Bookshelfie: Women’s Prize Podcast

S7 Ep23: Bookshelfie: Maggie Aderin-Pocock Oct 29, 2024

Space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock joins Vick to delve into her favourite science fiction books, tells us why dyslexic kids shouldn’t be pigeon-holed and explains why she encourages all children to reach for the stars.
Maggie is a space scientist and pioneering figure in communicating science, having spoken directly to over half a million people globally, 350,000 of whom are children. She is committed to inspiring new generations of astronauts, engineers and scientists, and in 2009, was appointed an MBE for her services to science and education. She presents the new series of BBC’s The Sky at Night and Mini Stargazing for CBeebies. In 2016, she was nominated for a Children’s Presenter BAFTA and she recently won the Institute of Physics gold medal for ‘exceptional services to science education and physics communication’. She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in March 2024, for her services to ‘science education and diversity’. She is the current President of the British Science Association.
Maggie’s new book, Webb’s Universe: The Space Telescope Images that Reveal Our Cosmic History, is the definitive book on the James Webb Space Telescope, with a full array of stunning images.
Maggie’s book choices are:
** The Many-Coloured Land by Julian May
** The Moonlight Market by Joanne Harris
** Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
** The Little Snake by A. L. Kennedy
** Letters to my Daughter by Dr Maya Angelou
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.
Serious Readers are offering Bookshelfie listeners £100 off any HD light and free UK delivery. To take advantage of our Serious Readers discount code, please visit seriousreaders.com/bookshelfie and use the code SHELFIE.
There’s a 30 day risk-free trial to return the lamp for free if you’re unhappy with it for whatever reason.

S7 Ep22: Bookshelfie: Cecelia Ahern Oct 22, 2024

Irish novelist Cecelia Ahern joins Vick to chat about how books making us less lonely, what inspires her work and the art of being an introverted extrovert.
Cecelia's debut novel PS I Love You was published in 2004 and went on to become an international bestseller and was adapted into a film starring Hilary Swank. Her second novel, Where Rainbows End, was adapted into the film Love, Rosie starring Lily Collins. Her books have been published in over thirty-seven languages, and have sold over twenty-five million copies. In addition to her novels, she is also the author of a highly acclaimed collection of stories, Roar, which is now a series starring Nicole Kidman on Apple TV+.
Her new novel Into the Storm follows the journey of GP Enya and her search for freedom after her life splinters in two.
Cecelia’s book choices are:
** Under the Hawthorn Tree by Marita Conlon McKenna
** The Hen who Dreamed She Could Fly by Hwang Seon-Mi
** The Color Master by Aimee Bender
** Quiet by Susan Cain
** Hey Zoey by Sarah Crossan
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.
Serious Readers are offering Bookshelfie listeners £100 off any HD light and free UK delivery. To take advantage of our Serious Readers discount code, please visit seriousreaders.com/bookshelfie and use the code SHELFIE.
There’s a 30 day risk-free trial to return the lamp for free if you’re unhappy with it for whatever reason.

S7 Ep21: Bookshelfie: Kate Humble Oct 15, 2024

Broadcaster Kate Humble explains the joy of living in the moment, the glory of nature and the importance of shunning the algorithms.
Kate is a broadcaster specialising in wildlife and science programmes, including Countryfile, Springwatch and Blue Planet Live. A champion of the environment, nature conservation and rural affairs, she is president of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and founded Humble by Nature, a rural skills centre on her farm in Wales.
As well as starring in over 70 television programmes, Kate is the author of seven books, including A Year of Living Simply, Home Cooked, Where the Hearth Is and Thinking on My Feet, which was shortlisted for the 2019 Wainwright Prize.
Kate’s latest book, Home Made: Recipes from the Countryside is a collection of over 60 simple, sustainable recipes from her very own kitchen table, alongside inspiring stories from 20 individuals who play a role in bringing food to us.
Kate’s book choices are:
** I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
** Travels in West Africa by Mary Kingsley
** Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton
** Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
** Station 11 by Emily St John Mandel
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S7 Ep20: Bookshelfie: Jodi Picoult Oct 08, 2024

Jodi Picoult is the number 1 New York Times bestselling author of 28 novels and short stories, and has also written several issues of Wonder Woman.
Approximately 40 million copies of her books are in print worldwide and have been translated into 34 languages. Her book My Sister’s Keeper was made into a motion picture starring Cameron Diaz.
Jodi is the recipient of many awards, including the 2003 New England Bookseller Award for Fiction, a lifetime achievement award for mainstream fiction from the Romance Writers of America, and the Sarah Josepha Hale Award. She holds honorary doctor of letters degrees from Dartmouth College and the University of New Haven. She is a patron of the Carol Shields Prize for Fiction, which is awarded to female fiction writers in the States.
Her new book By Any Other Name tells the story of two women, centuries apart, who are both forced to hide behind another name to make their voices heard.
Jodi’s book choices are:
** Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
** Out of Africa by Karen Blixen
** Beloved by Toni Morrison
** The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman
** The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S7 Ep19: Bookshelfie: Corinna Brown Oct 01, 2024

British actress Corinna Brown tells us why representation is so important to her and through the poetry of Rupi Kaur, explains why you are more than just pretty.
Corinna best known for her role as Tara Jones in Heartstopper, the multi-award-winning, BAFTA nominated Neftlix adaptation of Alice Osman’s LGBTQ+ graphic novels which rose to the top ten most-watched English series on Netflix within two days of the first season’s release. The series has assembled a surge of fans mesmerised by the show’s ability to create diverse, authentic storylines for fans around the world to relate to. 
Corinna trained at East 15 drama school. She has worked across film, television and theatre, including making her television debut in the BBC Three film My Murder with John Boyega. In 2023, Corinna starred in Essex Girls, a coming-of-age short film directed by Yero-Timi Bie that explores Black-British girlhood and the magic of female friendship, nominated for Best Short Film at the 2023 London Film Festival. 
The much anticipated third season of Heartstopper, released on Netflix this week, sees Tara face the trials of living as a lesbian from a young age and what it means to grow up and develop alongside a romantic partner.
Corinna’s book choices are:
** Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
** Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
** Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
** Milk & Honey by Rupi Kaur
** Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner by Jasmine Lee Jones
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S7 Ep18: Bookshelfie: Rukmini Iyer Sep 24, 2024

Food writer and bestselling author Rukmini Iyer shares how her recipes bring families together, the importance of flavours and the joy of finding a delicious, easy solution to dinner.
Rukmini is the bestselling author of The Roasting Tin series, which in five years has sold over 1.75 million copies worldwide. They’ve transformed the cookery space in the UK, leading the one-tin, one-pot, and one-pan revolution, and remain firm favourites among cookbook buyers who love Rukmini’s minimum fuss, maximum flavour recipes. Rukmini makes regular appearances cooking live on morning television and is the newest weekly columnist for The Guardian’s ‘Feast’ magazine.
Her newest book, The Green Cookbook, a collection of delicious and simple planted-based recipes, is out now. When she’s not cooking for work, she loves gardening, reading, wandering around food markets with her border collie and toddler in tow, renovating the house with her husband and entertaining friends and family.
Rukmini’s book choices are:
** Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
** Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
** The Secret History by Donna Tartt
** The Power by Naomi Alderman
** The Flavour Thesaurus by Niki Segnit
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S7 Ep17: Bookshelfie: Tracy Chevalier Sep 17, 2024

Tracy Chevalier is an award-winning American-British novelist of 11 books, including the immensely popular Girl with a Pearl Earring, which has sold over 5 million copies worldwide and was adapted into a film, which was nominated for three Academy Awards.
Tracy has also edited anthologies such as Why Willows Weep, a collection of tales from the woods to raise money for the Woodland Trust, and Reader, I Married Him, a collection of short stories commissioned to mark the 200th anniversary of Charlotte Brontë.
In addition to her writing, Tracy has been actively involved with various organisations including the Royal Literary Fund, Patron of the Dorchester Literary Festival and the Woodland Trust.
Tracy’s latest novel, The Glassmaker, follows a family of Venetian glassmakers from the Renaissance to present day.
Tracy’s book choices are:
**Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
** Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
** Restoration by Rose Tremain
** Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
** Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder was illustrated by Garth Williams.
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S7 Ep16: Bookshelfie: Deborah Joseph Sep 09, 2024

Glamour UK’s Editor-in-Chief Deborah Joseph joins Vick to discuss feminism through the lens of magazines, the importance of representation and the need for perfectly imperfect women.
Deborah is an award-winning editor and journalist. Over the past seven years, she has directed Glamour’s transition from a print to a digital-first, beauty-first brand. Prior to that, she spent six years working for fashion and celebrity tech start-ups, was a social media consultant for Jenny Packham, and edited the Daily Mail’s life and style section. She was on the launch team of Glamour over 20 years ago and has also edited two other Condé Nast titles, Easy Living and Brides.
Deborah speaks regularly on the topic of women’s empowerment and the challenges facing working mothers, and after experiencing burnout now chooses to live what she describes as her ‘best 70% life’.
Deborah’s book choices are:
** Sweet Valley High by Francine Pascal
** Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
** Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
** This is Not a Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan
** Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!

S7 Ep15: Bookshelfie: Julia Gillard Sep 03, 2024

The former Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard joins Vick for a live recording in Bedford Square Gardens from the Women’s Prize Live Festival.
Julia Gillard served as the 27th Prime Minister of Australia from 2010 to 2013 after serving as Deputy Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010. She was the first and only woman to have held either of these offices in Australian history. Following her retirement from politics, Julia has been a visiting professor at the University of Adelaide and is currently the chair of the Global Partnership for Education, the Wellcome Trust and Beyond Blue, an Australian mental health and wellbeing organisation.
Julia has also written several books exploring themes of misogyny, leadership and politics. Her memoir, My Story, was shortlisted for Biography of the Year by the Australian Book Industry Awards and was the highest selling politics-related book in 2014.
Julia’s book choices are:
** Nancy Drew Mystery Stories by Carolyn Keene
** To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
** The Secret River by Kate Grenville
** The Sun Walks Down by Fiona MacFarlane
** Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!

S7 Ep14: Bookshelfie: Rosie Jones Jun 11, 2024

Rosie Jones joins Vick Hope in front of a live studio audience where they celebrate different kinds of love, discuss Rosie’s favourite reads on holiday and uncover why Rosie will never get over A Little Life.
Rosie is a must-see act on the UK comedy circuit. Having fronted two travelogue series’ of her own for Channel 4, Mission: Accessible and Trip Hazard. Rosie can also be seen on countless hit television shows including Live At The Apollo, The Jonathan Ross Show, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Cats Does Countdown and The Last Leg, to name a few!
Rosie is also an established writer and actor, having written on hit Netflix series Sex Education, she also both wrote and starred in Disability Benefits which was commissioned by Channel 4 as part of their 2022 Comedy Blaps collection.
2022 saw the release of Rosie’s second children’s book, The Amazing Edie Eckhart: The Big Trip which tells the story of a little girl with cerebral palsy.
Rosie’s book choices are:
** The Color Purple by Alice Walker
** The List by Yomi Adegoke
** A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
** Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
** The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!

S7 Ep13: Bookshelfie: Miranda July Jun 04, 2024

Miranda July is a multi-award-winning director, writer, filmmaker and artist and in this episode she opens up about ageing, reaching her creative limit and reading with every meal.
Miranda has written, directed and starred in three feature films as well as over a dozen short films. Her first major film production, Me and You and Everyone We Know, won six awards including the Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2016, she was invited to join the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences in acknowledgement as a writer.
In addition to her work in films, Miranda is a talented writer whose work often explores slices of ordinary life and has been described as ‘wry, smart’ and ‘painfully alive’. Her collection of short vignettes, No One Belongs Here More Than You, won the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award.
Her new book, All Fours, has just been published and follows the journey of a perimenopausal woman who upends her life, following an extramarital affair.
Miranda’s book choices are:
** One! Hundred! Demons! By Lynda Barry
** Acts of Infidelity by Lena Andersson
** The IHOP Papers, by Ali Liebegott
** Daughter by Claudia Dey
** Trans Sex by Lucie Fielding
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S7 Ep12: Bookshelfie: Ria Hebden May 28, 2024

Television presenter and broadcaster, Ria Hebden discusses the importance of identity, how books can inspire massive career changes and why the sky's the limit for her.
Ria is the official Entertainment presenter on ITV’s Lorraine, having interviewed everyone from Robbie Williams to Harrison Ford, to Kim Cattrall, Shania Twain and John Boyega. Her infectious energy and iconic smile make her a TV regular and favourite among viewers, also having hosted shows including All Around Britain on ITV, Sunday Morning Live on BBC One and the BAFTA Film Awards red carpet.
Passionate about telling stories that celebrate diversity, champion women and inspire the next generation, Ria founded Wonder Women TV, a women’s network that elevates diverse women who work in Television and the Creative Industries in 2017, and has achieved several National Diversity Award nominations for her work.
Last year, Ria competed as a contestant on ITV’s Dancing on Ice and raised £30K for Lupus UK as a contestant on Celebrity Catchphrase and Celebrity Chase.
Ria’s book choices are:
** Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
** Light is the New Black by Rebecca Campbell
** The List by Yomi Adegoke
** Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
** The Good Ally by Nova Reid
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S7 Ep11: Bookshelfie: Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell May 21, 2024

Former swimmer and entrepreneur Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell discusses her career, details her love of the water, and lays bare the pressures within her former swimming world.
Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell is a former elite athlete with a career spanning over 10 years, swimming for both Great Britain and Kenya. She is a former world number one and British champion, winning the 50m and 100m breaststroke in 2010. She was the first Black woman to swim for the Great Britain team.
In 2023, she was honoured in Forbes 30 Under 30 for her work in Social Impact. Rebecca is also the CEO of the 10,000 Interns Foundation, a non-profit that champions underrepresented talent by creating paid internship opportunities. Prior to this, she founded and ran NKG, a creative strategy and media agency focused on social change projects.
Her first book These Heavy Black Bones is out in June.
Rebecca’s book choices are:
** Tar Baby by Toni Morrison
** Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
** Educated by Tara Westover
** In The Wake by Christina Sharpe
**Animal by Lisa Taddeo
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S7 Ep10: Bookshelfie: Victoria Prew May 14, 2024

