Book Off!

Book Off!

Arts EN ↓ 180 episodes

A fun, upbeat, accessible show about brilliant books, writing and culture. Each episode sees two authors go head to head in a war of the words, championing a book they love and think we should all read...but only one can win. This book podcast features an incredible array of authors from across the globe and some amazing, and sometimes unexpected, book recommendations. #books #bookpodcast #authors #writers #booklovers #writing #literature #bookrecommendations #bookworms Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Author

Book Off!

Category

Arts

Podcast website

play.acast.com

Latest episode

Oct 24, 2026

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Episodes

Lisa Jewell and Catherine Steadman (I only know what I'm writing when I'm writing it) 02.10.2019

Bestselling author Lisa Jewell (Ralph's Party) goes head to head with Downton Abbey actor Catherine Steadman in the Book Off. They talk to host Joe Haddow about sharing their work with their partners, the bReece Witherspoon and why a house can be such a scary character ina book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daisy Johnson and Kiran Milwood Hargrave (The best sex I've ever read) 25.09.2019

Authors Daisy Johnson (Fen, Everything Under) and Kiran Milwood Hargrave (The Girl Of Ink and Stars, The Deathless Girls) join Joe Haddow for the first Book Off! of Series four. They talk about being on the other side of a book prize (as judges) their love well-written sex and just how much they trust each others' advice. In the first Book Off of Series 4, we see Jeanette Winterson's "Frankisstein...

Jim Bob and Luke Haines (It's better out than in) 01.05.2019

Carter USM go head to head with The Auters in this episode of Book Off! Joe Haddow is joined by Jim Bob and Luke Haines who go head to head in a war of the words - putting Kinski's autobiography up against Dave Eggers. But who will win? Why they love and hate writing in equal measure, the longevity of projects, the craziness of the 90s and how their music has changed with age. Hosted on Acast. See...

Dorothy Koomson and Amanda Prowse (Leather Pyjamas at the ready!) 17.04.2019

Dorothy Koomson and Amanda Prowse discuss World Book Night, eavesdropping and how the simplest of stories can spark a whole novel. They also go head to head in the Book Off, putting Malroie Blackman's "Noughts And Crosses" against "Lemony Snicket" by Daniel Handler. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony Parsons and Charlotte Philby (We caned it quite hard in the 70s) 10.04.2019

Bestselling author and former music journalist Tony Parsons goes head to head with journalist and writer Charlotte Philby in a War of the Words. They discuss their love of short stories, espionage and how life events are the best way to get ideas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taylor Jenkins Reid and Damian Barr (Sorry for giving you the horn) 03.04.2019

Author and essayist Taylor Jenkins Reid goes head to head with columnist, writer and literary event chair Damian Barr in a war of the words - putting The Colour Purple against The Hate U Give. Damian and Taylor discuss their latest novels (You Will Be Safe Here and Daisy Jones & The Six) as well as how they write, the music scene in LA through the 1970s and what writers can learn from readers...

Ben Aaronovitch and James Swallow (My characters just never shut up!) 29.03.2019

Ben Aaronovitch and James Swallow go head to head in a war of the words, as well as discussing writing for TV, gaming, falling out with your producer and how writing isn't really anything to write home about. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helen Lederer and Shazia Mirza (You can be successful, just don't copy me) 29.03.2019

Comedians and authors Helen Lederer and Shazia Mirza go head to head in a war of the words - pitting David Nicholls against Vicktor E Frankel. They also discuss how comedy has changed for women, the differences of writing prose versus stand-up and the Comedy Women In Print Prize. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregg Hurwitz and Robert Goddard (Bats and Rats) 29.03.2019

Screenwriter, author and graphic novelist Gregg Hurwitz takes on bestselling crime writer Robert Goddard in a War Of The Words. In this episode, "Ratking" by Michael Dibdin is pit against "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien and the two authors discuss comics, adapting famous characters and how writing books is just an excuse to go on holiday to exotic places. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

Douglas Kennedy and John Lanchester (There are five rules for writing a novel...and nobody knows what they are) 07.03.2019

Authors Douglas Kennedy and John Lanchester put Homer's Odyssey up against Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates, as well as discussing great cinema, how generations have changed emotionally and what our world might look like in 20 years time. Spoiler - it's not good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tracey Thorn and Hannah Beckerman (Suburbia and Safety) 27.02.2019

Singer, songwriter and author Tracey Thorn goes head to head with journalist and author Hannah Beckerman in the Book Off! putting Donna Tart's "A Secret History" against "The Vanishing Act Of Esme Lennox" by Maggie O'Farrell. They discuss motherhood, growing up in Suburbia and whether re-reading books you love is a good idea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leila Slimani and Stacey Halls (We are all shocking inside) 20.02.2019

Author of besting novel "Lullaby" Leila Slimani goes head to head with journalist and debut author Stacey Halls in the brand new series of Book Off! They discuss the state of journalism in the world today, witches, sex addicts and how writing should be shocking and not safe. And put "The Unbearable Lightness Of Being" by Milan Kundera up against Philip Pullman's "The Ruby In The Smoke" Hosted on A...

