Confessions of a Book Collector

Former deputy editor of the Independent on Sunday, James Hanning, takes us behind the scenes of The Bookseller of Hay, his immersive portrait of Richard Booth, the man whose eccentric brilliance (and spectacular unruliness!) turned Hay-on-Wye into a world-famous literary destination.We talk about Booth’s larger-than-life personality, his love–hate relationship with the Hay Festival, his spectacular mischief, and the contradictions that made him both impossible and irresistible. James also shares how his upbringing and his instinct for “getting to the bottom of things” shaped this book and career.

In this episode of Confessions of a Book Collector, David sits down with acclaimed novelist, journalist and broadcaster Sebastian Faulks to explore the restless creative energy that drives his work.Sebastian discusses his latest release, Fires Which Burned Brightly: A Life in Progress,  a collection of essays born from his lifelong compulsion to write.From the childhood books that first sparked his imagination to the literary heroes and signed first editions he treasures today, this is an honest look at the writer behind the words.

She’s the biggest female voice in fiction right now, and a bestselling author of more than 20 novels, we’re delighted to share this brilliant interview with Kristin Hannah.From the remarkable way she writes her books to revealing a major exclusive - we hope you’ll enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed making it.

This episode opens with a reflection on the newly launched Go All In campaign, part of the National Year of Reading 2026, a nationwide push to get Britain reading for pleasure again. Backed by the National Literacy Trust and the Department for Education, the initiative aims to reignite our love of books at a time when fewer children and teenagers are reading for fun.From there, we turn to someone who has spent a lifetime thinking about why books matter. Ian Patterson, poet, translator, academic, and author of Books: A Manifesto or How to Build a Library, joins to reflect on what it means to live among books. From parting with his 6,000 volume library to rediscovering the emotional and intellectual worlds that books hold, Ian speaks with warmth, wit and deep humanity about why reading is not a luxury, but a way of being alive.Together, we explore the promise each book holds and why, even in a digital age, our shelves might just be the truest mirrors of who we are.

In this special episode of Confessions of a Book Collector, David sits down with the brilliant actor and author Richard Armitage, a true bibliophile whose life has always been shaped by story. We talk about his new novel The Cut, and how childhood memories and early experiences helped inspire it. Richard reflects on reading aloud as part of his creative process, the rhythm of language he learned from music and Shakespeare, and the emotional truth he searches for in every line. From The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to Dostoevsky, from The Shining to The Lord of the Rings, this is a conversation about the books that built him.

We’re back with our biggest series yet! In this premiere episode, David reveals the remarkable guests lined up for Series 5 and shines a light on three standout novels from this summer, books that have already secured a place on his “best of the year” list.These are stories you won’t want to miss - listen now and discover your next great read.And get special editions of all the incredible books featured, right here. 

Confessions of a Book Collector returns soon for its fifth (and most thrilling!) series. Tune in for a first look at the legendary authors, collectors, and surprise guests who’ll be sharing their stories.

We close this series of Confessions of a Book Collector with a sparkling conversation with one of Britain’s best-loved storytellers, Adele Parks MBE.Over the past 25 years, Adele has written 25 novels spanning romance, historical fiction, family drama and psychological thrillers - and she’s still brimming with ideas. In this episode, Adele reflects on her extraordinary career, the nerves and excitement that come with every new book, and the unwavering support that’s helped her along the way.She also gives us a first look at her brand-new novel Our Beautiful Mess - our Crime Collective Book Club pick for September - a gripping family drama full of secrets, twists and danger.A joyful, energised finale to the series, celebrating a writer at the very top of her game.

From stage to page, murder-mystery author Jamie West has cracked the code to self-publishing success. His Murder at the Matinee was shortlisted for the 2025 CWA Whodunnit Dagger Award, and his novels have climbed the Amazon bestseller charts.By night, Jamie works backstage on some of London’s biggest West End shows. By day, he’s built a thriving career as a self-published author.From shaping his covers and marketing campaigns to building a loyal readership, Jamie explains why he chose the indie route over traditional publishing, and shares his advice for anyone wishing to take the same path.

In this uplifting episode, David sits down with Florence Knapp, author of one of 2025’s biggest debut novels, The Names. Together they explore how the smallest shifts in your routine and the most ordinary decisions can alter the entire course of your life. Listen now, to this truly joyful episode.