Victoria Prew is an entrepreneur and CEO of fashion rental company HURR, in this episode she explains how she saw a gap in the market for rented luxury fashion and leaned in.
Victoria Prew is the CEO and co-founder of HURR Collective, the global home for circular fashion, a community of first-movers, committed to environmental responsibility, setting the tone for the next generation to follow.
From idea-in-head to multi-million pound fashion rental business, Victoria has trailblazed the way for young female entrepreneurs to build their businesses. Her accolades for entrepreneurship include Forbes 30 Under 30, and HURR ranks as one of the world’s 50 Top Startups, she’s also been featured in press around the world for her innovative business. Victoria is on a mission to remedy the bad habits of the fashion industry for a greener future without sacrificing quality and style.
Victoria’s book choices are:
** The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck by Beatrix Potter
** Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
** Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld
** The Long Game by Dorie Clark
**Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S7 Ep9: Bookshelfie: Edwina Dunn OBE May 07, 2024

Entrepreneur and pioneering businesswoman Edwina Dunn OBE discusses the need for role models, the perils of seeking perfection and the importance of female spending.
Edwina leads The Female Lead, which is an active community of 8 million women, underpinned by an educational foundation, and focused on celebrating the achievements and diversity of women who shape our world. Using data to understand the challenges women face, Edwina works with businesses and the government to create new, mutually beneficial models and policies for the workplace. She has most recently presented her manifesto in When She’s In the Room: How Empowering Women Empowers the World, a data-based guide that presents a road map for us all to the world we want to see and one that will make the world work better for women and men.
Edwina’s book choices are:
** The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
** The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo
** Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
** The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
** Burntcoat by Sarah Hall
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S7 Ep8: Bookshelfie: Ann Akinjirin Apr 30, 2024

Ann Akinjirin is an actress, writer, director and producer working across screen and stage and is currently starring in the BBC’s new adaptation of Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five.
Ann is best known for her recurring roles in BBC 1 /HBO’s The Strike Series playing ‘DS Vanessa Ekwensi’ and ‘Dee’ in BBC Two’s Trigonometry. More recently, Ann played 'Bobbi' in Marvel Studios series Moon Knight on Disney+.
Ann set up her own theatre company Harts in 2010, of which she was Artistic Director until 2020. Ann is extremely passionate about creative accessibility within theatre and has worked as movement director for Deafinitely Theatre as well as with National Youth Theatre as a writer and director, creating shows for audiences inclusive of deaf and visually impaired members.
Ann’s book choices are:
** Secrets by Francine Pascal
** All About Love by bell hooks
** A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
** Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
** Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S7 Ep7: Bookshelfie: Elif Shafak Apr 23, 2024

Award-winning British-Turkish novelist and 2022 Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlisted author Elif Shafak reveals the five books that have shaped her life and career.
Elif has published 19 books, 12 of which are novels, including The Island of Missing Trees, shortlisted for the Costa Award, British Book Awards, RSL Ondaatje Prize and 2022 Women’s Prize for Fiction.
Elif holds a PhD in political science and she has taught at various universities in Turkey, the US and the UK, including St Anne's College, Oxford University, where she is an honorary fellow. She also holds a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Bard College and is a Fellow and a Vice President of the Royal Society of Literature and has done two Global TED talks, gaining millions of views.
Elif has been chosen as one of the BBC’s 100 most inspiring and influential women and in 2016 she was a judge for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. She is an advocate for women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights and freedom of expression and her new book There are Rivers in the Sky is out in August.
Elif’s book choices are:
** Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
** Orlando by Virginia Woolf
** A Gate At the Stairs by Lorrie Moore
** Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
** A Woman Looking At Men Looking At Women by Siri Hustvedt
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S7 Ep6: Bookshelfie: Anna Jones Apr 16, 2024

Best-selling food writer, stylist, and author, Anna Jones explains how Nigella Lawson’s How to Be a Domestic Goddess gave her the confidence to just be herself in the kitchen.
Anna is the voice of modern vegetarian cooking and the author of the bestselling One: Pot, Pan, Planet, A Modern Way to Eat, A Modern Way to Cook and The Modern Cook’s Year. She’s a Sunday Times bestseller and the winner and nominee for multiple accolades for her work. A believer that vegetables should be put at the centre of every table along with the joy of food and its ability to affect change in our daily lives.
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S7 Ep5: Bookshelfie: Suzannah Lipscomb Apr 09, 2024

Historian, author and broadcaster Suzannah Lipscomb shines the spotlight on women throughout history who are too often missed from books.
A distinguished historian, Suzannah is Professor Emerita at the University of Roehampton, Senior Member at St Cross College, Oxford, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Society of Antiquaries.
She has written and edited seven books, most recently, What is History, Now? with Helen Carr, and The Voices of Nîmes: Women, Sex, and Marriage in Reformation Languedoc. She has presents history programmes on the BBC, ITV, More4 and Channel 5, and she hosts the popular Not Just the Tudors podcast from History Hit.
A close friend of the Women’s Prize Trust, Suzannah is the chair of judges for the inaugural Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction.
Suzannah’s book choices are:
** Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
** The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
** The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
** The Return of Martin Guerre by Natalie Zemon Davis
** Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S7 Ep4: Bookshelfie: Kristin Hannah Apr 02, 2024

A New York Times bestselling author, Kristin Hannah’s books are beloved the world over and read by millions. Listen as she discusses the art of creating empathy with readers and the importance of putting women at the centre of stories.
Kristin is the author of 25 novels, including historical fiction masterpiece The Nightingale, which has now sold millions of copies worldwide and has been translated into 45 languages.
Kristin started her working life as a lawyer but decided to take writing seriously when she was bedridden in pregnancy and needed something to do. The decision totally changed her life.
Her books often focus on the stories of women in history and her new title The Women - is no different. It follows a young Army nurse during the Vietnam War whose world is turned upside down by the conflict and its legacy, and is out now.
Kristin’s book choices are:
** Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
** To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
** The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
** Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
** Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S7 Ep3: Bookshelfie: Kiley Reid Mar 26, 2024

Bestselling author Kiley Reid delves into her favourite books with Vick and discusses motherhood, morals and money.
Kiley’s debut novel Such A Fun Age was an instant hit making the New York Times Best Seller list, and probably more excitingly, Reece Witherspoon’s book club reading list.
Despite this success, in her 20s Kiley had always thought of writing as just a hobby turning to other jobs such as nannying and sales. It wasn’t until she was accepted onto the Iowa’s Writers’ Workshop that she began to give her writing her full attention. It was here she discovered how uncomfortable writing about money made other people feel, a topic that comes up in both Such a Fun Age and her new book Come and Get It.
Come and Get It is out now in hardback and follows the lives of three women on a college campus and discusses topics such as class, race, age and money.
Her writing has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Playboy, The Guardian, and others. In addition to writing Kiley teaches at the University of Michigan.
Kiley’s book choices are:
** The Factory by Hiroko Oyamada
** The Walmart Book of the Dead by Lucy Biederman
** The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
** Either/Or by Elif Bautman
** Sleepy Time byGyo Fujikawa
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S7 Ep2: Bookshelfie: Hollie McNish Mar 19, 2024

Award-winning writer, poet and performer Hollie McNish chats about becoming a feminist, swearing in french and why she’s bored of taboos.
Hollie is the author of five poetry collections, a new adaptation of the Greek tragedy Antigone, and the co-writer of Offside, a play about the history of women’s football. She was the first poet ever to record an album at Abbey Road studios and she regularly tours the UK and Europe with sold out performances of her work, many of which have gone viral online.
Holly’s raw voice, which won her the Ted Hughes award for new work in poetry in 2016, often tackles subjects and language considered taboo, and she’s never shied away from topics it’s not easy to write - or talk about.
Her last collection, Slug (and other things I’ve been told to hate) explored subjects women are conditioned to feel shame about - from periods to masturbation, and her new book, Lobster (and other things I’m Learning to Love), shows how we can change that narrative.
Hollie’s book choices are:
** Alfie Gets in First by Shirley Hughes
** The Madwomen's Ball by Victoria Mas
** Mrs Death Misses Death by Salena Godden
** Say Hello! by Rachel Isadora
** The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S7 Ep1: Bookshelfie: Jacqueline Wilson Mar 12, 2024

Iconic, beloved children’s author and national treasure Dame Jacqueline Wilson kicks off series 7 of Bookshelfie with Vick Hope.
In her long and illustrious career Jacqueline has written over 100 books, sold over 40 million copies in the UK alone and been translated into 34 languages. She has been the children’s laureate, winner of many awards and for years was the most borrowed author from British libraries.
Her work - including The Story of Tracy Beaker, which catapulted her to fame in 1991 - is known for tackling challenging issues, from being in care and adoption to mental illness and divorce but never at the expense of alienating her readers.
Jacqueline’s book choices are:
** Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
** Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
** The Bell Jar by Syliva Plath
** Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny
** Clock Dance by Anne Tyler
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep25: Bookshelfie: Monica Ali Dec 07, 2023

Bestselling writer Monica Ali, finishes off this season with an in-depth chat about the books that she loves, the responsibility she takes on as a writer and how she overcame a shattered self confidence.
Monica Ali shot to fame with her literary phenomenon Brick Lane 20 years ago. She has since written four other books, Alentejo Blue, In the Kitchen, Untold Story and Love Marriage. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and has been nominated for a long list of accolades including the Booker Prize and the George Orwell Prize. She is also the Chair of Judges for the 2024 Women’s Prize for Fiction. Monica is Patron of Hopscotch Women’s Centre, a charity that was originally set up by Save the Children to support ethnic minority families who had come to join their partners in the UK.
Monica’s book choices are:
** Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lingren
** Emma by Jane Austen
** Middlemarch by George Eliot
** The Bottle Factory Outing by Beryl Bainbridge
** The Group by Mary McCarthy
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep24: Bookshelfie: Kit Kemp Nov 30, 2023

Designer Kit Kemp MBE takes Vick on a literary journey from 1490 to 2022 and explains how she’s built her signature style, and her confidence.
Kit is a British interior designer and Founder and Creative Director of Firmdale Hotels and the Kit Kemp Design Studio. Kit’s signature style combines traditional elements with contemporary flair, resulting in spaces that are both inviting and visually striking. She is known for her blend of bold patterns, vibrant colours and carefully curated artwork and textiles; and for being a highly-respected champion of British art, craft and sculpture.
Kit has won many awards including House & Garden's Hotel Designer of the Year and CN Traveller's Best Hotel in the World for Design.She’s also a published author of four books, including A Living Space and her latest book Design Secrets, which offers readers valuable inspiration and practical tips for bringing their own distinctive style into their spaces.
Kit’s book choices are:
** Precious Bane by Mary Webb
** The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier
** Wayward (Just Another Life to Live) by Vashti Bunyan
** Restoration by Rose Tremain
** The Secret Lives of Colour by Kassia St Clair
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep23: Bookshelfie: Anita Rani Nov 23, 2023

Award-winning broadcaster Anita Rani tells Vick about finding a new confidence in her 40s, taking Woman's Hour to Glastonbury and why she needed to write her own story.
Well known as one of the lead presenters on BBC One’s Countryfile, and a range of shows for both Channel 4 and the BBC, Anita has covered topics from family budgets and waste plastic, to Bollywood and the Partition of India. Anita is also a familiar voice on radio, having worked for the BBC Asian Network and Radio 6 Music and is now the host of BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour alongside Emma Barnett. Alongside her broadcasting work, Anita is a successful writer, publishing her Sunday Times bestselling memoir The Right Sort of Girl back in 2021 - and has recently branched out into fiction, with her first novel Baby Does a Runner now out.
Anita’s book choices are:
** Sophia: Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary by Anita Anand
** Somebody Loves You by Mona Arshi
** Pessimism is for Lightweights by Salena Godden
** How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
** Wahala by Nikki May
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep22: Bookshelfie: Kenya Hunt Nov 16, 2023

Editor-in-Chief of ELLE UK Kenya Hunt discusses her love of the essay, the multiplicity of motherhood and the importance of blazing your own trail.
Kenya is an award-winning American journalist who has now been working in the UK for a decade. Her career spans working for some of the most influential women's publications on both sides of the Atlantic, from her post-graduate days as an Assistant Editor at the seminal magazine, Jane, to her time as Deputy Editor of Grazia UK. Kenya is the author of Girl Gurl Grrrl: On Womanhood and Belonging in the Age of Black Girl Magic, and in 2021, she was recognised by The British Fashion Council for her work with a Global Leader Of Change Award.
Kenya’s book choices are:
**All About Love by bell hooks
**The Flagellants by Carlene Hatcher Polite
**Against Interpretation by Susan Sontag
**The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
**Creative Visualisation by Shakti Gawain
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep21: Bookshelfie: Tanya Reynolds Nov 09, 2023

Actress Tanya Reynolds talks about why being an introvert is a superpower, her final Sex Education scenes and when books come into your life and act like medicine.
Tanya is perhaps known best for her scene-stealing role as Lily Iglehart in the Emmy award-winning Netflix show Sex Education, but has been gracing our screens with roles in Outlander, Death in Paradise and more recently 2020’s film adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, alongside Anya Taylor-Joy and Bill Nighy. Tanya was named as one of Screen International's Stars of Tomorrow in 2020, and has recently been treading the boards at London’s Almeida Theatre in critically acclaimed play A Mirror.
Tanya’s book choices are:
** Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
** Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
** My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferante
** Quiet by Susan Cain
** Everyone in this room will someday be dead byEmily Austen
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep20: Bookshelfie: Natalie Haynes Nov 01, 2023

Author, broadcaster, comedian and classicist Natalie Haynes joins Vick to chat about her love for Greek Mythology and why there’s an appetite for female-focused stories.
Natalie is a Women’s Prize for Fiction 2020 shortlisted author for her novel In A Thousand Ships, which retells the story of the Trojan War from an all-female perspective. Her book Stone Blind tackles the story of Medusa through a feminist lens, and her latest book, Divine Might: Goddesses in Greek Myth is a female-centred look at Olympus and the Furies. She is a self-declared “classics nerd” who has made her career reinventing Greek myths for a modern audience through her books, stand-up, radio and television.
Natalie’s book choices are:
** The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
** The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
** A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
** If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho by Anne Carson
** The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep19: Bookshelfie: Kerry Washington Oct 25, 2023

