48: Philip Pullman, Andy Miller and Andy Secombe
Philip Pullman joins Red Szell in the Talking Book studios to talk about 'The Book of Dust' Book 1: La Belle Sauvage. Andy Miller tells Robert Kirkwood about 'The Year of Reading Dangerously' and narrator and author Andy Secombe tells Red about growing up with the Goons and a few of his famous voices.
58m Dec 22, 2017
58m
47: Eddie Izzard's Lost Christmas and 'The Robin: A biography'
Stephen Moss tells us the history behind the Robin's connection to Christmas, Steven Scott and Red discuss some reading technology, Robert Kirkwood delves into RNIB Library for some festive books and chats to Eddie Izzard about narrating 'Lost Christmas'.
58m Dec 15, 2017
58m
46: John Bew, Marian Veevers and Jonathan Dimbleby
John Bew talks to host Red Szell about the Orwell Prize winning Citizen Clem: A Biography of Attlee ... at the Wigtown Book Festival we chat to Marian Veevers, author of 'Jane and Dorothy: A True Tale of Sense and Sensibility' and Robert Kirkwood hears Jonathan Dimbleby's Churchill impression.
58m Dec 08, 2017
58m
45: Book Week Scotland (2017)
With the Scottish Book Trust we hear tales from this year's free book, 'Nourish'. Stories from Dave Myres, Mary Contini and much more on Nourishment for body and soul. We also talk to the Scottish Book Trust and hear what they do to encourage reading and writing. Get the whole free audio book 'Nourish' at www.scottishbooktrust.com/nourish
58m Dec 01, 2017
58m
44: Mountains, Horses and Guns with Chris Bonington, Gary Younge, and Susanna Forrest.
Red Szell visits the Petworth Literary Festival and meets his hero, Chris Bonington and finds out about the festival from artistic director Stewart Collins. We hear about 'Another Day in the Death of America' from journalist and author Gary Younge and at the Wigtown Book Festival we hear the remarkable history of horses from Susanna Forrest.
58m Nov 24, 2017
58m
Narrator Interview - Adjoa Andoh
The actress talks about being the voice of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, narrating Sci-Fi and discusses some favourites. Clipped from Read On Episode 43
14m Nov 17, 2017
14m
43: YA Books and more with Lauren St. John, Andrew Beasley, Adjoa Andoh and His Dark Materials
Lauren St. John tells us how books can actually change minds, Andrew Beasley makes us S.C.R.E.A.M. We re-visit His Dark Materials and Adjoa Andoh talks about her work, including the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency.
58m Nov 17, 2017
58m
42: The First Talking Books - Documentary Special
A special documentary about the origins of the Talking Books service, recorded at the original locations around London, and featuring many voices from the past. Historian Matthew Rubery and Robert Kirkwood explore everything from the first Talking Book machines, some failed technology, how books were chosen and much more.
58m Nov 10, 2017
58m
41: David Mitchell, Jessica Fox and Gail Honeyman
David Mitchell tells Red Szell how his characters write to him, Jessica A. Fox talks about leaving NASA to work in a Scottish bookshop, Gail Honeyman gives us the books of her life and Robert Kirkwood finds the links between Star Wars and Talking Books.
58m Nov 03, 2017
58m
James Herbert - Uncut
We remember the master of horror fiction James Herbert in an interview Robert Kirkwood conducted with him shortly before his death, discussing how his childhood influenced his books and how protective he was of his work. (This is a much longer version of the interview that appeared on-air.)
35m Oct 27, 2017
35m
40: David Szalay, James Herbert, audio archives and books for Halloween.
On Unesco World Day for Audiovisual Heritage we explore the importance of audio archives, Red Szell talks to author David Szalay, and as it's near Halloween we pick some scary books and hear from the late James Herbert.
58m Oct 27, 2017
58m
39: Man Booker 2017
Before George Saunders was announced as the winner, we talked to all six shortlisted authors up for the 2017 Man Booker Prize.
58m Oct 23, 2017
58m
Man Booker 2017 Winner - George Saunders 'Lincoln in the Bardo'
The Booker shortlisted author tells Robert Kirkwood about his first full length novel after a career as the 'master of the short story', and discusses the work involved in having over 160 narrators on a book.
10m Oct 17, 2017
10m
Man Booker 2017 - Mohsin Hamid 'Exit West'
Red Szell chats to the Booker Shortlisted author about 'Exit West', about loss and religion and how Mohsin reads all the American audio versions of his books.
20m Oct 16, 2017
20m
Man Booker 2017 - Ali Smith 'Autumn'
With a fourth book on the Booker shortlist, Ali Smith talks to Red Szell about how quickly it was published, about Brexit, and about keeping excitement at bay - - Extended interview including parts that didn't make the broadcast.
14m Oct 13, 2017
14m
Man Booker 2017 - Emily Fridlund 'History of Wolves'
The author talks to Robert Kirkwood about her novel, and about being a bit distracted when she discovered she was on the Booker Longlist - Extended interview including parts that didn't make the broadcast.
