The Book Show

The Book Show: Season 4

  • Premiered Apr 22, 2010
  • 27 episodes

Where to watch

Episodes

  1. 23. Episode 23

    For the new series' first episode, Mariella Frostrup (right) is at the 60th Cheltenham Literature Festival.

  2. 24. Episode 24

    Iranian-born comedienne Shappi Khorsandi, veteran journalist Harold Evans, and Melvyn Bragg

  3. 25. Episode 25

    Ian Rankin and Tracy Chevalier

  4. 26. Episode 26

    Dr Brooke Magnanti, 34, works at St Michael's Hospital and wrote best-selling books about her time as a prostitute as she struggled to make ends meet. Also, Booker Prize-winner Hilary Mantel.

  5. 27. Episode 27

    John O'Farrell, Conn Iggulden, and Alison Weir

  6. 28. Episode 28

    Michael Palin, Andrew Marr, and John Banville

  7. 29. Episode 29

    At the start of a new run Mariella Frostrup recaps some of the highlights from the series that has got people talking about books again. These include conversations with Dr Brooke Magnanti, the real-life Belle De Jour and inspiration for Billie Piper's character in The Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Ben Elton, Sue Townsend and Robert Harris.

  8. 30. Episode 30

    Robert Harris, William Boyd, and Lynn Barber

  9. 31. Episode 31

    Looking back over the best bits from the first half of series four. Patricia Cornwell, Sue Townsend, Ian Rankin, and the almost ubiquitous David Mitchell all pop in for literary chat.

  10. 32. Episode 32

  11. 33. Episode 33

    Antonia Fraser, Ian McEwan, and Joanna Trollope

  12. 34. Episode 34

    Fantasy sage Terry Pratchett. Orange Prize-winner Andrea Levy discussing her new novel, The Long Song. Marina Lewycka talks about the inspiration for her book We Are All Made of Glue. Plus, Sebastian Barry takes us to Ireland and the place where he wrote his prize-winning novel The Secret Scripture, and we discover Cherie Blair's bedtime reading.

  13. 35. Episode 35

    Philip Pullman, who is creating a stir with his new book about Jesus. Pullman retells the gospels with Jesus and Christ as brothers and two distinct characters. Rose Tremain talks about the follow up to her Orange prize winner. Plus, Lemony Snicket with his bedtime reading suggestions and award-winning debut novelist Neel Mukherjee.

  14. 36. Episode 36

    Upper-crust socialite and interior designer Nicky Haslam recounts anecdotes from his biography, and thriller writer Philip Kerr recommends reading Michel De Montaigne's essays when you are "feeling a bit thick". Monty Don talks about gardening, and a dry and unflappable Lionel Shriver talks about the American healthcare system in relation to her new novel, So Much for That.

  15. 37. Episode 37

    John Boyne, author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas; American novelist Joshua Ferris; and politician Shirley Williams

  16. 38. Episode 38

    Roddy Doyle on his fictional trilogy exploring what it means to be Irish; feminist Natasha Walter on the hypersexual society; John Lanchester on his bedtime reading (Tolstoy); and Martin Amis on women's liberation, the sexual revolution and autobiographical fiction.

  17. 39. Episode 39

    David Nicholls, Alistair Campbell, and Simon Kernick

  18. 40. Episode 40

    Authors George Pelecanos and Joanne Harris, and poet Simon Armitage

  19. 41. Episode 41

    Blake Morrison, Maggie O'Farrell, and Ben Macintyre

  20. 42. Episode 42

    Episode 24 "final episode of the series" - Professor Robert Winston on liabilities, Joseph O'Connor on love stories, and Jonathan Coe on loneliness. Plus, Martina Cole talks trade secrets.

  21. 43. Episode 43

    The Book Show at Hay: Turner winning ceramicist Grayson Perry, journalist Tony Parsons, and well travelled honorary Englishman Bill Bryson. Plus contributions from Jerry Hall and Beth Orton.

  22. 44. Episode 44

    The Book Show at Hay: Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Nadine Gordimer, and Christopher Hitchens. Music from Alex Valentine.

  23. 45. Episode 45

    Antony Beevor replacing Gary Kemp on the show tonight. Other guests are Audrey Niffenegger, Jo Brand & Dennis Rollins.

  24. 46. Episode 46

    Simon Schama, Joss Ackland, and Rob Brydon are the guests on Mariella's sofa today. Music from Thea Gilmore.

  25. 47. Episode 47

    The Book Show at Hay: William Dalrymple, Jacqueline Wilson, and Sir Ian Blair. Music is from the ever excellent Orquesta Buena Vista.

  26. 48. Episode 48

    The Book Show at Hay: Louis de Bernières, who has taken a shot at writing about rural England in the 1960s in his new book, Notwithstanding; Allegra Huston, author of the memoir Love Child; and the current children's laureate Anthony Browne.

  27. 49. Episode 49

    The Book Show at Hay: Brian May, Virginia McKenna, and Alexander McCall Smith talk animals, including a dog bugged by MI5. Music from the truly brilliant Toumani Diabate, and mathematician Alex Bellos teaches us how to cut a cake in a mathematical fashion.

Episode information from TMDB. Air dates refer to the original broadcast or release.