Scandal star Kerry Washington opens up about the revelations in her new memoir, why she’s ditching feelings of shame and how sharing your most vulnerable self is actually the most empowering thing you can do.
Kerry Washington is a celebrated actor, director, producer, activist and a Shondaland superstar. Kerry received widespread public recognition for her role as Olivia Pope on the hit ABC drama Scandal, breaking barriers as the first Black woman since 1974 to headline a network TV drama. She’s also starred in the Little Fires Everywhere adaptation, and films including Django Unchained and Ray. She’s a lifelong advocate and activist, using her voice to fight for justice and was honoured as one of Time magazine’s 2022 Women of the Year. And now, to add to that impressive list, she’s a New York Times best-selling author, thanks to her new memoir, Thicker Than Water - in which she gives readers an intimate view into both her public and private worlds - as an artist, an advocate, an entrepreneur, a mother, a daughter, a wife, and a Black woman.
Kerry’s book choices are:
** The Color Purple by Alice Walker
** The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron
** Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
** The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
** The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep18: Bookshelfie: Naomi Klein Oct 18, 2023

Award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Naomi Klein reveals how she had to write herself into her new book to rediscover her voice.
Naomi Klein is abestselling author, with nine critically acclaimed books which include The Shock Doctrine and This Changes Everything. In 2018 she was named the inaugural Gloria Steinem Endowed Chair at Rutgers University and is now Honorary Professor of Media and Climate at Rutgers. In September 2021 she joined the University of British Columbia as UBC Professor of Climate Justice and co-director of the Centre for Climate. Her newest book, Doppelganger is part memoir teamed with political reportage, and cultural analysis, in which Naomi grapples with her own doppelganger.
Naomi’s book choices are:
** The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
** House of the Spirits by Isabelle Allende
** The Dispossessed by Ursula K Le Guin
** Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver
** Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep17: Bookshelfie: Mary Beard Oct 11, 2023

World famous classicist Prof Mary Beard covers ageism, feminism, university fees, the role of children’s books, why men are obsessed with the roman empire and of course, her favourite books.
She is also a television and radio presenter, trustee of the British Museum and the author of more than 20 books on classical history, feminism and academic life, including the bestsellers Pompeii, SPQR and Women & Power. She was appointed a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 2018. In 2022 she retired from a 40-year academic career at the University of Cambridge. Her new book, Emperor of Rome, looks at the facts and fictions around the Roman rulers, from Julius Caesar to Alexander Severus and is out now.
Mary’s book choices are:
** Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
** The Emperor’s Babe by Bernardine Evaristo
** Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer
** Purity and Danger by Mary Douglas
** Poems and Fragments of Sappho
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep16: Bookshelfie: Geri Halliwell Horner Oct 04, 2023

Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell Horner discusses the history of girl power, Anne Boleyn and why her family are her proudest achievement.
Geri is an accomplished singer, writer, producer and actress who is widely recognised for
her iconic place in British pop culture as an original member of the record breaking girl group The Spice Girls. As ‘Ginger Spice’ Geri played a formative role in the band as they became one of the biggest selling girl groups of all time, with nine UK No 1 singles and more than 100 million records sold worldwide. In her solo career, she recorded a number of albums that collectively sold 45 million copies worldwide.
She’s released two bestselling autobiographies and a children’s book that sold a quarter of a million copies in five months. She’s also been a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations and she has just published her first of a series of children’s books, Rosie Frost and the Falcon Queen.
Geri’s book choices are:
** The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson
** I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
** Hamnet by Maggie O’ Farrell
** Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
** The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Frazer
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep15: Bookshelfie: London Hughes Sep 27, 2023

Comedian London Hughes joins Vick from LA to discuss her new memoir, how she tried to climb into a TV set aged five and why she’s found greater success in America than the UK.
London is a stand up comedian, TV writer, presenter and now a rising star in Hollywood. You may have seen her as a guest on numerous TV panel shows, or in her Netflix special To Catch a Dick, which was based on her critically acclaimed Edinburgh show of the same name.
London’s refreshingly outspoken attitude to her sexuality paired with her confidence, exuberance and wit have earned her the respect of American comedy A-Listers Kevin Hart and Dave Chapelle. But it hasn’t been an easy journey. In her hilarious memoir, Living my Best Life, Hun, which has just been published, London catalogues the bullying she experienced throughout education and the many setbacks she’s faced on her journey to stardom as a fearless black female voice in an overwhelmingly white male industry.
London’s book choices are:
** The Bed and Breakfast Star by Jacqueline Wilson
** Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
** Ugly by Constance Briscoe
** The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
** You are a Badass by Jen Sincero
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep14: Bookshelfie: Nadiya Hussain Sep 20, 2023

Nadiya Hussain joins Vick at The Women’s Prize Live Festival to talk about family values, fig trees and why she’s so open about her mental health.
Nadiya Hussain is a renowned British TV chef, author, presenter, and baker. Of course she is known and loved as the winner of the sixth season of The Great British Bake Off in 2015. Since then, she has gone on to become a TV presenter, hosting her own cooking shows including Nadiya's British Food Adventure and Nadiya's Time to Eat. She is also a writer, having penned several bestselling cookbooks, including her latest book Simple Spices, which is out this September. In 2019 she was awarded an MBE. And as if that wasn’t enough, she’s also a talented illustrator and has written several children's books.
Nadiya’s book choices are:
** You Are Not a Before Picture by Alex Light
** Joy Rider by Angela Scanlon
** People Person by Candice Carty-Williams
** The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
** How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep13: Bookshelfie: Barbara Kingsolver Jun 22, 2023

Barbara Kingsolver, winner of the 2023 Women’s Prize for Fiction discusses her winning novel, Demon Copperhead and also shares the books that have inspired her impressive career.
Barbara Kingsolver is an American novelist, essayist, poet, and activist. She has published over a dozen critically acclaimed books, including the bestselling novels The Poisonwood Bible,The Lacuna, and Flight Behavior, and is the first author to win the Women’s Prize for Fiction twice - first in 2010 for The Lacuna and the 2023 Prize was awarded for Demon Copperhead, a reimagining of Dickens' David Copperfield set in poverty-stricken Virginia at the height of the opioid crisis.
She has received numerous other literary awards over the course of her career, including the National Humanities Medal and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize.
In addition to her writing, Barbara is a prominent activist and advocate for issues related to the environment, animal rights, and social justice. She has been involved in numerous campaigns and nonprofit organisations, including the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Center for Biological Diversity, and is the founder of the Bellwether Prize for fiction that addresses issues of social justice.
Barbara’s book choices are:
**Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
**Children Of Violence Series, “Martha Quest” By Doris Lessing
**Shiloh And Other Stories by Bobbie Ann Mason
**Orlando by Virginia Woolf
**Middlemarch by George Eliot
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep12: Bookshelfie: Alex Scott Jun 15, 2023

Alex Scott MBE joins Vick at The Women’s Prize Live Festival to talk about her journey to self-acceptance, dealing with online trolls and THAT World Cup moment in Qatar.
Alex is a former professional footballer, presenter, and broadcaster. The former Arsenal Captain and England Centurion is also one of the nation’s most beloved presenters. In 2021, Alex began her new role as host of BBC’s Football Focus, the first permanent female host in its 47-year history. Earlier this week, she was the co-host of UNICEF’s Soccer Aid and also lends her support to the domestic abuse charity, Refuge. In 2022, Alex published her Sunday Times Bestselling memoir, How (Not) To Be Strong, in which she candidly shares the lessons and challenges that have shaped her.
Alex’s book choices are:
**Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
**Becoming by Michelle Obama
**A History of the World in 21 Women by Jenny Murray
**Manifest by Roxi Nafousi
**Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep11: Bookshelfie: Isabel Allende Jun 08, 2023

Bestselling author Isabel Allende on her experiences of love, loss, gratitude and why we need to stay optimistic in uncertain times.
Isabel Allende is an author, philanthropist and activist. She is one of the most widely-read authors in the world, having sold more than 77 million books internationally. Born in Peru to Chilean parents, Isabel won worldwide acclaim in 1982 with the publication of her first novel, The House of the Spirits, which began as a letter to her dying grandfather.
Since then, she has authored more than twenty six bestsellers including Daughter of Fortune, Paula, and City of the Beasts. And her latest book The Wind Knows My Name is out now.
Her writing blends magical realism with political and social commentary, exploring themes of family, love, loss, and social justice. She has been recognized with numerous awards and honours, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Book Foundation.
Isabel’s book choices are:
**The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer
**Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar
**Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario
**Broken Open by Elizabeth Lesser
**Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep10: Bookshelfie: Ravinder Bhogal Jun 01, 2023

From home cook to food journalist and eventually chef and restaurateur, Ravinder Bhogal reflects on her own experiences as an immigrant in London and how it influenced a ‘no borders’ kitchen in her own restaurant.
Ravinder is a journalist, cook and owner of the incredible Jikoni restaurant in Marylebone, in west London. She started her career as a beauty writer for More magazine in the early noughties before a TV cooking competition completely changed her life. Ravinder beat off nine thousand other budding chefs to be crowned “The New Fanny Craddock” on Gordon Ramsay’s The F Word in 2007. It catapulted her to fame, including an award-winning cookbook and a number of TV appearances alongside the likes of Ramsay and Jay Rainer, as well as her own series. Her new book Comfort and Joy is out now.
Ravinder’s book choices are:
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
How to Eat by Nigella Lawson
Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in her Head by Warsan Shire
The Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep9: Bookshelfie: Louise Minchin May 25, 2023

Live from Bailey’s HQ, Louise Minchin, former BBC Breakfast Presenter, endurance athlete, writer and podcaster reveals how she coping with her kids flying the nest, finding time to judge the Women’s Prize and she discusses her new book, Fearless: Adventures with Extraordinary Women.
Louise is someone whose warmth, empathy and journalistic prowess will be familiar to millions of people across the UK, she presented BBC Breakfast for almost twenty years, lighting up TV screens across the nation and negotiating the delicate balance of being both someone who can ask difficult questions to those in power and someone you'd actually like to have breakfast with. In 2021 she decided to finally give herself a lie-in, though hasn’t exactly slowed down. She’s a keen - and incredibly successful triathlete and fitness ambassador, presenter of the Push Your Peak endurance podcast and is the chair of this year’s Women’s Prize judging panel. Plus she’s written two books - Dare to Tri followed her journey from the BBC Breakfast sofa to team GB triathlete and her new book, Fearless: Adventures with Extraordinary Women, is published at the end of May.
Louise’s book choices are:
**Island of Adventure by Enid Blyton
** The House of the Spirits Isabel Allende
** Room by Emma Donohue
** The Beasts of Clawstone Castle by Eva Ibbotson
** The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep8: Bookshelfie: Ruth Ozeki May 18, 2023

Ruth Ozeki, winner of the 2022 Women’s Prize for Fiction discusses the power of meditation, the importance of writing beautiful lists and how novels eventually take on a life of their own.
Not only an award winning writer, Ruth is also a filmmaker and Zen Buddhist priest. She is the author of five novels, The Book of Form and Emptiness, My Year of Meats, All Over Creation, A Tale for the Time Being, which was shortlisted for the 2013 Man Booker Prize and translated into 28 languages. She has also written a short memoir, Timecode of a Face. She lives in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she teaches creative writing at Smith College and is the Grace Jarcho Ross 1933 Professor of Humanities.
Ruth’s books:
** The Pillowbook of Sei Shonagon
** A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
** Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
** Piranesi by Susannah Clarke
** A Writer's Diary by Virginia Woolf
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep7: 2023 Shortlisted Author Special May 11, 2023

In this very special bonus episode, Vick sits down with this year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlisted authors, Jaqueline Crooks, Louise Kennedy, Barbara Kingsolver, Priscillla Morris, Maggie O’Farrell, and Laline Paull.
The locations of their books span the globe, from Renaissance Italy and Northern Ireland during The Troubles, to opioid-infested Virginia and even an underwater world populated with extraordinary creatures, and we’ll be finding out more about these phenomenal books and why they deserve a spot on your bookshelf during the episode.
The 2023 winner will be announced on Wednesday 14th June.
The shortlist:
**Fire Rush by Jaqueline Crooks
**Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
**Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
**Black Butterflies by Priscillla Morris
**The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
**Pod by Laline Paull
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep6: Bookshelfie: Josie Long May 04, 2023

Comedian Josie Long joins Vick to discuss internal monologues, her big move to Scotland and how ADHD is changing the way she sees the world and herself.
She may be best known for her standup comedy but she is also a podcaster, playwright, co-founder of the education charity Arts Emergency, and now an author, with her very own debut book , Because I don't know what you mean and what you don't - a brilliant, richly-drawn collection of short stories.
Josie started doing stand up at the tender age of just 14 years old and by the time she was 17 - shortly before heading to Oxford University to study English - she won the BBC New Comedy Award. After graduating, she returned to the standup circuit and was named best newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2006. She’s since become the first woman to be a triple nominee for the Edinburgh comedy award.
Josie’s book choices are:
** Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
** Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit
** Experiments in Imagining Otherwise by Lola Olufemi
** New and Selected Poems by Mary Oliver
** Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by ZZ Packer
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep5: Bookshelfie: Poorna Bell Apr 27, 2023

Author, journalist and powerlifter Poorna Bell discusses love, loss, the depiction of South India in literature and female representation in the male-dominated world of sports.
Poorna Bell is an award-winning journalist, author and powerlifter(!) who writes across mental and physical wellbeing, women and diversity. Poorna has published three works of non-fiction: Chase The Rainbow, In Search of Silence and Stronger, which is part memoir, part manifesto about women's strength and fitness. In 2019 she won Stylist's Rising Star award, Red magazine's Big Book Award and secured a Sunday Times Sports Book Accolade in 2022. Her debut novel In Case of Emergency is out now.
Poorna’s book choices:
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Beloved by Toni Morrison
My Fight, Your Fight by Ronda Rousey
Luster by Raven Leilani
Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep4: Bookshelfie: Emma Gannon Apr 20, 2023