David Tennant and Christian Brassington (You've never seen Home Alone???) 01.02.2019

Actors David Tennant and Christian Brassington go head to head in the Book Off, pitching George Orwell against Batman. They talk to Joe Haddow about festive films, a love of comics, new projects and finding the time to read. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barbara Taylor Bradford and Sophie Hannah (An archive? That's just a load of tat...) 01.02.2019

Bestselling authors Barbara Taylor Bradford (A Woman Of Substance) and Sophie Hannah (Kind Of Cruel) go head to head in the Book Off! Emily Bronte's classic "Wuthering Heights" goes up against "Half Broken Things" by Morag Joss, but who will be crowned the winner? The writers talk to Joe Haddow about Agatha Christie, their routines, what constitutes an archive and the joy of typewriters. Hosted on...

Sarah Winman and Tim Winton (Writing is a young persons game) 01.02.2019

Australian author Tim Winton (Cloud Street) goes head to head with British actress and author Sarah Winman (Tin Man). In this episode of Book Off, Richard Powers' "The Overstory" is put up against "A Prayer For Owen Meany" by John Irving, but who will win? The authors also chat to Joe Haddow about how books come to them, the importance of place and how writing gets harder as you get older. Hosted...

Sarah Perry and Patrick Gale (People love being scared, it's very close to sex!) 01.02.2019

Bestselling authors Sarah Perry (The Essex Serpent) and Patrick Gale (A Place Called Winter) go Head to Head in the Book Off, with two very different novels. Edith Wharton's "The Age Of Innocence" is put up against "We That Are Young" by Preti Taneja, but which one will win? The writers also chat about ghosts, witches, reading bad reviews and their love of short stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast...

Cecelia Ahern and Murray Lachlan Young (Are we on another planet!?) 01.02.2019

International bestselling author Cecelia Ahern goes head to head in the Book Off with poet and broadcaster Murray Lachlan Young.  In this episode, Audrey Niffenegger's "The Time Travellers Wife" goes up against "The Last Mughal" by William Dalrymple. They also discuss the bending of time, whether different versions of ourselves are living on another Earth, their favourite rap and hip-hop musi...

Adam Kay and John Cooper Clarke (This Is Going To Hurt...) 01.02.2019

Comedian and author Adam Kay goes head to head in the Book Off with punk poet John Cooper Clarke. David Sedaris' "Holidays On Ice" goes up against "Dolce Vita Confidential" by Shawn Levy, but who will win? They also discuss the joys of milkmen, Italian cinema and how punk it is to not have a mobile phone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paddy Ashdown and Bernard Cornwell (If you don't love poetry, you should give up on life!) 01.02.2019

Former Lib Dem Leader, Paddy Ashdown, takes on international bestselling author Bernard Cornwell in the Book Off! This episode sees John Donne take on William Shakespeare, but who will win??? Hosted by Joe Haddow, the two historians discuss secret spies in the Second World War, the unravelling of English history, how politics of the 1930s are mirroring our society today, and lots of poetry. Hosted...

Matt Haig and Bryony Gordon (From mental health to running to Police Academy!) 01.02.2019

Bestselling author Matt Haig and Telegraph journalist Bryony Gordon join Joe Haddow for a very interesting Book Off! In possibly the most diverse war of the words this series, Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" is put up against the Alcoholics Anonymous "Big Book" by Bill W. As well as discussing their own books, Matt and Bryony talk about their mental health, facing demons, how running really helps them and t...

Erin Kelly and Sabine Durrant (Taking time off of social media? You must be mad!) 01.02.2019

Thriller writers Erin Kelly and Sabine Durrant go head to head in the Book Off! Barbara Vine's "No Night Is Too Long" goes up against "Hanover Square" by Patrick Hamilton - but which will have the glory? As well as a fierce competition, the authors talk about taking time off social media and how some subjects are just too horrific to write about. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...

Louise Doherty and Araminta Hall (Women are still portrayed badly in fiction!) 01.02.2019

The bestselling author of Apple Tree Yard, Louise Doherty, joins Joe Haddow for a chat about her writing foundation and goes head to head with author Araminta Hall who discusses her latest novel, Our Kind Of Cruelty. Daphne Du Maurier's "Rebecca" goes up against 'Ghosts Of The Tsunami" by Richard Lloyd Parry in this episode, but which will win? The authors also discuss the portrayal of women in fi...

Kate Mosse and SJ Parris (Literary prizes and jet-lag, now there's a combo!) 01.02.2019

Bestselling author and co-founder of the Women's Prize For Fiction, Kate Mosse goes head to head with critic, journalist and author SJ Parris in the Book Off! Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" goes up against "The Name Of The Rose" by Umberto Eco in this episode, but which one will Joe take home? They also discuss the importance of literary prizes, their latest novels, how to plan your writing routine...

Mark Billingham and David Hepworth (It's about to get very geeky!) 01.02.2019

Bestselling crime writer Mark Billingham goes head to head with music journalist extraordinaire David Hepworth. As well as a hotly contested Book Off between Lyndon B Johnson and The Maltese Falcon (yep, seriously!) Joe Haddow gets geeky with both writers about music. They talk Steely Dan, Elvis Costello and The Beatles and why music genre trends only occur every forty years. Hosted on Acast. See...

Donal Ryan and Imogen Hermes Gower (What's the point of no carb diets?) 01.02.2019

Irish writer and Man Booker Prize longlistee Donal Ryan and debut author Imogen Hermes Gower go head to head in the Book Off! John Steinbeck is pitted against Beryl Bainbridge in this episode - but who do you think should win? Imogen discusses the pressures of writing after a huge bidding war and financial deal and Donal explains how he has only really been a full-time author for 3 months of his l...

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