Graham Norton launches book club podcast with Audible

Graham Norton is launching a book club podcast through Audible, featuring guests including Zadie Smith, Stephen Mangan and Denise Mina.

“The Graham Norton Book Club” is available from 13th May 2021 and features the TV star and writer in conversation with a host of well-known audiobook narrators and authors on all subjects to do with books.

Guests will include Maxine Peake, Zadie Smith, Denise Mina, Stephen Mangan and Juliet Stevenson. Each episode will see Norton joined by alternating co-hosts, books journalist Alex Clark and author Sara Collins, who will provide news and views from the world of books. He will also be joined by specially recruited bookclubbers from around the UK.

Books featuring in the 10-episode weekly series have not been revealed yet but will range from blockbuster thrillers and romance to literary fiction. The series will feature a mix of book reviews, interviews with authors and audiobook narrators, recommendations on what to read next, plus books news and gossip.

Norton said: "Sharing stories is one of life's greatest pleasures and that is at the heart of this book club. Our choices are varied, our opinions sometimes very different, but a passion for a tale well told unites us all. There are no fancy gimmicks or weird format twists—it is just the people who create books and those that love them coming together to celebrate the power of fiction, and everyone is welcome."

The launch will be marked at a virtual event for the Hay Festival on 30th May, with Norton interviewing Marian Keyes and Richard Osman, discussing writing experiences and narrating their own audiobooks.

Aurelie De Troyer, senior vice-president for International content at Audible, said: “We’re delighted to be launching a fresh take on the book club in this brilliant new podcast. Who better than Graham to share his hilarious and thoughtful musings on what to read and listen to each week. Graham brings his characteristic wit and interviewing excellence to the series, along with his passion for books and storytelling which shine out of each episode.”