Author, podcaster and multi-hyphenate Emma Gannon shares her wisdom, her books and explains why we need to reframe our definition of success.
Emma Gannon is a Times bestselling author, broadcaster, speaker, novelist and host of the recently retired Ctrl Alt Delete podcast. She has been a columnist for The Times, Telegraph and Courier magazine and can now be found over on her Substack page The Hyphen.
In 2018, she was selected in the Forbes 30 under 30 list in media and is an ambassador for The Princes Trust and World Literacy Foundation.
Emma has published five bestselling books to date, including The Multi-Hyphen Method; Sabotage and Disconnected, and her newest book The Success Myth, which unpicks society’s often problematic definitions of success, is out next month.
Emma’s book choices are:
** The Illustrated Mum by Jacqueline Wilson
** Floor Sample by Julia Cameron
** The Opposite of Loneliness by Marina Keegan
** Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby
** The Way of Integrity by Martha Beck
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep3: Bookshelfie: Irenosen Okojie Apr 13, 2023

Join Vick Hope as she sits down with writer Irenosen Okojie to discuss wild imaginations and magical realism in literature and if imposter syndrome comes into play when you're a judge for the Women's Prize for Fiction.
Irenosen’s intoxicating debut novel, Butterfly Fish, won the 2016 Betty Trask Award, and her highly acclaimed short story collections, Speak Gigantular and Nudibranch have both been nominated for countless awards and received praise from Bernardine Evaristo and Margaret Atwood to name just a couple. In 2021 she was awarded an MBE For Services To Literature. Irenosen is also a judge for this year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction, and has previously judged the Women’s Prize Discoveries programme for new writers.
Irenosen’s book choices are:
** Jazz by Toni Morrison
** Black Vodka by Deborah Levy
** At the Bottom of The River by Jamaica Kincaid
** I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell
** The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep2: Bookshelfie: Mary Portas Apr 06, 2023

Mary Portas discusses books, poetry, her connection to nature and tells us what we can all do to help protect our planet and build our communities.
Mary is one of the UK's most well-known and innovative people in business.She made her name turning Harvey Nichols into a global fashion destination, by the age of just 30 she was on the board of directors. At 37, she left corporate life to launch Portas, her own creative company, with the mission to turn businesses into brands, places and spaces people want in their lives. She has been a regular on our TV screens, advised the government on the future of high streets and developed a fashion label. She is the author of Shop Girl, Work Like a Woman and most recently Rebuild: How to thrive in the new Kindness Economy.
Mary’s book choices are:
** Angel by Elizabeth Taylor
** The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs
** The Cost of Living by Deborah Levy
** Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver
** The Pocket by Pema Chodron
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S6 Ep1: Bookshelfie: Motsi Mabuse Mar 30, 2023

Dancer Motsi Mabuse kicks off season six with all the glamour, energy and determination you’d expect from a Strictly judge but she also shares the books that have helped her manifest the life she enjoys today.
Mosti Mabuse is a world-class professional dancer and has been bringing fun to the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom as a Judge since 2019. Originally from South Africa, Motsi started dancing at a young age. She studied Law at university, until she decided to dedicate her life to dance and moved to Germany. She won the South African Latin American title eight times. In 2013 she became the German Latin dance champion with her now-husband whom she also runs a dance school with. Her book Finding My Own Rhythm documents the ups and downs, romances and heartbreaks, the obstacles and adversity, and the long hours that have led her to her success.
Motsi’s book choices are:
** Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
** The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
** You Got Anything Stronger by Gabrielle Union
** Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes
** Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season six of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of season six? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S5 Ep24: Bookshelfie: Ophelia Lovibond Feb 23, 2023

Actor Ophelia Lovibond shares the moment - aged 10 - when she knew she was going to be an actor, and which book inspired her to make the decision.
Ophelia began honing her skills in a youth theatre club at the age of ten. Since then she has been working for over two decades, taking a variety of roles, including Apple’s Trying, BBC’s Roadkill, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, CBS’s Elementary, and recently This England - a series about British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in which she plays his wife, Carrie Johnson. Her latest role Minx sees her front and centre as the exuberant young feminist Joyce Prigger, who seeks to dismantle the rigid gender norms of the 1970s by creating the first erotic magazine for women.
Ophelia’s book choices are:
** Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
** Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion
** To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
** Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
** Song by Christina Rossetti
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S5 Ep23: Bookshelfie: Lisa Nandy MP Feb 16, 2023

Labour MP Lisa Nandy gives her advice on how we can all stay hopeful and keep progressing even in dark political times.
Lisa was first elected as the Labour MP for Wigan in 2010. During her time in Parliament, she has served on the front bench in a number of roles and is currently serving as Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. She is also the co-founder of the think tank Centre for Towns which was set up to ensure priority is given to the viability and prosperity of Britain’s towns. Before entering Parliament, Lisa worked for the youth homelessness charity Centrepoint and The Children’s Society. She has also written a book - All In: How We Build a Country That Works .
Lisa’s book choices are:
** Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell
** The March of Folly by Barbara Tuchman
** Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
** GDP: A Brief but Affectionate History by Diane Coyle
** The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S5 Ep22: Bookshelfie: Kate Mosse Feb 09, 2023

Author and Women’s Prize founder director Kate Mosse reveals the books that have shaped her and also makes an exciting announcement: the intention to launch a new annual book prize, the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction.
Kate is the author of ten novels and short story collections, her books have sold more than 8 million copies worldwide and her fiction has been translated into 38 languages. She has also written four works of non-fiction including the critically acclaimed memoir An Extra Pair of Hands and four plays. A ceaseless champion of women’s creativity, Kate is of course also the Founder Director of the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the recently announced Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction.
Kate’s latest book Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries, looks at the achievements of 1,000 unsung women in history, and she is kicking off her one-woman theatre tour on February 28th.
Kate’s book choices are:
** The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
** Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
** Diving Into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich
** Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie
** This is Not a Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S5 Ep21: Bookshelfie: Gillian Anderson Feb 02, 2023

Gillian Anderson is an award-winning film, television and theatre actor, producer, activist and author who rose to international fame playing FBI Special Agent Dana Scully in The X-Files. She has had countless notable roles - from Lady Dedlock in Bleak House, Margaret Thatcher in The Crown to DSU Stella Gibson in the BBC crime series The Fall, sex therapist Jean Milburn in Sex Education and most recently Mrs Marquis in Netflix’s gothic-horror film The Pale Blue Eye with Christian Bale.
Her extensive acting accolades include an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe, plus in 2016 Anderson was appointed an honorary OBE. She’s just become a War Child ambassador and has also recently launched her own Curio podcast “What Do I Know?!”.
Her new project, Dear Gillian - inspired by one of her book choices - is inviting letters from all women to reveal their secret fantasies, and be a part of an inclusive, intersectional new book on what it means to be a woman in the twenty first century. Head to www.deargillian.com to submit yours!
Gillian’s book choices are:
** My Secret Garden by Nancy Friday
** Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
** Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
** Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
** The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S5 Ep20: Bookshelfie: Cherry Healey Jan 26, 2023

Broadcaster Cherry Healey brings in books that spark discussions on the perimenopause, divorce, sibling bonds, feminism and the art of manifesting.
Cherry Healey started her onscreen career as a presenter for numerous lifestyle documentaries for BBC Three focusing on her own life - Cherry Gets Married, Cherry Has a Baby and Cherry Gets Pierced, to name just a few. She now presents Inside the Factory and 10 Years Younger in 10 Days. In 2022 Cherry launched a series with Channel 5, Women’s Health Uncovered, which explored the ‘secrets and taboos’ surrounding women’s bodies.
Cherry’s book choices are:
** Three Sisters by Heather Morris
** We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
** Glennon Doyle by Untamed
** Hormone Repair Manual by Lara Briden
** The Law of Attraction by Esther Hicks
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S5 Ep19: Bookshelfie: Caroline Lucas MP Jan 19, 2023

Green MP Caroline Lucas and Vick Hope discuss feminism and Green Party principles and reveal which book from the list would benefit the Prime Minister.
Caroline Lucas is the UK’s first Green MP, first elected as Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion in 2010. She served as leader of the Green Party of England and Wales from 2008 to 2012, and co-leader from 2016 to 2018.
She is a passionate campaigner involved in a wide range of organisations including animal charities, theatres, environmental networks, women’s groups and children’s charities to name a few. She’s also written a book, Honourable Friends, which details her first parliamentary term as a fresh, green voice to the House of Commons.
Caroline’s book choices are:
** Fighting for Hope by Petra Kelly
** Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver
** Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth
** With the End in Mind by Kathryn Mannix
** Devotions: The selected Poems of Mary Oliver
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S5 Ep18: Bookshelfie: Lucy Worsley Nov 09, 2022

Historian Lucy Worsley sits down with Vick to talk about forgotten women, fan fiction from the 1930s and the misunderstandings around beloved crime writer Agatha Christie.
Lucy Worsley OBE is a British historian, author, television presenter and chief curator of Historic Royal Palaces. Lucy has written numerous history books including: Queen Victoria: Daughter, Wife, Mother, Widow; Jane Austen at Home: A Biography; and The Courtiers: Splendor and Intrigue in the Georgian Court. She has presented and contributed - often in exquisite costumes - to various TV programmes and in 2019 Suffragettes With Lucy Worsley won a BAFTA. In her new podcast Lady Killers, Lucy investigates the crimes of Victorian women from a contemporary, feminist perspective. Her latest book, Agatha Christie: An Elusive Woman is out now.
Lucy’s book choices are:
** The Far-Distant Oxus by Katharine Hull and Pamela Whitelock
** The Young Elizabeth by Jean Plaidy
** Moominvalley in November by Tove Jansson
** Mrs Woolf at the Servants - Alison Light
** An Autobiography - Agatha Christie
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S5 Ep17: Bookshelfie: Candice Brathwaite Nov 03, 2022

Sunday Times bestselling author Candice Brathwaite reveals how she found her voice, why the UK was long overdue an inclusive book on motherhood and how - if you let it - social media can stifle your best work.
Candice’s debut book I’m Not Your Baby Mother was described by the Observer as ‘an essential exploration of the realities of black motherhood in the UK’. She is also the founder of Make Motherhood Diverse - an online initiative that lets more mothers see themselves reflected online. When she’s not writing, you can find her on TV encouraging women to be bolder in their fashion choices on Lorraine. She is also the author of a book of essays on Black British womanhood Sista Sister and her first young adult novel, Cuts Both Ways is out now.
Madeline’s book choices are:
** To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
** Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah
** I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
** What I Know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey
** Just Sayin’ - Malorie Blackman
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S5 Ep16: Bookshelfie: Dawn O’Porter Oct 27, 2022

Author and journalist, Dawn O’Porter joins Vick Hope to discuss everything from old Hollywood to Spice Girl Mania and reveals why she’s no longer hungry for fame.
Dawn is a renowned broadcaster, novelist and journalist. She has made documentaries about everything from free love to childbirth, is the co-founder and director of refugee charity Choose Love and designs dresses for Joanie Clothing. Dawn is the bestselling author of eight books, including The Cows, So Lucky and her newest novel Cat Lady - which is out now.
Madeline’s book choices are:
** Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
** Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
** Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
** Who I Am by Mel C
** We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S5 Ep15: Bookshelfie: Madeline Miller Oct 19, 2022

2012 Women’s Prize winner Madeline Miller joins Vick Hope and explains why as a writer, you have to be your own biggest cheerleader.
Madeline is a New York Times bestselling author and Women’s Prize for Fiction winner. Her debut novel The Song of Achilles came out in 2011 after a whopping 10 years of blood, sweat and tears, which all became worth it with its phenomenal success. Her next novel, Circe, came out in 2018 and is currently being adapted for television. Her latest book Galatea is a short story which became an instant Sunday Times bestseller on its publication earlier this year.
Madeline’s book choices are:
** The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
** Sense and Sensibility screenplay by Emma Thompson
** Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
** Heartburn by Nora Ephron
** The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S5 Ep14: Bookshelfie: Mother Pukka aka Anna Whitehouse Oct 13, 2022

Activist, broadcaster, author and founder of Mother Pukka, Anna Whitehouse delves into the underbelly of the internet and the fight for flexible working.
Anna’s campaign, Flex Appeal has been quoted in parliament, featured on national TV and seen her lead lycra-clad flash mobs around UK town centres. Anna is also a columnist for Grazia, is co-presenter of the Dirty Mother Pukka Podcast, hosts her own Sunday night radio show on Heart FM and - with her husband - has co-authored two Sunday times bestselling books: Parenting the Shit Out of Life and Where's My Happy Ending? Anna’s debut novel, Underbelly, is out now.
Anna’s book choices are:
** The Adventurous Four: Shipwrecked by Enid Blyton
** Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
** My Thoughts Exactly by Lily Allen
** Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
** My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S5 Ep13: Bookshelfie: Noor Murad - live from Wilderness Festival Oct 06, 2022

For another very special bookshelfie episode, Noor Murad chats to Vick live from Wilderness Festival. The unbelievably talented Bahraini-British chef discusses the contradictions between private and public life in a Muslim country.
After gaining work experience in Germany and New York, plus studying at the Culinary Institute of America for three years, Noor Murad eventually met Israeli chef Yottam Ottolenghi while working at the Spitalfields deli. She’s now the Head of the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen, and has co-written two books with Yottam and the Test Kitchen team – Shelf Love and the upcoming Extra Good Things.
Noors book choices are:
** Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
** Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
** The Outsiders by S E Hinton
** The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
** Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S5 Ep12: Bookshelfie: Maggie O'Farrell Sep 28, 2022

2020 Women’s Prize winner Maggie O’Farrell joins Vick Hope and reveals what it was like to win the prize over a zoom call and what level of research is really required to write a masterpiece like Hamnet.
Maggie O’Farrell won the Women’s Prize for Fiction for her novel Hamnet - a moving exploration of death and grief in Elizabethan England told through the story of William Shakespeare’s real life son Hamnet. Maggie is the author of nine novels, the memoir I Am I Am I Am, and two children’s books, including The Boy Who Lost His Spark, out this October. Her latest novel The Marriage Portrait, set in Renaissance Italy is out now.
Maggie’s book choices are:
** Where the God of Love Hangs Out by Amy Bloom
** Flesh and Blood by Michele Roberts
** The Green Road by Anne Enright
** The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
** Gawain and the Green Knight by Anonymous
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S5 Ep11: Bookshelfie: Aisling Bea - Live at Latitude Sep 21, 2022

In a special episode in front of a live audience at Latitude Festival, Vick Hope talks to the hilarious, multi-award winning comedian, writer and actor Aisling Bea about her early career, writing and starring in her much loved Channel 4 show This Way Up, and becoming the face of loneliness.
Armed with the stage name ‘Bea’, a tribute to her late father, Aisling broke away from the family tradition of working with horses to pursue a career in performing. After winning awards at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2012 and the Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2013, she gained exposure as a comedian and began making regular appearances on panel shows such as QI and 8 Out of 10 Cats. She has since gained international acclaim as the creator and star of hit comedy-drama This Way Up.
Aisling’s book choices are:
** Animal by Sara Pascoe
** Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
** The Green Road by Anne Enright
** The Audacity by Katharine Ryan
** Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by an inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.
Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!
This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

S5 Ep10: Bookshelfie: Minnie Driver Jun 23, 2022

For this very special episode, Minnie Driver talks to Vick in front of a live audience in Bedford Square Gardens, London. The actor, author and singer opens up about her yearning for freedom and the pieces of herself that were sacrificed for fame.

