''A Good Read'' is one of
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history from the BBC' ...
's longest-running programmes; in it two guests join the main presenter to choose and discuss their favourite books.
Sue MacGregor stepped down in 2010 as the programme's then-longest-serving presenter (seven years). Her successor is the writer, broadcaster and academic
Harriett Gilbert
Harriett Sarah Gilbert (born 25 August 1948) is an English writer, academic and broadcaster, particularly of arts and book programmes on the BBC World Service. She is the daughter of the writer Michael Gilbert. Besides ''World Book Club'' on the ...
, who took up the reins in May 2011.
[Ben Dowell]
"Gilbert to front R4's Good Read"
''Broadcast'', 17 May 2011. Previous presenters have included the novelist
Louise Doughty
Louise Doughty is the author of nine novels, five plays for radio and a TV mini-series. Her most recent book is ''Platform Seven'' (2019), currently being adapted as a four-part drama. The previous book, ''Black Water'', (2016) was nominated as ...
1998 to 2001.
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, and often held together with adhesive, glue rather than stitch (textile arts), stitches or Staple (fastener), staples. In contrast, hardcover (hardback) book ...
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 began in 1977 and has been produced by
BBC Bristol
The BBC campus, Broadcasting House Bristol, is located on Whiteladies Road, Bristol. The first building to be occupied was 21/23 Whiteladies Road, which was built in 1852 and is a Grade II listed building, with four radio studios. It was form ...
over that time. 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