UK's World Book Night celebrations to go ahead online

The Reading Agency has confirmed that the UK's World Book Night celebrations will go ahead on 23rd April, but will be modified due to Covid-19.

For this year's annual event, authors will broadcast excerpts from their books on social media. This year’s list of books features How to Be a Footballer by Peter Crouch, North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, Double Crossed by Brian Wood, Diversify by June Sarpong, The Salt Path by Raynor Winn, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, among others.

The charity has also organised a reading hour, inviting the public to recommend or share a book with a friend using the hashtag #ReadingHour.

Five-thousand free audiobooks will be given away to members of the public, who can apply online to receive one by next Thursday (9th April). Recipients will be chosen at random and sent a single-use download code on World Book Night.

Debbie Hicks, founding member of The Reading Agency, said: “Books have the power to change lives and connect us in these difficult times. World Book Night will, with the generous support of publishers and other partners, be a key moment to come together to celebrate this power and inspire people across the UK and Ireland to enjoy reading.

"With the current situation with Covid-19, our plans to distribute books have altered, however we have lots of exciting things being planned to get everyone involved in the celebration at home and online.”

As in previous years, the company plans to give away printed books to 370 organisations, but due to Covid-19, these will be distributed later in the year. The organisations chosen include prisons, hospitals, youth centres, care homes and mental health groups.