Minnie became known for her lead roles in Good Will Hunting and Circle of Friends. She broke into Hollywood where she performed in some incredible films, like The Governess and Hard Rain, alongside some equally incredible actors. She now has three studio albums, hosts her own podcast (Minnie Questions with Minnie Driver) and has her own production company. You may have also seen her star in Amazon’s adaptation of Cinderella and seen her new and evocative memoir, Managing Expectations, in shops which she has recently published.

Minnie’s book choices are:

** The House Of The Spirits by Isabel Allende

** Wise Children by Angela Carter

** The Cost Of Living by Deborah Levy

** Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen

** The Wallcreeper by Nell Zink

Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.

Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S5 Ep9: Bookshelfie: Emma Dabiri Jun 16, 2022

Writer, academic and broadcaster Emma Dabiri talks about identity, ghost stories and why she could make a whole podcast about Toni Morrison's books.

Emma’s first book, an essay collection called Don’t Touch My Hair,explores the way that colonisation, oppression and, ultimately, liberation are all expressed in Black women’s hair – and it gained critical acclaim from just about everyone. Emma’s second book - a Sunday Times bestseller - What White People Can Do Next: From Allyship to Coalition, is a longform essay looking at how support for anti-racism can be translated into meaningful, structural action.

Emma’s book choices are:

** Woman on the edge of time by Marge Piercy

** Quicksand by Nella Larsen

** Paradise by Toni Morrison

** The Birds & Other Short Stories by Daphne du Maurier

** Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.

Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S5 Ep8: Shortlist 2022: The Authors Jun 09, 2022

Vick Hope speaks to the six brilliant authors who have been shortlisted for the 2022 Prize - Elif Shafak, Lisa Allen-Agostini, Louise Erdrich, Maggie Shipstead, Meg Mason and Ruth Ozeki.

The winner of this year’s prize will be announced on June 15th.

The 2022 shortlist:

The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

The Bread the Devil Knead by Lisa Allen-Agostini

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki

Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors, kicking off with guest Gabby Logan. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.

Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S5 Ep7: Bookshelfie: Laura Whitmore Jun 05, 2022

Presenter, broadcaster and author Laura Whitmore chats with Vick about their early MTV days, Love Island and why women should take up more space in a room.

Best known for presenting shows like I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! NOW!, Survival of the Fittest and of course, Love Island, she has become a familiar face on our screens. But she’s also a regular voice on her own BBC Radio 5 Live series, The Laura Whitmore Show. She’s an actress, and she’s competed on Strictly and the Great Celebrity Bake-Off! Her self-help book, No One Can Change Your Life Except For You was an instant Sunday Times bestseller, and the paperback is coming out in July.

Laura’s book choices are:

** Animal by Sara Pascoe

** Against Love Poetry by Eavan Boland

** Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle

** Butterfly by Yusra Mardini

** The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré

Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.

Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S5 Ep6: Bookshelfie: Adjoa Andoh May 26, 2022

Actor, producer and director Adjoa Andoh covers everything from Bridgerton to reincarnation and tells us why she doesn’t care about fame.

Coined ‘the undisputed queen of audio and radio drama’ by Penguin Random House, Adjoa is now better known for her leading role as Lady Danbury in Bridgerton. For 30 years she was a BBC Radio actor, and was a welcome addition to popular TV shows like Doctor Who, Eastenders and Casualty. Her theatre credits are extensive, including Great Expectations and A Streetcar Named Desire, and her film credits include her role as Mandela’s secretary in Invictus. She’s recorded over 150 audiobooks, she is an Associate Artist at the Royal Shakespeare Company, Senior Associate Artist at The Bush Theatre, a Fairtrade Ambassador and runs her own production company, Swinging the Lens.

Adjoa’s book choices are:

** Just William by Richmal Crompton

** Green Darkness by Anya Seton

** A Question of Power by Bessie Head

** After Leaving Mr Mackenzie by Jean Rhys

** Beloved by Toni Morrison

Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.

Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S5 Ep5: Bookshelfie: Joy Crookes Apr 27, 2022

Singer and songwriter Joy Crookes talks about rude awakenings and the feeling of being ‘slapped in the face’ by books.

Joy was initially recognised in 2013 for her cover of Hit the Road Jack which she posted on YouTube, gaining over 600,000 views (one of whom was to be her manager). Three years later, she released her debut single, New Manhattan, at just age 17. She went on to release her debut EP, Influence, with Speakerbox and Insanity Records, performing one of the songs on global music platform COLORS. Since then, she’s won two UK Music Video Awards, a Remarkable Women Award and performed at Glastonbury Festival. Her music focuses on themes of mental health, relationships and culture.

Joy’s book choices are:

** All About Love by Bell Hooks

** Salt by Nayyirah Waheed

** Girl Woman Other by Bernardine Evaristo

** To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

** I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.

Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S5 Ep4: Bookshelfie: Baroness Doreen Lawrence Apr 20, 2022

Baroness Doreen Lawrence OBE shares her life of relentless campaigning for justice for her son, Stephen Lawrence.

She’s a multi-award winning campaigner and an author, but most importantly she’s a fighter. Her tireless campaigning led to the MacPherson inquiry, which described the Metropolitan Police as “institutionally racist”. In 2003, she was given an OBE for services to community relations and founded the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust to promote community legacy in her son’s name. Her memoir, And Still I Rise, was published in 2007, and in 2020 she was appointed as race relations advisor for the Labour Party.

Stephen Lawrence Day is marked officially in the British calendar every 22nd April, commemorating the anniversary of Stephen’s death. The day is an opportunity to celebrate Stephen’s life, to educate young people about the significance of his legacy and highlight the ongoing work of the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation.

The Foundation, established amid unprecedented growing global awareness of racial inequality, and exists to inspire a more equal, inclusive society, and to foster opportunities for marginalised young people in the UK. The Foundation is the home of Stephen Lawrence’s legacy and has education at its core, focusing on three areas: Classrooms, Community and Careers.

Doreen’s book choices are:

** The Color Purple by Alice Walker

** Beloved by Toni Morrison

** Becoming by Michelle Obama

** I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

** Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan

Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.

Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S5 Ep3: Bookshelfie: Scarlett Curtis Apr 15, 2022

Activist and author Scarlett Curtis celebrates Virginia Woolf and her brave and trailblazing attitude to mental health.

Former Women’s Prize for Fiction judge, Scarlett, is co-founder of The Pink Protest which has helped change two laws: a bill to help end period poverty and another to include FGM in the Children’s Act. She’s curated two books, Feminists Don’t Wear Pink (and Other Lies) and It’s Not Okay to Feel Blue (and Other Lies); the former is a National Book Award winner. Her podcast, Feminists Don’t Wear Pink, amassed over 1 million listens in only 25 episodes.

Scarlett’s book choices are:

** Girls in Love by Jacqueline Wilson

** I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

** Dawn by Octavia Butler

** Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

** The Accidental by Ali Smith

Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.

Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S5 Ep2: Bookshelfie: Gina Miller Apr 06, 2022

Campaigner, Gina Miller tells Vick Hope how she has taken adversity and turned it into power.

Gina is a businesswoman and dedicated philanthropist who strongly believes in standing up for what she thinks is right, no matter the cost. She has shown this through her social justice work, her True and Fair Campaign, and through the legal challenges she launched against the government during Brexit. Her memoir, Rise, tells Gina’s remarkable story.

Gina’s book choices are:

** The Art of War for Women – adapted from Sun Tzu's Art of War - by Chin Ning Chu

** I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

** The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

** A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf

Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.

Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S5 Ep1: Bookshelfie: Gabby Logan Mar 30, 2022

Join this season’s new host Vick Hope as she talks to Gabby Logan MBE, sports presenter and former gymnast, about the three M’s – midlife, motherhood and her MBE.

Gabby is a broadcaster, prolific writer, podcaster and former gymnast. She became a familiar face on our TV screens in the 1990s, and since then has presented every major sporting event in the UK. In 2020 she received an MBE for services to sports broadcasting and the promotion of women in sport. Gabby tells us about the loves and losses in her life, through the books by women that have influenced her.

Gabby’s book choices are:

** How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

** The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 ¾ by Sue Townsend

** The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

** This Book Will Save Your Life by AM Homes

** Life after Life by Kate Atkinson

Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season five of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors, kicking off with guest Gabby Logan. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.

Don’t want to miss the rest of Season Five? Listen and subscribe now!

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep10: Bookshelfie: Malorie Blackman Mar 10, 2022

In a special episode to mark International Women’s Day 2022, multi-award winning author, screenwriter and playwright Malorie Blackman OBE joins host Zawe Ashton to tell her why writing about black joy is so important to her.

After being discouraged from being a teacher because of the colour of her skin, Malorie went on to write over 70 children’s, YA and picture books (some of which have been adapted into hugely successful TV dramas and stage plays), and was the first black Children’s Laureate between 2013 and 2015. As she tells Zawe, the omission of black characters from the books she read as a child fueled her fire, and despite receiving over 80 rejection letters on her writing journey, she persevered. For many readers of colour, her work has allowed them to finally see themselves in literature, and her Noughts and Crosses series of six titles and three novellas are now considered one of the most substantial contributions ever to be made to young adult fiction.

Malorie’s book choices are:

** Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

** Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

** The Color Purple by Alice Walker

** The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

** The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor

Zawe Ashton, acclaimed actress, director, playwright and author, hosts this special edition of the chart-topping Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. The new Women’s Prize Podcast season continues to celebrate the best fiction written by women, by interviewing inspirational women about the books that have most influenced their life and career.

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep9: Bookshelfie: Emeli Sandé Dec 22, 2021

We are closing the season with a bang as multi award-winning singer songwriter Emeli Sandé joins host Zawe Ashton to tell her how women’s writing supported her through her journey from quiet medical student to chart-topping megastar.

Emeli doesn’t really need an introduction, as you’ve undoubtedly heard of her, or her incredible music. She’s got an MBE, she performed at the London Olympics opening AND closing ceremonies, and she’s been making brilliant music for over a decade. She’s one of those artists who manages to be both other worldly and someone you really think you should be friends with all at once.

Emeli’s book choices are:

** I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Dr Maya Angelou

** I, Born a Woman and Distressed by Edna St. Vincent Millay

** Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

** A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf

** Maria Callas: The Woman Behind the Legend by Arianna Huffington

Zawe Ashton, acclaimed actress, director, playwright and author, hosts Season Four of the chart-topping Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. The new Women’s Prize Podcast season continues to celebrate the best fiction written by women, by interviewing inspirational women about the books that have most influenced their life and career.

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep8: Bookshelfie: Bim Adewunmi Dec 16, 2021

Journalist and writer Bim Adewunmi talks about why female desire needs to be brought out of the shadows and explains why women’s fiction is about more than pastel coloured covers and 3 for 2 tables at bookshops.

Bim is a producer at the infamous storytelling podcast This American Life but was thrust in to the spotlight through her own show, Thirst Aid Kit - a musing on female desire and lust - which she co-hosted with writer Nichole Perkins from 2017 to 2020. She’s a former Guardian columnist and Buzzfeed editor, and she’s written for Vogue, the New Statesman , Independent and Monocle magazine and various others, covering everything from popular culture to feminism and race. She’s an expert on crafting great storytelling, including as a gifted playwright. Her debut play, Hoard, a comedy about a Nigerian-British family in east London, premiered at the Arcola Theatre in May 2019.

Bim’s book choices are:

** I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

** Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

** The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank

** Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

** Circe by Madeleine Miller

Zawe Ashton, acclaimed actress, director, playwright and author, hosts Season Four of the chart-topping Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. The new Women’s Prize Podcast season continues to celebrate the best fiction written by women, by interviewing inspirational women about the books that have most influenced their life and career.

Make sure you listen and subscribe now, you definitely don’t want to miss the rest of Season Four.

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep7: Bookshelfie: Jameela Jamil Dec 02, 2021

Actor, presenter and advocate Jameela Jamil tells Zawe why we need to own the narrative around women’s bodies.

Jameela started out on T4 in 2009, before becoming the first solo female presenter of the Radio 1 Chart show. But it was her move to the States in 2016 which really propelled her into the international spotlight. Taking on acting for the first time, she landed a role in the NBC series The Good Place, she’s appeared in numerous films and TV shows and has recently been cast by Marvel. All the while being an honest, raw and outspoken voice on social media. She’s not afraid to call out the beauty, fashion or media industries for their unrealistic expectations of women, she’s publicly criticised various celebrities for the impact their words and actions can have on their fans, she’s campaigned to get social media platforms to better protect teenagers and her instagram feed and podcast I Weigh have become a movement to encourage everyone to feel good about their bodies.

Jameela’s book choices are:

** Hunger: A Memoir of my Body by Roxanne Gay

** Period Power by Maisie Hill

** The Transgender Issue by Shon Faye

** The Vagina Bible by Dr Jennifer Gunter

** Everything’s Trash but it’s OK by Phoebe Robinson

Zawe Ashton, acclaimed actress, director, playwright and author, hosts Season Four of the chart-topping Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. The new Women’s Prize Podcast season continues to celebrate the best fiction written by women, by interviewing inspirational women about the books that have most influenced their life and career.

Make sure you listen and subscribe now, you definitely don’t want to miss the rest of Season Four.

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep6: Bookshelfie: Bonnie Greer Nov 25, 2021

Activist, playwright, novelist, critic, broadcaster and ‘searcher’ Bonnie Greer tells Zawe about the power of being on the outside looking in.