14m Oct 13, 2017
14m
Man Booker 2017 - Fiona Mozley - 'Elmet'
The Booker shortlisted author talks to Red Szell about 'Elmet' and how she was influenced by Westerns and wrote some of the book on her phone - Extended interview including parts that didn't make the broadcast.
10m Oct 13, 2017
10m
Man Booker 2017 - Paul Auster '4-3-2-1'
The Booker shortlisted author talks to Robert Kirkwood about his novel '4 3 2 1' and about reading the 36 hour audio version himself. - Extended interview including parts that didn't make the broadcast.
12m Oct 13, 2017
12m
Jeff Wayne on 'War of the Worlds'
The composer tells Robert Kirkwood how H.G. Wells inspired a whole rock opera.
12m Oct 13, 2017
12m
38: Sci-Fi with Jeff Wayne, Blade Runner, Philip Reeve and the first Dalek.
Jeff Wayne talks about how 'War of the Worlds' inspired a whole rock opera, Red revisits 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep', Philip Reeve gives us the books of his life, and we speak to Parker, Brains, Peppa Pig's grandfather, the first Dalek and more all rolled up in narrator David Graham.
58m Oct 13, 2017
58m
37: Literature Locked Up
In today's show Robert Kirkwood talks to Erwin James learning Braille whilst serving a life sentence, we hear how Give A Book are helping people in custody, Emma Donoghue talks about 'Room' and Red Szell visits Shawshank.
58m Oct 06, 2017
58m
36: Live at the Wigtown Book Festival (2017)
In a packed show, Red Szell and Robert Kirkwood talk to Anne de Courcy about her book 'The Husband Hunters', Christopher Brookmyre on 'Want You Gone', Anthony McGowan on 'The Art of Failing', Adam Macqueen on 'The Lies of the Land'. Peggy Hughes gives us the Books of her Life, Adrian Turpin gives us a history of the Wigtown Festival, we explore the The Diary of a Bookseller with Sean Bythell an...
58m Sep 29, 2017
58m
35: Rowing the Pacific, Tony Hawks in the West Country and narrating for RNIB.
Adventurer Mick Dawson tells us about 'Rowing the Pacific: 7,000 Miles from Japan to San Francisco', Tony Hawks moves to the West Country, the book group talk about Bill Bryson and narrator David Monteath talks about some favourite books.
58m Sep 22, 2017
58m
Narrator Interview - David Monteath
Red Szell talks to David about some of the books he has narrated for RNIB and hears his Tartan Noir villain voice!
12m Sep 22, 2017
12m
Live at Wigtown Book Festival (2016)
As we gear up for this year's Wigtown Book Festival here's what Robert Kirkwood got up to last year with Susan Calman, Helen Sedgwick, Hardeep Singh Kohli and much more!
58m Sep 21, 2017
58m
Narrator Interview - Madeleine Brolly
Kim Normanton chats to Madeleine Brolly, Talking Books narrator and voice of the Neapolitan series.
11m Sep 19, 2017
11m
Author Interview - Emma Flint
Red Szell chats to Emma Flint about her love of crime and her novel, 'Little Deaths'
17m Sep 19, 2017
17m
34: Little Deaths, Clover Moon and The Theory of Everything
In today's show Red Szell talks to Emma Flint about her book 'Little Deaths' retelling a shocking New York murder, Madeline Brolly talks about accents for Talking Books, Robert Kirkwood discovers some Stephen Hawking works in the Talking Books library and Jacqueline Wilson talks about her latest book.
58m Sep 15, 2017
58m
33: Ben MacIntyre, Ruta Sepetys and Lin Anderson on Bloody Scotland,
Lin Anderson tells Red Sell about Bloody Scotland, Ben MacIntyre talks about spies and espionage and Ruta Sepetys talks about winning this year's Cilip Carnegie medal.
58m Sep 08, 2017
58m
32: Travel Special with Bill Bryson, Jasper Winn, and John Keay.
Red Szell talks to Jasper Win about his book Paddle where he circumnavigates Ireland in a kayak. Robert Kirkwood chats to historian John Keay about blind traveller John Holman and to Bill Bryson about America in 1927. Ken Reid gives us the books of his life and the books he raised money for by cycling around the UK and Red reviews a spoof travel guide.
58m Sep 01, 2017
58m
The Death of Diana - A Talking Books Special read by Jim Broadbent
Read by Jim Broadbent exclusively for RNIB Talking Books, the Death of Diana by David Lodge is the author's reflections of Diana as a public figure and an attempt to understand the outpouring of grief felt 20 years ago.
28m Aug 31, 2017
28m
31: Graeme Macrae Burnet - Live at the Edinburgh International Book Festival (2017)
Author of the year 2017, Graeme Macrae Burnet, joined Robert Kirkwood on stage for a live recording of Read On Air and told us the story behind 'His Bloody Project', The Disappearance of Adele Badeau' and the upcoming 'Accident on the A35'.
