''A Good Read'' is one of
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...
's longest-running programmes in which two guests join the main presenter to choose and discuss their favourite books.
The programme grew out of an occasional slot on ''
Weekend Woman's Hour'', initiated in 1970. Between 1976 and 1978 Amanda Theunissen hosted three guests in an early version of the format. On 1 July 1979, billed as a new series, John Hale was the presenter of the programme in its current 30-minute format, with two guests. Subsequent presenters included Theresa McGonagle (1980–1984), Brian Gear (1985–1988),
Edward Blishen (1989–1997),
Louise Doughty (1998–2001) and
Sue MacGregor
Susan Katriona MacGregor (born 30 August 1941) is a British broadcaster. She is best known as a former presenter of BBC Radio 4's ''Woman's Hour'' and later the ''Today'' programme.
Early life
MacGregor was born in Oxford. Her parents were Sc ...
(2003–2010).
Since 2011, ''A Good Read'' has been presented by the writer, broadcaster and academic
Harriett Gilbert
Harriett Sarah Gilbert (born 25 August 1948) is an English writer, academic and broadcaster, particularly of the arts and book programmes on the BBC World Service. Besides '' World Book Club'' on the World Service, she also presents '' A Good Re ...
, now the programme's longest serving presenter.
[Ben Dowell]
"Gilbert to front R4's Good Read"
''Broadcast'', 17 May 2011. Gilbert had been the host of ''
World Book Club'' on the
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is a British Public broadcasting, public service broadcaster owned and operated by the BBC. It is the world's largest external broadcaster in terms of reception area, language selection and audience reach. It broadcas ...
since 2002, which she continues to present.
Collectively the panellists review their chosen titles. The books are always in-print
paperback
A paperback (softcover, softback) book is one with a thick paper or paperboard cover, also known as wrappers, and often held together with adhesive, glue rather than stitch (textile arts), stitches or Staple (fastener), staples. In contrast, ...
s and affordable, and the reviews are honest and genuinely driven by the taste of the guests. Recently the programme has reviewed graphic novels and books available on the internet. It is not unusual for a guest to find themselves alone in defending their choice. Audiences see it as a simple but effective way of getting recommendations for books to read, with publishers keen to have their books featured on the programme.
The programme has been produced by
BBC Bristol over its lifetime. It is a deceptively hard programme to present as the presenter needs to read around 30 books cover to cover over a 12-week period and nearly 100 books for the programme in a year.
External links
''A Good Read''
References
BBC Radio 4 programmes
{{BBC-radio-stub