Bonnie is one of the UK’s most influential black cultural figures - having played a part in running numerous major institutions including the British Museum, the Royal Opera House, London Film School, RADA, Serpentine Gallery and Theatre Royal Stratford East. You may well have seen her on TV, as a regular contributor to Newsnight Late Review, or a panelist on Question Time, where in 2009 she famously took down the BNP leader Nick Griffin in what is still one of the programmes most watched - and most controversial - episodes.

Bonnie has written numerous plays, musicals and operas which have appeared everywhere from Radio 4 to the West End, and is the author of five books, spanning fiction, non-fiction and memoir. She was awarded an OBE in 2010.

Bonnie’s book choices are:

** Small Island by Andrea Levy

** Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

** Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling

** Character Breakdown by Zawe Ashton

** Entropy by Bonnie Greer

Zawe Ashton, acclaimed actress, director, playwright and author, hosts Season Four of the chart-topping Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. The new Women’s Prize Podcast season continues to celebrate the best fiction written by women, by interviewing inspirational women about the books that have most influenced their life and career.

Make sure you listen and subscribe now, you definitely don’t want to miss the rest of Season Four.

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep5: Bookshelfie: Nia DaCosta Nov 17, 2021

Film director Nia DaCosta chats to Zawe Ashton about directing the new Marvel film - The Marvels and why she’s proud of the label ‘black, female director’.

Nia is an American Director and Screenwriter. Her debut feature film Little Woods, which she wrote and directed, won her the Nora Ephron Prize at the Tribeca Film Festival and her ambitious update of the classic 1990s horror film Candyman was released earlier this year to critical acclaim, addressing issues such as racial justice, gentrification and black art.

She’s leading the charge bringing new stories - and faces - onto our screens, and showing the world that black narratives don’t have to be dominated purely by pain and sadness.

Nia will be the first black woman to direct a Marvel film - The Marvels - out in 2022.

Nia’s book choices are:

** Circle of Magic by Tamora Pierce

** Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

** Persuasion by Jane Austen

** The Bread Givers by Anzia Yezierska

** White Teeth by Zadie Smith

Zawe Ashton, acclaimed actress, director, playwright and author, hosts Season Four of the chart-topping Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. The new Women’s Prize Podcast season continues to celebrate the best fiction written by women, by interviewing inspirational women about the books that have most influenced their life and career.

Make sure you listen and subscribe now, you definitely don’t want to miss the rest of Season Four.

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep4: Bookshelfie: June Sarpong Nov 11, 2021

TV presenter, executive and author June Sarpong tells Zawe Ashton how storytelling has played a central role in her life.

June must be one of the most well known faces on TV - but more recently she’s become known as an opinion maker and author who’s not afraid to engage in politics, and speak her mind. Alongside being a key voice in the Remain campaign, an ambassador for The Prince’s Trust and co-founder of the business platform, Women: Inspiration and Enterprise, she’s also written three books, and her memoir, The Only One in the Room, is due for release in 2022. In addition to this, June is Director of Creative Diversity for the BBC, ensuring diversity is embedded in the organisation, both in front of and behind the camera.

June’s book choices are:

** Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

** I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Doctor Maya Angelou

** Women Who Run With The Wolves: Contacting the Power of the Wild Woman by Clarissa Pinkola Estes (with an honourable mention for Sacred Contracts by Caroline Myss)

** Until Today by Iyanla Vanzant

** White Teeth by Zadie Smith

Zawe Ashton, acclaimed actress, director, playwright and author, hosts Season Four of the chart-topping Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. The new Women’s Prize Podcast season continues to celebrate the best fiction written by women, by interviewing inspirational women about the books that have most influenced their life and career.

Make sure you listen and subscribe now, you definitely don’t want to miss the rest of Season Four.

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep3: Bookshelfie: Edith Bowman Nov 03, 2021

Radio DJ and TV presenter Edith Bowman talks to Zawe Ashton about their shared teenage obsession with Marilyn Monroe, being part of the early days of MTV UK, and how Alice Walker’s The Colour Purple changed her life.

Over her long and impressive career in broadcasting, Edith has acted as a touchstone and a guide into music, cinema and the media world for so many people. From her early days on Hit List UK for MTV, to bringing the nation together for huge communal events like Glastonbury or The Baftas - and now through her music and film podcast, Soundtracking.

Edith’s book choices are:

** The Marilyn Scandal by Sandra Shevey

** The Colour Purple by Alice Walker

** Sarah by JT Leroy (Laura Albert)

** Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

** This is Not a Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan

Zawe Ashton, acclaimed actress, director, playwright and author, hosts Season Four of the chart-topping Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. The new Women’s Prize Podcast season continues to celebrate the best fiction written by women, by interviewing inspirational women about the books that have most influenced their life and career.

Make sure you listen and subscribe now, you definitely don’t want to miss the rest of Season Four.

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep2: Bookshelfie: Claire Danes Oct 28, 2021

Iconic actor Claire Danes talks to our new host Zawe Ashton about the messy female protagonists that have had a positive impact on her life.

Claire Danes is one of the most celebrated actors working today - and the winner of multiple Golden Globes, Emmys and an Oscar. From her portrayal of a totally fresh and cool Juliet in Baz Luhrmann’s legendary adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, to her Emmy-winning performance in the 2009 film Temple Grandin, or her 9 year run as CIA agent Carrie Mathison on HBO’s Homeland. The range of work that Claire has produced is nothing short of exceptional - every single performance a reflection of her talent, intelligence and complexity.

Claire’s book choices are:

** Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

** A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

** Anagrams by Lorrie Moore

** Autobiography of a face by Lucy Grealy … and... Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchet

** The Journalist and the Murderer by Janet Malcolm

Zawe Ashton, acclaimed actress, director, playwright and author, will host the new season of the chart-topping Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast, launching with a double episode release: a conversation with award-winning actress Claire Danes, and a conversation with bestselling novelist Candice Carty-Williams. The new Women’s Prize podcast season continues to celebrate the best books written by women, by interviewing inspirational women about the books that have most influenced their life and career.

Make sure you listen and subscribe now, you definitely don’t want to miss the rest of Season Four.

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S4 Ep1: Bookshelfie: Candice Carty-Williams Oct 28, 2021

Candice Carty-Williams, bestselling author of Queenie, talks to our new host Zawe Ashton about how groundbreaking fiction can help decolonize British literature.

Candice and her debut novel Queenie made history smashing every glass ceiling going when it was published back in 2019. The novel was conceived when Candice was just twenty-six. It went on to win Blackwell’s Debut Book of the Year 2019, was shortlisted for Book of the Year by Waterstones, Foyles and Goodreads - and longlisted for the Women’s Prize. It also won Book of the Year at the British Book Awards in 2020, making Candice the first black British woman to win the prize in its history. Candice's latest novel Empress and Aniya is out now and can be purchased here.

Candice’s book choices are:

** Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

** Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

** Character Breakdown by Zawe Ashton

** Citizen by Claudia Rankine

** Keisha the Sket by Jade LB

Zawe Ashton, acclaimed actress, director, playwright and author, will host the new season of the chart-topping Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast, launching with a double episode release: a conversation with Emmy award-winning actress Claire Danes, and a conversation with bestselling novelist Candice Carty-Williams. The new Women’s Prize podcast season continues to celebrate the best books written by women, by interviewing inspirational women about the books that have most influenced their life and career.

Make sure you listen and subscribe now, you definitely don’t want to miss the rest of Season Four.

This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 Ep15: Bookshelfie: Katherine Ryan (Live at Latitude) Sep 22, 2021

Recorded in front of a live audience at Latitude festival, comedian and writer Katherine Ryan tells Yomi why no-one should be scared to be disliked.

Katherine is a stalwart of all the big TV comedy panel shows, she’s presented numerous other programmes, and last year she wrote, starred in and executive produced her own sitcom, The Duchess, about a single mum living in London, which leapt to the top of the Netflix charts.

She’s also toured sold out venues across the world with her stand-up shows, she hosts the chart-topping candid conversation podcast, Telling Everybody Everything AND she’s also found time to write her first book - The Audacity - a hilarious autobiography where she details her journey from a naïve ex-Hooters waitress fresh off the boat from Canada to comedy megastar. It’s out on September 30th and you can pre-order it here: https://bit.ly/KRAudacity.

Katherine’s book choices are:

** How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

** Bossypants by Tina Fey

** Yes Please by Amy Poehler

** Everybody Died So I Got a Dog by Emily Dean

** Jessica Simpson‘s autobiography Open Book

Every week, join journalist and author Yomi Agedoke, and inspirational guests, including Elizabeth Day, Sara Pascoe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as they celebrate the best books written by women. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and has been running for over 25 years, and this series will offer unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2021 Prize winner.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 Ep14: Live Bookshelfie: Bernardine Evaristo Sep 13, 2021

Recorded in front of a live audience with guest presenter Pandora Sykes, 2021 Women's Prize Chair of Judges Bernardine Evaristo shares the five books that have shaped her as a person and as a writer.

Bernardine Evaristo is an award-winning, number one bestselling writer, a Professor of Creative Writing and also an activist who endlessly campaigns for inclusivity within the publishing industry.

In 2019, she became the first Black woman to win the Booker Prize with her eighth book, Girl, Woman, Other. The same novel also earned her a spot on the Women’s Prize shortlist, and this year, she’s on the other side of the fence as Chair of Judges. Bernardine’s next book, Manifesto: On Never Giving Up, an urgent and powerful account of staying true to yourself and to your vision, comes out in October – pre-order it here.

Pandora Sykes is a journalist, broadcaster and writer, plus the co-creator and co-host of the No.1 women’s podcast, The High Low. Pandora also hosts Doing It Right and the 8-part BBC Radio 4 docu-series, Pieces of Britney.

Bernardine’s book choices are:

** The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

** Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde

** The Bone People by Keri Hulme

** The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta

** Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Every week, join journalist and author Yomi Agedoke, and inspirational guests, including Elizabeth Day, Sara Pascoe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as they celebrate the best books written by women. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and has been running for over 25 years, and this series will offer unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2021 Prize winner.

Produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 Ep13: Shortlist 2021: The Authors Jun 24, 2021

Yomi speaks to the six incredible authors who have been shortlisted for the 2021 Prize - Brit Bennett, Patricia Lockwood, Claire Fuller, Cherie Jones, Susanna Clarke and Yaa Gyasi.

The winner of this year’s prize will be announced on September 8th.

The 2021 shortlist:

** The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

** Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller

** No One is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood

** How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones

** Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

** Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi

Every week, join journalist and author Yomi Agedoke, and inspirational guests including Elizabeth Day, Sara Pascoe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as they celebrate the best books written by women. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and has been running for over 25 years, and this series will offer unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2021 Prize winner.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 Ep12: SHORTLIST BOOKCLUB SPECIAL: Piranesi and How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House Jun 16, 2021

Bella Mackie, Okechukwu Nzelu and Nell Frizzell join Yomi to dive into the final two books from the 2021 shortlist, Piranesi by Susanna Clarke and How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones.

Bella Mackie is a journalist and the author of Jog On and her new book, How to Kill Your Family is out on July 22nd, Okechukwu Nzelu is a teacher and the award winning author of The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney and Nell Frizzell is a journalist whose work has appeared everywhere from Vice to the Telegraph and who this year released her book,The Panic Years. Listen as they delve into the two incredible books from the 2021 Women’s Prize shortlist - in our very own book club where you can learn more about the six titles selected for this year’s prize.

Please note, this episode includes references to domestic violence and sexual assault.

Every week, join journalist and author Yomi Agedoke, and inspirational guests including Elizabeth Day, Sara Pascoe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as they celebrate the best books written by women. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and has been running for over 25 years, and this series will offer unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2021 Prize winner.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 Ep11: Bookshelfie: Jess Phillips Jun 09, 2021

Outspoken Labour MP Jess Phillips tells Yomi why she was always destined for a life helping others, and how her favourite book helped her realise she was pregnant.

Jess has represented Birmingham Yardley in parliament since 2015, and currently serves in Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet on the front bench as Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding. She’s never been afraid to be outspoken - be it about her dislike of Jeremy Corbyn, critiquing current domestic violence legislation, or revealing the mass of abuse, trolling and death threats she receives simply by virtue of being a female Member of Parliament who’s not afraid to speak her mind.

Jess’s book choices are

** Wild Swans by Jung Chang

** How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

** Heartburn by Nora Ephron

** Peepo by Janet and Alan Aalberg

** The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Every week, join journalist and author Yomi Agedoke, and inspirational guests, including Elizabeth Day, Sara Pascoe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as they celebrate the best books written by women. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and has been running for over 25 years, and this series will offer unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2021 Prize winner.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 Ep10: SHORTLIST BOOKCLUB SPECIAL: Transcendent Kingdom and Unsettled Ground Jun 02, 2021

Candice Brathwaite, Michelle Elman and Caleb Azumah Nelson join Yomi to compare and contrast two books from this year's Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist, Yaa Gyasi’s Transcendent Kingdom and Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller.

Michelle Elman is an author, speaker and life coach who’s the force behind the Scarred not Scared campaign, Candice Brathwaite is the author of The Joy of Being Selfish; a journalist, TV presenter and founder of Make Motherhood Diverse and Caleb Azumah Nelson is a writer and photographer whose recent debut Open Water is both a beautiful love story and a meditation on race and masculinity.

Listen as they delve into two of the incredible books from the 2021 Women’s Prize shortlist - in our very own book club where you can learn more about the six titles selected for this year’s prize.

Every week, join journalist and author Yomi Agedoke, and inspirational guests including Elizabeth Day, Sara Pascoe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as they celebrate the best books written by women. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and has been running for over 25 years, and this series will offer unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2021 Prize winner.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 Ep9: Bookshelfie: Paris Lees May 26, 2021

Journalist and writer Paris Lees tells Yomi why being trans is only part of her identity, as she explores her top five books by women.

Paris is the editor of META, a new publication devoted to gender issues, a contributing editor at British Vogue, she has columns with Gay Times and DIVA and appears in The Guardian, VICE and Pink News. In 2013 she was given the title of most influential LGBT person in Britain and became the first high-profile transgender woman to break into the mainstream media. Her new book, What it Feels Like for a Girl, is a memoir on growing up as a working class child in Nottingham - and it is out now.