58m Aug 25, 2017
58m
30: Live at the Edinburgh International Book Festival with Red Szell
As we look forward to this year's event in Edinburgh, let's go back to 2016 with Robert Kirkwood interviewing the host of Read On, Red Szell about his book, 'The Blind Man of Hoy'.
58m Aug 18, 2017
58m
29: Oscar Winning Books
A short history of the Oscars and a listen to some books that have been adapted into winners of the Best Picture Academy Award.
58m Aug 16, 2017
58m
28: Children's and YA with Jonathan Meres, Zana Fraillon and Lari Don.
In another look at books for a younger audience we chat to Zana Fraillon about The Bone Sparrow, Jonathan Meres about the end of 'The World of Norm', and Lari Don about Mind Blind.
58m Aug 04, 2017
58m
27: Michael Bond, Sebastian Faulks and Laurence Bouvard
Sebastian Faulks talks about 'Where My Heart Used to Beat, we remember Michael Bond, there's the story of an Indian epic and more from narrator Laurence Bouvard.
58m Jul 28, 2017
58m
Recording The Ramayana
Two brothers wrote and recorded a version of The Ramayana, and donated it to RNIB Talking Books .. Clare Carson has their story.
9m Jul 28, 2017
9m
Michael Bond - The Origins of Paddington
In memory of the late creator of Paddington Bear, here he is when he visited the Talking Book studios to chat to Robert Kirkwood about the origins of that bear from darkest Peru.
18m Jul 28, 2017
18m
Limmy - Daft Wee Stories
With Limmy's new book "That's Yer Lot" entering the TB library we went back to his first book for our short story episode and explored some really 'Daft Wee Stories'
11m Jul 28, 2017
11m
26: Louis de Bernieres and Limmy on short stories.
Louis de Bernieres talks about his "Notwithstanding" tales ... with "That's Yer Lot" in shops and in the RNIB Library we look back at Limmy's first book "Daft Wee Stories" and the RNIB Library staff review some short fiction.
58m Jul 21, 2017
58m
25: Philip Reeve, Norse Mythologies and more
Philip Reeve talks about Railhead with Red Szell, Robert Kirkwood goes on a quest for sci-fi and fantasy in the Talking Books library and Hannah Tausz chats about Norse Mythologies and much more.
58m Jul 14, 2017
58m
Monty Don - A French Garden Oddessy
Monty talks to Robert Kirkwood about his book The Road to Le Thonolet and with blind gardener Kevin Smith talks about the sensory experience of the garden.
16m Jul 13, 2017
16m
Game of Thrones books available from RNIB Library
Can't get enough of the new series, or want to learn more about A Song of Ice and Fire? Well all of the books are available from RNIB
2m Jul 13, 2017
2m
24: Ann Cleeves, Monty Don, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Wolf Brother
Ann Cleeves celebrates writing 30 books in 30 years, Robert Kirkwood talks gardening with Monty Don, Frank Cottrell-Boyce on the books of his life, and Red Szell reviews Wolf Brother
58m Jul 07, 2017
58m
23: Blind Authors with Mark Hardie, Harriet Lane and Joanna Trollope.
From James Thurber to Mark Hardie we talk to writers who haven't let sight loss get in the way of success. Crime writer Mark Hardie tells us how blindness doesn’t prevent him from describing a murder scene. Harriet Lane reveals how sight loss allowed her to become an author. International best-selling writer Joanna Trollope tells Leanne why she’s such a passionate supporter of Talking Books.
58m Jun 30, 2017
58m
Book Review - All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Red Szell reviews All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr ... even though as a person with sightloss, he avoids books with blind characters! What will he think?
14m Jun 28, 2017
14m
Julia Donaldson - Illustrations in audio
When Julia Donaldson came to RNIB to read Freddy and the Fairy a problem arose. How to deal with pages with no text? Robert Kirkwood finds out.
12m Jun 28, 2017
12m
22: The voice of Buffy and other American Imports
Marti Leimbach talks to Red about being an American author in England, BJ Novak tells Robert about ‘The Book With No Pictures’ and narrator Laurence Bouvard gives voice to Buffy the Vampire Slayer!
58m Jun 23, 2017
58m
Bill Bryson - The lost travel book, dogs, Katz and more.
From the archives, an interview with the best selling non-fiction writer, Bill Bryson. Find out about his lost book, why dogs hate him and why he could've swapped Stephen Katz for a plank of wood at one point during his Walk in the Woods. #LoveAudio
35m Jun 22, 2017
35m
21: Children's and YA with Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Julia Donadson and more.
Red Szell talks to Frank Cottrell-Boyce about Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth, Julia Donaldson records a book with Robert Kirkwood, and we get some reading suggestions from younger listeners.
58m Jun 16, 2017
58m