Category: Daytime
Date: 07.01.2005
Printable version
Authors Fay Weldon
and Marian Keyes are two of the high-profile judges to be involved
with Page Turners, BBC ONE Daytime's forthcoming book club which
launches this spring.
The panel of 12 judges comprising authors, reviewers,
celebrity book lovers and industry experts will select a final short
list of titles to feature in the series and will ensure a robust selection
process.
Overseen by Robert McCrum, literary editor of
The Observer, the judges will whittle the shortlist of 67 books down
to a final 24, which will feature on the series to be broadcast in spring
2005.
Each Page Turners programme will explore three of the
selected titles and a celebrity advocate or author will introduce and
discuss the book with host Jeremy Vine.
With books considered across any genre, the shortlist
is set to
feature a wide range of compelling titles.
Controller of BBC Daytime, Alison Sharman, says: "I
am delighted that Page Turners has attracted such high-profile names
from across the publishing and media industry, which indicates the real
buzz that the show is already generating."
The Page Turners judging
panel
Authors and celebrity book enthusiasts:
Marian Keyes - best selling author whose titles include Rachel's Holiday,
Watermelon, Last Chance Saloon and Sushi for Beginners;
Rod Liddle - author, columnist for The Guardian newspaper and associate
editor of The Spectator;
Fay Weldon - award-winning novelist, playwright and screenwriter whose
titles include Praxis and Wicked Women;
Claudia Winkleman -TV presenter, travel writer for the Sunday Times
and contributor to Cosmopolitan magazine.
Book reviewers:
Ali Harris - features writer, Company Magazine;
Kerry Fowler - Books Editor, Good Housekeeping;
Victoria Woodhall - Features Director, Eve Magazine;
Guy Pringle - Publisher, newBOOKSmag.
Industry Experts:
Joel Rickett - Deputy Editor, The Bookseller;
Margaret Watson - former President of CILIP;
Susan Swift - Literary Consultant, The UK Film Council;
Penny Shapland - Head Of Resources, The Reading Agency.
Notes to Editors
Page Turners is being made for BBC ONE Daytime by Princess
Productions.
The shortlist of 67 titles was selected from 300 books
submitted by publishers large and small from across the UK.
Each of the books was reviewed by a member of staff
from the BBC or Princess Productions, who completed a review form for
every book read.
Robert McCrum of The Observer advised on the final selection
of the 67 titles.
