Starbooked

Bookclub

Podcast · www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006s5sf · GB · EN
Hosted by James Naughtie

Bookclub, presented by James Naughtie on BBC Radio 4, features a panel of readers interviewing acclaimed authors about their best-known novels. The show has 354 episodes with a release cadence of roughly one episode every four weeks, typical length around 28 minutes. Estimated downloads per episode are 5,000 to 25,000, implying a rate of roughly $90 to $625 per episode for a host-read mid-roll.

Why brands sponsor Bookclub

A long-running BBC Radio 4 book show with an engaged literary audience

  • 354 episodes since 1998 give a consistent, established listening habit
  • Apple Podcasts rating of 4.4 from 236 ratings signals a satisfied audience
  • Guests are acclaimed novelists, so the content suits premium book-related brands
Best forpublishers and book retailerspremium reading accessoriesliterary festivals and courses
Watch forPublic BBC programme with no sponsorship model; brand integrations may not be permitted, so confirm before pitching.

Brand fit report

Content

Topics, IAB taxonomy
Books and Literature90%
Arts and Entertainment10%
Formats
interview, panel discussion
Tone
thoughtful, conversational
Language
English
Production
Studio production
Typical length
28 to 35 minutes

Audience

Commercial intent5/100
Comments asking for links, prices or where to buy
Sentiment85/100
Estimated from titles, descriptions and engagement
Est. downloads per episode5k–25k
Estimated, confidence 45%: Apple Podcasts shows 236 ratings (band 200 to 1,000, 5,000 to 25,000 per episode), a long-running BBC Radio 4 show with 354 episodes, and a high-quality production; no sponsor signals to adjust.
Audience asks aboutWhat inspired the author to write this novelHow the book's themes hold up on rereadingWhich novels suit a reading group discussion
Age
8%18-24
17%25-34
22%35-44
53%45+
Gender
58%women
42%men
Countries
🇬🇧 United Kingdom85%
🇺🇸 United States5%
🇦🇺 Australia3%
LanguagesEnglish 100%

Commercial

0%of the last 20 episodes had a sponsor
None seenno sponsor mentions in the last 20 episodes
Brands seen
None yet
Categories promoted
None yet
Affiliate links
No

No sponsor mentions found in the feed

Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability

Profanitylow
Adultlow
Drugslow
Violencelow
Politicslow

Family friendly
Feed carries no explicit flag (explicit 0) and recent titles cover novels and author interviews, such as 'Irvine Welsh' and 'Christopher Brookmyre', with no safety concerns in the titles.

We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.

Where to listen

Benchmark score: 62 / 100

Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.

Consistency Latest episode within the usual cadence50 / 50
Activity Episodes in the last 90 days, weekly is full marks7 / 30
Reach Estimated downloads per episode, 20k is full marks15 / 20

Recent episodes

EpisodeDateLength
Daniel Mason2026-10-0428 min
Irvine Welsh2026-09-0628 min
Janice Hallett2026-08-0228 min
Anne Sebba2026-07-0529 min
Kirstin Innes2026-06-0728 min
Nicola Barker2026-05-0329 min

Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 15 days ago, a new one about every 28 days.

Led by James Naughtie, a group of readers talk to acclaimed authors about their best-known novels
Bookclub's own show description from the podcast feed

Do you make Bookclub? Claim or remove this page.

About Bookclub

Bookclub is a BBC Radio 4 podcast presented by James Naughtie, in which a group of readers talks with acclaimed authors about their best-known novels. The feed lists 354 episodes since 1998, released roughly every four weeks, with episodes typically running about 28 minutes. The show is hosted on the BBC's own file servers and its programme page is the main source of information about the series.

The Apple Podcasts listing shows 236 ratings with an average of 4.4 stars, which places the show in a mid-sized listener band. Listener figures are not published; based on these signals, estimated downloads are 5,000 to 25,000 per episode, and the audience is likely older and UK-based, though this is an estimate. No sponsors were seen in the feed.

A host-read mid-roll would be an unusual fit for a public broadcaster, so any commercial approach should be checked first. Estimated rates of about $90 to $625 per episode apply to a standard host-read placement, and the audience suits premium book-related brands.

Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. Bookclub can edit or remove this page at any time.

Questions about Bookclub

How much does Bookclub charge for a podcast sponsorship?

Based on estimated downloads of 5,000 to 25,000 per episode, a host-read mid-roll would be roughly $90 to $625 per episode. As a BBC Radio 4 show, sponsorship availability should be confirmed before any booking.

What is Bookclub about?

Bookclub is a BBC Radio 4 podcast presented by James Naughtie, where readers interview acclaimed authors about their best-known novels. Episodes run about 28 minutes.

How do I contact Bookclub about sponsoring an episode?

The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can also be booked through Starbooked, though a public broadcaster may not accept sponsorship.

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