BBC show Between the Covers has revealed further books, including The Secret River by Sydney-born Kate Grenville, that will be discussed in its star-studded new series.
Hosted by Sara Cox (pictured) with guests including Richard Osman, Sir Trevor McDonald, Mel Giedroyc and Richard E Grant, the seven-part series returns to BBC Two on 11 May at 7.30pm. In each episode, four famous guests will bring along their own book of choice and discuss a newly-published title alongside a pick from the Big Jubilee Read list.
The Big Jubilee Read is a reading for pleasure campaign spearheaded by BBC Arts and the Reading Agency, which celebrates books from across the Commonwealth to coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. It features 70 titles consisting of 10 books from each decade of the monarch’s reign, chosen by a panel of librarians, booksellers and literature specialists.
From that list, the production team chose one from each decade. They start with 1992’s The English Patient by Sri Lankan-born Canadian author Michael Ondaatje, followed by Trinidad-born writer Sam Selvon’s 1956 novel The Lonely Londoners and Arrow of God, the 1964 novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe.
Canadian Margaret Atwood’s 1985 book The Handmaid’s Tale is also selected alongside Australian author Kate Grenville’s 2005 book The Secret River, Malaysia’s Yangsze Choo with her 2019 book The Night Tiger, and Pakistan author Bapsi Sidhwa’s 1978 novel The Crow Eaters.