Paris’s book choices are:

** The Life and Loves of a She Devil by Fay Weldon

** Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

** The Color Purple by Alice Walker

** Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo Lodge

** Simple Passion by Annie Ernaux

Every week, join journalist and author Yomi Agedoke, and inspirational guests, including Elizabeth Day, Sara Pascoe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as they celebrate the best books written by women. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and has been running for over 25 years, and this series will offer unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2021 Prize winner.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 Ep8: SHORTLIST BOOKCLUB SPECIAL: The Vanishing Half and No One Is Talking About This May 19, 2021

Raven Smith, Otegha Uwagba and Yassmin Abdel-Magied join Yomi to dive into two books from this year's Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist, The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett and No One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood.

Raven Smith is a fashion columnist and author of Trivial Pursuits, Otegha Uwagba is the former founder of the working women’s network Women Who and author of three incredible books - Little Black Book, We Need to Talk About Money and Whites: On Race and Other Falsehoods and Yassmin Abdel-Magied is a writer, engineer and award-winning social advocate.

They discuss (and debate!) two of the incredible books from the 2021 Women’s Prize shortlist - in our very own book club where you can learn more about the six titles selected for this year’s prize.

Every week, join journalist and author Yomi Agedoke, and inspirational guests including Elizabeth Day, Sara Pascoe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as they celebrate the best books written by women. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and has been running for over 25 years, and this series will offer unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2021 Prize winner.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 Ep7: Bookshelfie: Afua Hirsch May 12, 2021

Recently named as one of the most influential people of African heritage in the UK, Afua Hirsch takes us on a journey through the books that have shaped her.

Afua Hirsch is a writer, broadcaster and author. Her book Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging was published in 2018 and became a Sunday Times bestseller, kickstarting a national conversation about what it means to grow up a person of colour in the UK. She had previously been the legal correspondent and West Africa correspondent for The Guardian newspaper, Social Affairs Editor at Sky News, and a barrister. More recently Afua has presented numerous TV and radio documentaries, written a children’s book about the UK’s first female supreme court judge and started her own fashion brand.

Afua’s book choices are:

** Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

** Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

** Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozie Adiche

** The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

** Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

Every week, join journalist and author Yomi Agedoke, and inspirational guests, including Elizabeth Day, Sara Pascoe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as they celebrate the best books written by women. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and has been running for over 25 years, and this series will offer unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2021 Prize winner.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 Ep6: Bookshelfie: Diane Von Furstenberg May 05, 2021

Join iconic fashion designer and legend of female empowerment Diane Von Furstenberg as she discusses the five books which have shaped her career with Yomi.

Diane is best known for her groundbreaking “wrap dress” which came out in 1974 and earned her global recognition, becoming a wardrobe staple around the world. It’s still worn by celebrities including Michelle Obama and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. But her impact goes well beyond clothing and cosmetics - Diane is also a keen philanthropist and a role model for female empowerment. Her foundation The Diller is the force behind the DVF Awards, which celebrate female leaders, she’s part of Sheryl Sandberg’s ‘Ban Bossy’ campaign and she even designed shirts for Hilary Clinton’s presidential bid. Diane Von Furstenberg's latest book, 'Own It: The Secret to Life’, is out now.

Diane’s book choices are:

** A Life by Simone Veil

** The Second Sex by Simone De Beauvoir

** My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem

** Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

** Blowout by Rachel Maddow

Every week, join journalist and author Yomi Agedoke, and inspirational guests, including Elizabeth Day, Sara Pascoe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as they celebrate the best books written by women. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and has been running for over 25 years, and this series will offer unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2021 Prize winner.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 Ep5: Bookshelfie: Annie Mac Apr 28, 2021

DJ, presenter and author Annie Macmanus chooses her five favourite books by women and tells Yomi why she’s outgrown Annie Mac.

Annie is best known as a BBC Radio 1 DJ where she currently hosts the flagship daily new music show, Future Sounds. She’s also an incredible club DJ, playing at the world’s biggest venues, events and festivals, and has curated her own festival - Lost and Found - in Malta. Her own podcast - Changes with Annie Macmanus - is all about change and how people deal with it. And this year she’s published her first novel - Mother Mother, which she describes as “a story about family ties, addiction, the resilience of women and the teflon-strength bond that can exist between a mother and a son”

Annie’s book choices are:

** Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

** Peig Sayers by Peig Sayers

** Unless by Carol Shields

** The Green Road by Ann Enright

** The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Every week, join journalist and author Yomi Agedoke, and inspirational guests, including Elizabeth Day, Sara Pascoe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as they celebrate the best books written by women. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and has been running for over 25 years, and this series will offer unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2021 Prize winner.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 Ep4: Bookshelfie: Deborah Frances-White Apr 20, 2021

Stand-up comedian, podcaster and screenwriter Deborah Frances-White explains how a Helene Hanff book got her free tickets for life in London’s West End on this week’s Bookshelfie episode with Yomi Adegoke.

Deborah is host of the hugely successful podcast The Guilty Feminist, which has also been made into a bestselling book. Her solo comedy shows have included Half a Can of Worms, which tackled the issue of her own adoption as a newborn baby and what it was like to eventually meet her biological family, and Cult Following - which told the story of her family’s conversion to Jehovah’s Witnesses when she was teenager. She’s co-written two books on stand up comedy and her debut feature film Say my Name was released in 2019.

Deborah’s book choices are:

** Underfoot in Show Business by Helene Hanff

** The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans)

** Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

** Lullaby Beach by Stella Duffy

** Ghosts by Dolly Alderton

Every week, join journalist and author Yomi Agedoke, and inspirational guests, including Elizabeth Day, Sara Pascoe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as they celebrate the best books written by women. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and has been running for over 25 years.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 Ep3: Bookshelfie: Sara Pascoe Apr 14, 2021

No-one devours books like Sara Pascoe - on this week’s Bookshelfie she tells Yomi how reading novels you might disagree is a good antidote to an increasingly polarised world.

Sara is a comedian, writer, actor, podcaster and presenter whose extensive TV credits include regular appearances on panel shows like Mock the Week, QIand Have I Got News for You, alongside numerous other TV and radio programmes. She’s also the author of two books exploring gender in the twenty first century - Animals, and her latest book Sex, Power and Money, a Sunday Times Bestseller which is also a hit podcast exploring the realities of sex work, stripping and porn. Plus, Sara was on the judging panel for the Women’s Prize in 2017.

Sara’s book choices are:

** The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton

** I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

** The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

** Under the Net by Iris Murdoch

** Your Voice in My Head by Emma Forrest

Every week, join journalist and author Yomi Agedoke, and inspirational guests, including Elizabeth Day, Sara Pascoe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as they celebrate the best books written by women. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and has been running for over 25 years, and this series will offer unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2021 Prize winner.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 Ep2: Bookshelfie: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Apr 07, 2021

Join special guest - Women’s Prize for Fiction ‘Winner of Winners’ - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as she discusses the five books which have shaped her career, and her latest release, Notes on Grief, with Yomi Adegoke.

Chimamanda is an internationally acclaimed author whose novel Half of a Yellow Sun won the Women’s Prize in 2007 and was adapted into a film starring Thandie Newton and Chiwetel Ejiofor, as well as being crowned the ‘Winner of Winners’ from 25 years of Women’s Prize winning novels by public vote at the end of 2020. Chimamanda is also a hugely influential speaker - her 2009 TED Talk The Danger of a Single Story is one of the most viewed TED talks of ALL TIME, and in 2012 she followed up with We Should all Be Feminists. This has also racked up MILLIONS of views, has been published as a book, and sampled by Beyoncé.

Chimamanda’s books are:

** The Joys of Motherhood by Buchi Emecheta

** Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez

** The Collected Essays of Elizabeth Hardwick

** The Middleman and Other Stories by Bharati Mukherjee

** Passbook number F.47927 by Muthoni Likimani

Every week, join journalist and author Yomi Agedoke, and inspirational guests, including Elizabeth Day, Sara Pascoe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as they celebrate the best books written by women. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and has been running for over 25 years, and this series will offer unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2021 Prize winner.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S3 Ep1: Bookshelfie: Elizabeth Day Mar 31, 2021

Join new host Yomi Adegoke as she explores the Bookshelfie titles which have inspired writer and podcaster Elizabeth Day.

Elizabeth is an award-winning journalist, the author of six books, spanning fiction and non-fiction, and host of the critically acclaimed hit podcast - How To Fail - which explores how failure can ultimately lead to success. She’s also a judge for this year’s Women’s Prize.

Elizabeth’s book choices are:

** The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye

** The Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard

** The Weather in the Streets by Rosamond Lehman

** Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger by Rebecca Traister

** Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Every week, join journalist and author Yomi Agedoke, and inspirational guests, including Elizabeth Day, Sara Pascoe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as they celebrate the best books written by women. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and has been running for over 25 years, and this series will offer unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2021 Prize winner.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep23: Bookshelfie: Kim Cattrall Dec 22, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by actress Kim Cattrall. Her impressive career spans over four decades, taking the form of numerous tv, theatre and film roles. However, it was her portrayal of sexually liberated PR exec Samantha Jones on the HBO sitcom Sex and the City and its two film sequels that brought her worldwide attention, and gained her five Emmy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations including winning the 2002 Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. Her latest role is that of Margaret Monreaux on the FOX TV show - Filthy Rich.

Kim's book choices are:

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

The Way of All Women by Esther Harding

Life Before Man by Margaret Atwood

Sexual Personae by Camille Paglia

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep22: Discoveries Special Dec 02, 2020

Today’s special episode celebrates the launch of the Women’s Prize Trust’s new writers’ development programme, Discoveries.

Zing Tsjeng is joined by three guests, all brilliant writers across different forms - Theresa Lola, award-winning poet and 2019 Young People’s Laureate for London; Nicole Taylor, the BAFTA winning screenwriter of Three Girls and Abi Daré, the international bestselling author of The Girl With the Louding Voice, who also sits on the judging panel for Discoveries.

In honour of the 25th anniversary year of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and in recognition of the diverse and exceptional writing talent across the country, the Women’s Prize Trust, supported by NatWest and Curtis Brown, launched Discoveries - a unique writers’ development programme offering aspiring female writers of all backgrounds encouragement and support at the beginning of their creative journeys. It launched in late September and runs through to late January, entering writers can be of any age but have to be unpublished and submit only the opening three chapters of their novel or up to 10,000 words – and it is free to enter.

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep21: Bookshelfie: Pandora Sykes Nov 18, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by journalist, author and podcaster, Pandora Sykes. A former editor and columnist for the Sunday Times Style and a Contributing Editor at Elle, she has written for publications including Telegraph, Observer, GQ and Vogue. She is the author of The Sunday Times bestseller, How Do We Know We’re Doing It Right? , the host of her new podcast series Doing It Right and the co-host of the weekly pop-culture and current affairs podcast, The High Low.

Pandora's book choices are:

We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

We Need New Stories by Nesrine Malik

The Confession by Jessie Burton

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep20: #ReadingWomen: War Oct 27, 2020

Zing Tsjeng is joined by Paula Akpan, a journalist and the co-founder of Black Girl Fest - a celebration of black women, girls and non-binary people, Hannah Witton, a YouTuber, broadcaster and author creating content focused on sexual health, liberation and welfare and Kiran Millwood Hargrave, a poet, playwright and award-winning and best-selling author of children’s and young adult fiction.

The theme of today's #ReadingWomen book club is war. The reading list:

Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels, 1997

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Nzgozi Adichie, 2007

The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht, 2011

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep19: Bookshelfie: Grace Dent Oct 20, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by Grace Dent - the broadcaster, columnist and one of the most recognisable and unique voices on the British food scene. She's also an author and her latest book, Hungry - a nostalgic food memoir - is out on Oct 29th.

Grace's book choices are:

The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton

Restoration by Rose Tremain

Kinflicks By Lisa Alther

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser Akner

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep18: Bookshelfie: Ruby Wax Oct 06, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by Ruby Wax - a successful comedian, TV writer and performer of over 25 years. Ruby additionally holds a Master’s degree in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy from Oxford University, and was awarded an OBE in 2015 for her services to mental health. On this topic, she is the author of multiple best selling books. She is also the president of the UK’s leading relationship support charity Relate. Her fifth book, And Now for the Good News…To the Future with Love, is out now.

Ruby's book choices are:

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Beloved by Toni Morrison

The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood

The White Album by Joan Didion

White Teeth by Zadie Smith

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep17: #ReadingWomen: Girlhood Sep 15, 2020

Zing Tsjeng is joined by Poorna Bell, an award winning journalist and the author of Chasing the Rainbow and In Search of Silence, Salma El-Wardany, a writer, spoken word artist and public speaker and JJ Bola, a writer and poet, who has released three collections of poetry as well as a novel and a non-fiction book about masculinity and patriarchy for young people.

The theme of today's #ReadingWomen book club is girlhood. The reading list:

A Crime in the Neighbourhood by Suzanne Berne, 1999

A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing by Eimear McBride, 2014

The Power by Naomi Alderman, 2017

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

The Women's Prize for Fiction podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep16: Bookshelfie: Laura Bates Aug 25, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by Laura Bates - a writer and the founder of the award-winning Everyday Sexism Project, an ever-expanding collection of more than 100,000 testimonies of gender inequality, which has been described as “one of the biggest social media success stories on the internet”. Laura’s first book Everyday Sexism was published in 2014. Her latest book, Men Who Hate Women is out on September 3rd. Laura works with schools, universities and politicians to tackle gender inequality and has won multiple awards and accolades for her work.

Laura's book choices are:

The Last Slice of Rainbow by Joan Aiken

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

The Country of Ice Cream Star by Sandra Newman

How To Be Both by Ali Smith

Circe by Madeleine Miller

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep15: Reclaim Her Name Aug 11, 2020

Today’s book club is all about Reclaim Her Name – a 25 book collection Women's Prize for Fiction sponsor Baileys have re-printed with a twist.

Throughout history, female writers have had to write under male pen names for their work to be published or taken seriously. The Reclaim Her Name collection aims to give these women the credit they deserve. For the first time, Baileys is printing the real names of these women writers on their books.

Zing Tsjeng is joined by Catherine Nichols, an academic who has first-hand experience of writing under a male pseudonym, Kamila Shamsie, a British Pakistani writer and novelist who won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2018 with Home Fire and finally, our Founder Director and international bestselling author Kate Mosse, who has been a key part of the research that went into putting this collection together.

