Chakrabarti, Barr and Murray to judge Costa Book Awards

BBC News journalist and broadcaster Reeta Chakrabarti is to chair the panel of judges selecting the Costa Book of the Year.

The annual event is the only major UK book prize open solely to authors resident in the UK and Ireland and uniquely recognises some of the books published in the last year across five categories: First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children’s Book. 

Chakrabarti joins writer, broadcaster and Literary Salon founder Damian Barr, tennis coach Judy Murray and broadcaster and editor in chief of Frank Magazine Melanie Sykes, who have been confirmed as final judges. One judge from each of the previously announced category panels — Jessie Burton, Rishi Dastidar, Xiaolu Guo, Smriti Halls and Andrew Wilson —complete the line-up.

Each of the five category award-winning authors receives £5,000 and the author of the overall Costa Book of the Year will be presented with a cheque for £30,000. Shortlists for the awards were announced in November and feature titles by Elif Shafak, Raymond Antrobus and Caleb Azumah Nelson, among others.

"What a complete honour it is to be chair of judges for the Costa Book of the Year, particularly in the 50th anniversary year of the awards," Chakrabarti said. "The prize has for decades recognised the best in storytelling, whether that is in fiction, poetry, or biography — and by seasoned writers or dazzling newcomers. 

"We all need stories — sometimes just for escapism, but also to help make sense of our own lives and the world around us, and perhaps never more so than in these uncertain times. Reading well-written, crafted work is a huge pleasure, and I so relish the prospect of helping to choose the 2021 Costa Book of the Year."

The winner of Costa Book of the Year will be announced at an awards ceremony hosted by Penny Smith on 1st February 2022. Last year's winner was Monique Roffey, for her magic realist novel The Mermaid of Black Conch (Peepal Tree Press).