Bookshelfie: Women’s Prize Podcast

• S8 Ep10: Bookshelfie: Kit de Waal

  Accomplished writer and this year’s Chair of Judges for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction Kit de Waal talks to Vick about her memoir, the value of audiobooks and why we need to see more writing about women in mid life.  Kit de Waal has written novels for adults and young adults, short stories and her memoir Without Warning and Only Sometimes was published in 2022. Her debut novel My Name is Leon was an international bestseller; in 2022 it was adapted for television by the BBC and it is now on the GCSE curriculum. She is founder of the TV production company Portopia Productions and The Big Book Weekend, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and holds many roles in book and arts organisations. She is Chair of Judges for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction. Her new novel The Best of Everything, a story about the meaning of kindness and the love that can alter one's life, is published next week. Kit’s book choices are: ** Revenge of the Middle Aged Woman by Elizabeth Buchan ** The Outrun by Amy Liptrot ** This Is Not A Pity Memoir by Abi Morgan ** Every Light in the House Burnin’ by Andrea Levy ** Old Filth by Jane Gardam Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season eight of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women. Don’t want to miss the rest of season eight? Listen and subscribe now! You can buy all books mentioned from our dedicated shelf on Bookshop.org - every purchase supports the work of the Women's Prize Trust and independent bookshops.  This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

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• S8 Ep9: Bookshelfie: Anne Sebba

  Historian and award-winning biographer Anne Sebba talks about her incredible career interviewing everyone from Elizabeth Taylor to the Duchess of Windsor and the process of writing her newest book: The Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz: A Story of Survival. Anne Sebba began her career as a Reuters correspondent based in London and Rome. She has written eleven works of non-fiction, mostly about iconic 20th century women, translated into a variety of languages. Anne makes regular television and radio appearances and has presented two BBC radio documentaries about musicians. She is the author of the international bestseller That Woman, an acclaimed biography of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor, and the prize-winning Les Parisiennes: How the Women of Paris Lived, Loved and Died Under Nazi Occupation.  Her newest release The Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz: A Story of Survival tells an astonishing story of female solidarity, the power of music, and survival against all odds. Anne’s book choices are: ** The L-Shaped Room by Lynne Reid Banks ** Actress by Anne Enright ** Sylvia’s Lovers by Elizabeth Gaskell ** Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver ** Suite Française by Irene Nemirovsky Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season eight of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women. Don’t want to miss the rest of season eight? Listen and subscribe now! You can buy all books mentioned from our dedicated shelf on Bookshop.org - every purchase supports the work of the Women's Prize Trust and independent bookshops.  This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

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• S8 Ep8: Bookshelfie: Neneh Cherry

  Recorded live at Bailey’s HQ in London, singer-songwriter, rapper, producer and Women’s Prize 2025 longlisted author Neneh Cherry discusses her career, the power of women and the process of writing her deeply personal memoir, A Thousand Threads.  Neneh first achieved global success in 1988, with 'Buffalo Stance', a groundbreaking mix of music genres. She has released six critically acclaimed studio albums and won two Brit Awards, an MTV Europe Music Award and was nominated for a Grammy for Best New Artist. Neneh has collaborated with the likes of Peter Gabriel, Cher, Four Tet, Gorillaz to name just a few. And her most recent album, The Versions, a compilation of reworked songs from her back catalogue, features SIA, Robyn and many others. It was released in 2022. Neneh recently published her beautiful memoir, A Thousand Threads, which tells the story of her journey to becoming the artist and woman she is today. It also shines a light on her family; the extraordinary three generations of artists and musicians that are her inheritance, and legacy. Neneh’s book choices are: ** Beloved by Toni Morrison **The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar ** Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes ** White Teeth by Zadie Smith **There are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season eight of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and continues to champion the very best books written by women. You can buy all books mentioned from our dedicated shelf on Bookshop.org - every purchase supports the work of the Women's Prize Trust and independent bookshops.  Don’t want to miss the rest of season eight? Listen and subscribe now! This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

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• S8 Ep7: Bookshelfie: Charlene White

  Pioneering broadcaster, journalist and author Charlene White discusses the danger of banning books, dealing with grief and loss, and her interest in what home means to others.   Charlene began presenting ITV News in 2008 and in 2014 became the first Black woman to present ITV News at Ten. She’s also one of the presenters of daytime show, Loose Women, and helmed the show's first all-black panel special, which won a Royal Television Society award and was nominated for a BAFTA. In 2020 Charlene presented the award-winning ITV series IRL with Team Charlene - a mix of short films, animation and music dealing with racism in the UK, and how it impacts the lives of young people. She uses her platform to mentor aspiring journalists, and work alongside various organisations to achieve better representation in the industry. As a writer, Charlene is a regular columnist for the iPaper and has written for the New York Post. Her critically acclaimed debut non-fiction book, No Place Like Home, was published last year.  Charlene’s book choices are: ** The Jolly Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg **Forever by Judy Blume ** And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou ** Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams **A Life Reimagined: My Journey of Hope in the Midst of Loss by Jill Halfpenny Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season eight of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and continues to champion the very best books written by women. Don’t want to miss the rest of season eight? Listen and subscribe now! This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

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• S8 Ep6: Bookshelfie: Shani Dhanda

  Broadcaster, disability inclusion and accessibility specialist, and social entrepreneur Shani Dhanda discusses the power of audiobooks, the importance of kindness and why accessibility benefits us all.  Shani Dhanda is one of the UK's most influential disabled people, and was named Number 1 on The Shaw Trust’s Disability Power 100 List in 2023. Shani has been recognised with multiple honours and awards for her inclusion and activism work, including being named as one of the six most influential women in the new world of work, one of the most influential women in leadership, and a world-leading changemaker. She is one of the consumer experts on BBC’s Rip Off Britain and a regular contributor on ITV’s This Morning. Shani’s intersectional activism and entrepreneurship has challenged social inequality around the world, and she is the founder of Diversability, the Asian Woman Festival and the Asian Disability Network. Shani’s book choices are:  ** The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella ** Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling ** But What Will People Say?: Navigating Mental Health, Identity, Love and Family Between Cultures by Sahaj Kaur Kohli ** Baby Does a Runner by Anita Rani  ** Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season eight of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and continues to champion the very best books written by women. You can buy all books mentioned from our dedicated shelf on Bookshop.org - every purchase supports the work of the Women's Prize Trust and independent bookshops.  Don’t want to miss the rest of season eight? Listen and subscribe now! This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

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