The reading list:

Middlemarch by Mary Ann Evans (AKA George Eliot)

Marie of the Cabin Club by Ann Petry (AKA Arnold Petri)

Ye Game and Playe of Chesse and The Bicycle Race by Alice Dunbar Nelson (AKA Monroe Wright)

We also have actor Tori Allen-Martin treating us to readings, plus an interview between Zing and Ann Petry's daughter.

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep14: #ReadingWomen: Love Jul 28, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by Juno Dawson, a novelist, screenwriter and journalist, Sophie Hellyer, founder of Rise Fierce - a cold water community which exists to empower women through wild swimming and kinship and feminist historian, Dr Charlotte Riley who Lectures Twentieth-Century British History at the University of Southampton.

The theme of today's #ReadingWomen book club is love.

The reading list:

The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville from 2001

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller from 2012

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones from 2019

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

Produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep13: Bookshelfie: Lily Cole Jul 14, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by Lily Cole, who takes us on a tour of her bookshelves and tells us her five favourite books by women. Lily has been a household name for the past twenty years, first famous for her flaming red hair and modelling career and now better known for being an philanthropist, actress, entrepreneur, activist, mother and author. In 2013 she co-founded Impossible.com: a technology company that uses tech to solve social and environmental problems. Her new book Who Cares Wins is being published on the 31st July.

Lily's book choices are:

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

I Am Your Sister by Audre Lorde

The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson

A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep12: #ReadingWomen: Family Jun 30, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by novelist and journalist, Anna James, musician and poet, Arlo Parks, and novelist and short story writer, Sophie Mackintosh.

The theme of today's #ReadingWomen book club is family.

The reading list:

We Need to Talk about Kevin by Lionel Shriver, 2005

On Beauty by Zadie Smith, 2006

Home by Marilynne Robinson, 2009

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep11: 2020 Shortlist Special Jun 16, 2020

In this special episode of the podcast, Zing Tsjeng welcomes the six incredible authors who have been shortlisted for this year’s Prize: Bernardine Evaristo, Angie Cruz, Natalie Haynes, Jenny Offill, Maggie O’Farrell and Hilary Mantel. They discuss the inspirations behind their novels and tell us what it would mean to win the Women's Prize for Fiction.

The 2020 shortlist is as follows:

Dominicana by Angie Cruz
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel
Hamnet by Maggie O’ Farrell
Weather by Jenny Offill

The 25th winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction will be announced on Wednesday 9th September.

The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world. This series will take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep10: Bookshelfie: Naga Munchetty Jun 05, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by Naga Munchetty, who takes us on a tour of her bookshelves and tells us her five favourite books by women. Naga is a BBC presenter and journalist, she has fronted many programmes including Newsnight, The Victoria Derbyshire Show and of course you’ll be familiar with her presenting BBC Breakfast. Before joining the BBC, she worked for the Evening Standard, The Observer, Bloomberg and Channel 4 News. She’s talented away from the newsroom too - in 2016 she was a judge for the Women’s Prize for Fiction when Lisa McInerney’s The Glorious Heresies was crowned the winner and in the same year she also danced her way around the Strictly Come Dancing studio.

Naga's book choices are:

Forever by Judy Blume

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

A little Life by Hanya Yanahigara

The Apology by Eve Ensler

She Came to Stay by Simone de Beauvior

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep9: #ReadingWomen: Changing Worlds May 27, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by Rhiannon Cosslett - a columnist, feature writer and editor for the Guardian and Liv Purvis - author of the Insecure Girl's Handbook.

The theme of today's #ReadingWomen book club is changing worlds. To look at that subject in more detail, we’re jumping into the winners from 2000 - When I Lived in Modern Times by Linda Grant, the 2004 winner, Small Island by Andrea Levy and The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver which won in 2010.

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep8: Bookshelfie: Martha Lane Fox May 20, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by Martha Lane Fox, who takes us on a tour of her bookshelves and tells us her five favourite books by women. Martha is a business woman, philanthropist, public servant and was also a Women’s Prize judge in 2009 - when Marilynne Robinson's Home was crowned the winner and is the Chair of Judges for the Prize this year. She co-founded Lastminute.com during the dot.com boom and since stepping down from the company in 2003 has gone on to sit on the boards of Marks & Spencer and Channel 4 and patron a number of charities. Today, she sits on the boards of Twitter, Donmar Warehouse and Chanel, is a trustee of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, a chancellor of The Open University and continues to advocate for human rights, women’s rights and social justice.

Martha's book choices are:

The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing

Villette by Charlotte Brontë

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson

How to be both by Ali Smith

Memorial by Alice Oswald

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep7: #ReadingWomen: Nationhood May 05, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by actress, comedian and cartoonist Jessie Cave, comedian Jessica Fostekew and actor, musician, and one-half of Rizzle Kicks, Jordan Stephens.

The theme of today's #ReadingWomen book club is nationhood – a big, meaty issue that’s never felt more relevant in this day and age. The panel dive into the 2018 winner Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie, The Road Home by Rose Tremain - our 2008 winner - and Bel Canto by Ann Patchett which won the prize back in 2002.

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep6: Bookshelfie: Fi Glover Apr 19, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by the broadcaster and author, Fi Glover. Fi is a BBC journalist, presenter and podcaster. She is a veteran host, she launched shows like My Perfect Country on the World Service, The Listening Project on Radio 4 and is also the co-host of the smash hit podcast series, Fortunately with Fi and Jane. She is also the author of the intriguingly named Travels With My Radio: I Am An Oil Tanker.

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep5: Bookshelfie: Joanna Trollope Mar 29, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by the author Joanna Trollope. Joanna has been writing for over 45 years and is well known for her contemporary works of fiction. She studied at Oxford University and worked at the foreign office before becoming a full-time writer. She writes under the pseudonym of Caroline Harvey, has been awarded an OBE and has had her work adapted for TV.

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep4: #ReadingWomen: Identity Mar 11, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by author, journalist and host of the award-nominated podcast Sentimental Garbage - Caroline O'Donoghue, television and radio presenter, Vick Hope and journalist, host of chart topping podcast You’re Booked and author of The Sisterhood – A Love Letter to the Women Who Shaped Me, Daisy Buchanan.

The theme of today's #ReadingWomen book club is identity. The panel discuss three books that explore the complexities of identity. They are the 2015 winner How to Be Both by Ali Smith, Property by Valerie Martin, the 2003 winner, and Larry's Party by Carol Shields which won the prize back in 1998.

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep3: Bookshelfie: Gemma Cairney Feb 26, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by radio DJ, presenter and author, Gemma Cairney. Gemma shares with us the story of her life through five brilliant books which have meant something to her.

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep2: #ReadingWomen: Siblings Feb 12, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by chef, bestselling cookbook author and sustainability champion Melissa Hemsley, radio producer, podcast host and writer Joe Haddow and creator and co-host of the Mostly Lit podcast, Raifa Rafiq.

The theme of today's #ReadingWomen book club is siblings. The panel discuss three books that, in various ways, have brothers and sisters at their heart. They are A Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore, the Prize's very first winner back in 1996, May We Be Forgiven by A. M. Homes which won in 2013, and The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney, 2016's winner.

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep1: Bookshelfie: Liv Little Jan 29, 2020

In this episode Zing Tsjeng is joined by Liv Little, editor-in-chief of gal-dem, a media empire run exclusively by women and non-binary people of colour. Liv shares with us the story of her life through five brilliant books which have meant something to her.

Every fortnight, join Zing Tsjeng, editor at VICE, and inspirational guests, including Dolly Alderton, Stanley Tucci, Liv Little and Scarlett Curtis as they celebrate the best fiction written by women. They'll discuss the diverse back-catalogue of Women’s Prize-winning books spanning a generation, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize for Fiction is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and this series will also take you behind the scenes throughout 2020 as we explore the history of the Prize in its 25th year and gain unique access to the shortlisted authors and the 2020 Prize winner. Sit back and enjoy.

This podcast is produced by Bird Lime Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S1 Ep7: Women's Prize for Fiction at Latitude Festival Jul 26, 2019

Zing Tsjeng brings you this episode from music and performing arts festival Latitude in Suffolk, we'll be catching up with some of the top female performers from across the weekend, including The Guilty Feminist’s Deborah Frances-White, psychotherapist Philippa Perry, The Griefcast's Cariad Lloyd, comedian Felicity Ward and writer and broadcaster Dr Hannah Critchlow, plus live recordings from the Women's Prize for Fiction's Women Writers Revisited panel event featuring Professor Kate Williams, Scarlett Curtis, Viv Groskop and Bernardine Evaristo. Tune in for their perspectives on a subject that we refuse to overlook - the current state of equality in the arts, plus some fantastic recommended reads from women writers.

For more details head over to www.womensprizeforfiction.co.uk or check out #WomensPrize and @WomensPrize on Twitter and Instagram.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S1 Ep6: 2019 Winner Jun 06, 2019

Fiction + our 2019 winner.

Leading up to the announcement of Tayari Jones as the winner of the 2019 Women's Prize for Fiction, Zing Tsjeng chats with the guests at the awards ceremony about gender equality, the view from their industries and which brilliant women we should all be looking out for in the months ahead. Featuring Naomi Alderman, Stanley Tucci, Viv Groskop, Catherine Mayer, Otegha Uwagba, Leyla Hussein and Tayari Jones fresh from collecting her award.

Recommendations include:

The Power by Naomi Alderman

The Illegal Days by Grace Paley

Octavia Butler, author

Ursula Le Guin, author

Isabelle Huppert, actor

Lowborn by Kerry Hudson

How to Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking by Viv Groskop

Anna Akhmatova, poet

Dr Hannah Barham-Brown, doctor and campaigner

Athena Stevens, actor, writer and director

Little Black Book: A Toolkit for Working Women by Otegha Uwagba

Money: A User's Guide by Laura Whateley

gal-dem.com

Manal al-Sharif, Saudi Arabian activist

Kimberley Motley, attorney and human rights activist

For more details head over to www.womensprizeforfiction.co.uk or check out #WomensPrize and @WomensPrize on Twitter and Instagram.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S1 Ep5: 2019 Shortlist Readings Jun 05, 2019

Fiction + More Fiction!

In this episode Zing Tsjeng brings you the Women's Prize for Fiction Shortlist Readings, but she's also grabbed the authors for exclusive chats to celebrate and honour the voices of these exceptional talents. Featuring Anna Burns, Pat Barker, Oyinkan Braithwaite, Diana Evans, Tayari Jones and Madeline Miller.

Books covered:

The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

Circe by Madeline Miller

Ordinary People by Diana Evans

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Milkman by Anna Burns

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

For more details head over to www.womensprizeforfiction.co.uk or check out #WomensPrize and @WomensPrize on Twitter and Instagram.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S1 Ep4: Women Writers Revisited May 30, 2019

Fiction + Forgotten Talents. Join Zing Tsjeng for this week's Baileys Book Bar, a one-off live version of Women’s Prize for Fiction’s hugely popular new online feature Women Writers Revisited. The panel of exceptional women will discuss the overlooked or ‘forgotten’ female writers who have inspired them. Bestselling author and our Founder Director Kate Mosse is joined by 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction judge, journalist and theatre critic Arifa Akbar, previous winner of the Women’s Prize Linda Grant, and the beloved novelist Joanna Trollope.

Books covered:

The Pumpkin Eater by Penelope Mortimer

Whatever Happened to Interracial Love by Kathleen Collins

The Towers of Trebizond by Rose Macaulay

For more details head over to www.womensprizeforfiction.co.uk or check out #WomensPrize and @WomensPrize on Twitter and Instagram.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S1 Ep3: Unsung Heroines May 24, 2019

Fiction + (Her)story. Zing Tsjeng is in the front row at the Baileys Book Bar this week to hear a panel of brilliant female historians as they discuss inspirational women from history, including those who have been unjustly written out of the narrative. The interplay between fact and fiction has produced some of the most engaging stories ever written, and this episode is all about celebrating this union. Bestselling author and Women’s Prize for Fiction Founder Director Kate Mosse is joined by 2019 Women's Prize for Fiction Chair of Judges, author and broadcaster Professor Kate Williams, specialist in European colonial and post-colonial History Professor Olivette Otele, and author, broadcaster and Classicist Bettany Hughes.

Books covered include:

No Surrender by Constance Maud

Anything written by Ancient Greek poet Sappho

Pao by Kerry Young

For more details head over to www.womensprizeforfiction.co.uk or check out #WomensPrize and @WomensPrize on Twitter and Instagram.

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S1 Ep2: Women Mean Business May 16, 2019

Fiction + Pioneers. Zing Tsjeng is back with this week's discussion at the Baileys Book Bar - Women Mean Business. A panel of jaw-droppingly impressive women sharing books, business tips, and stories of tough failures alongside huge successes. This episode shines a light on women reshaping the world of work today; with bestselling author and Women’s Prize for Fiction Founder Director Kate Mosse, founder of WAH Nails and Beautystack Sharmadean Reid MBE, Digital Entrepreneur and 2019 Women's Prize for Fiction judge Sarah Wood, founder of the Black British Business Awards Melanie Eusebe, and Jess Butcher MBE, tech entrepreneur and co-founder of Tick & Blippar.

Books covered include:

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Late Fragments: Everything I Want to Tell You (About This Magnificent Life) by Kate Gross

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf

For more details head over to www.womensprizeforfiction.co.uk or check out #WomensPrize and @WomensPrize on Twitter and Instagram.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S1 Ep1: Thinking Pink: What Feminism Means to Millennials May 09, 2019

Fiction + Feminism. Take your seat in the audience next to Zing Tsjeng at this week's Baileys Book Bar. Hear bestselling author and Women’s Prize for Fiction Founder Director Kate Mosse speak to journalist and author of the bestselling Everything I Know About Love, Dolly Alderton, feminist campaigner and author of Feminists Don’t Wear Pink, Scarlett Curtis, and UK Content Manager at Acast and executive producer of podcasts including Mostly Lit, Clarissa Pabi. They cover intersectionality, romantic love, cancel culture, and share some brilliant book recommendations.

Books covered include:

Blond Roots by Bernardine Evaristo

Three Guineas by Virginia Woolf

The Rules Do Not Apply: A Memoir by Ariel Levy

For more details head over to www.womensprizeforfiction.co.uk or check out #WomensPrize and @WomensPrize on Twitter and Instagram.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.