larger questions about identity, faith, and love.
'Dissection Of A Murder' by Jo Murray
Q: You've mentioned a shift in the dynamic where Leila is up against her husband as the opposing counsel. What made you decide to place that personal conflict at the center of the trial?
It was essential to mirror the morally grey, fluid world of the characters; having the conflict come from within the closest relationships creates a more intense, emotionally charged courtroom drama and tests Leila's integrity under pressure.
'Dissection Of A Murder' by Jo Murray
Q: Did you pull strings to make that happen? How great.
I arranged for a renowned actress to narrate the audiobook prologue to bring the courtroom tension to life and selected Leila's arc to highlight how trust and loyalty complicate justice, which was a deliberate part of shaping the book.
'Dissection Of A Murder' by Jo Murray
Q: Let's go back to book number one, then, the one that is out right now. Please set up the story of Dissection Of A Murder, please.
The book opens with the death of a Crown Court judge found murdered at the flat of the prolific defendant Jack Millman, who, upon arrest, asserts his innocence and requests a barrister Leila Reynolds, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle.
'The Wreck' by Lizzy Stewart
Q: Yeah, OK. Wasn't as complicated as I first thought. Can you set up the story for us, please, of The Wreck?
OK, so we start with a woman called Charlotte living in Bristol in the early 90s; she reconnects with her university friend Francesca who buys a large house in the countryside and invites Charlotte and her partner to live with them, setting up a complex, intertwined relationship that drives 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 The Radio 2 Book Club

What is The Radio 2 Book Club about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A conversational, author-focused literary show that features in-depth interviews with novelists, librarians, and illustrators, often weaving in behind-the-scenes looks at writing, research, and book promotion. Guests span contemporary fiction, crime, historical narratives, and illustrated storytelling, with recurring emphasis on writing processes, research journeys, and the role of libraries and reading communities in shaping readership. The format tend to blend intimate author chats, behind-the-scenes production notes, and practical insights for listeners who love books, reading groups, and library culture. Notable strengths include a diverse slate of guests from award-winning authors to senior librarians and genre creators, plus strong ac... more

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How many listeners does The Radio 2 Book Club get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Radio 2 Book Club?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Radio 2 Book Club:

1. The Waterstones Podcast
2. Sara & Cariad's Weirdos Book Club
3. Take Four Books
4. A Good Read
5. Bookclub

How many episodes of The Radio 2 Book Club are there?

The Radio 2 Book Club launched 2 years ago and published 91 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 The Radio 2 Book Club?

Recent guests on The Radio 2 Book Club include:

1. Douglas Stuart
2. Stella Hine
3. Jo Murray
4. Laura Shepherd-Robinson
5. Abir Mukherjee
6. Tony Robinson
7. Lizzy Stewart
8. Neill Cameron

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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