A Good Read is one of BBC Radio 4's longest-running programmes that began in 1977; in it two guests join the main presenter to choose and discuss their favourite books. Sue MacGregor stepped down in 2010 as the programme's longest-serving presenter (seven years). Her successor is the writer, broadcaster and academic Harriett Gilbert, who took up the reins in May 2011. Previous presenters have included the novelist Louise Doughty and journalist Matthew Parris. Collectively the panellists review their chosen titles. The books are always in-print paperbacks and affordable, and the reviews are honest and genuinely driven by the taste of the guests.
Links To Peel[]
Peel featured on an episode broadcast on 31 August 1989 (and repeated on 03 September 1989) with presenter Edward Blishen and cricketer Rachael Heyhoe-Flint [1]. It is not currently known what titles they discussed.
In an episode broadcast on 04 September 2001, Matthew Parris and his guests, Peel and comic actress Arabella Weir (from The Fast Show), discussed books by Tracy Chevalier, Joshua Slocum and Arthur Mathews (Peel's choice). The books were:
- Chevalier, Tracy (1999). Girl With A Pearl Earring. Harper Collins
- Slocum, Joshua (1900). Sailing Alone Around The World. Adlard Coles Nautical
- Mathews, Arthur (2001). Well Remembered Days. Macmillan