The Queen’s Reading Room podcast back for second series with Richard E Grant
The Queen's book project has researched the benefits of reading
The Queen’s book club podcast returns on Monday 2024 with Richard E Grant among its guests following the success of its first season.
The Queen’s Reading Room lets listeners in on Her Majesty’s “all-time favourite reads” and reached the top one per cent of podcasts globally after its launch in January 2024.
Grant will join a host of authors and actors set to appear on the show’s next nine episodes and will discuss the books that have inspired him throughout his life.
It is expected the actor may touch upon the loss of his wife Joan, a voice coach, who died of lung cancer aged 74 in 2021.
The King had been one of her final visitors in the weeks before her death, Grant previously revealed.
“He came and sat with her in our garden. They talked about everything,” he said of the King, who was diagnosed with cancer earlier in 2024.
Grant says the King visited his wife Joan before she died in 2021 - BBC
Also appearing on the podcast is American Gods author Neil Gaiman, Labyrinth author Kate Mosse and author of the Roy Grace series Peter James.
It will include short interviews with Queen Camilla, who will share her favourite books with listeners.
Vicki Perrin, the chief executive and host of The Queen’s Reading Room, said: “We were astounded by the response to the first season.
“It is clear that the podcast reached and resonated with listeners globally, enabling them to connect and fall in love with books.
“I hope that this second season will continue to inspire listeners to go on new literary adventures and help those wishing they loved books a little more to discover the true joy of reading.”
The first series featured Rebus author Sir Ian Rankin, actress Dame Joanna Lumley and comedian David Baddiel and was listened to in 158 countries.
The Queen recently hailed the results of her book club’s first scientific study, which found five minutes of reading a day is as valuable to mental wellbeing as walking 10,000 steps and eating five portions of fruit and vegetables.
At a reception hosted in March 2024 to celebrate the third anniversary of The Queen’s Reading Room and its first as a registered charity, she said: “Just as we always suspected, books are good for us and now science is proving us right!”
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