Stephen Fry, the renowned actor and author, has issued a stark warning and a rallying cry, declaring that readers are becoming "a dying breed" in Britain. As president of the Hay Festival, he is spearheading a major new initiative designed to reignite the nation's passion for books.
The Pleasure List: A Campaign to Entice Reluctant Readers
The campaign, named The Pleasure List, is a direct response to alarming statistics showing a persistent decline in the number of adults reading for leisure. Run in partnership with the government's upcoming National Year of Reading 2026, the project aims to compile a collection of the most compelling and enjoyable books.
"The National Year of Reading is great news for book lovers, but the stats show we’re a dying breed," Fry stated. "Fewer and fewer people in Britain are reading for pleasure and we want to change that." The festival is now publicly calling for recommendations to build a list that can "entice the most reluctant reader to start."
A National Mission to Put Phones Down and Pick Up Books
The decline in reading is a recognised national concern. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced the National Year of Reading 2026 in July, aiming to address falling rates among both children and adults. In November, the education committee launched a formal inquiry into the issue.
Phillipson emphasised that reversing the trend requires collective action: "This can’t be just a government mission. It needs to be a national one. So, it’s time for all of us to play our part, put our phones down and pick up a book."
Hay Festival CEO Julie Finch echoed the sentiment, noting that "More and more people feel that books aren’t for them, or they don’t know where to begin." She positioned The Pleasure List as "a joyful starting point" to guide new readers on their literary journeys.
How to Get Involved and What's Next
The public is invited to submit their personal book recommendations via a dedicated call-out form. Participants are asked to consider:
- The book they raced through in one sitting.
- The book that never fails to cheer them up.
- The first book they remember falling in love with.
Each submission enters the contributor into a draw to win a bundle of books for a public space of their choice. The final curated selection of "most un-put-downable" reads will be unveiled at the Hay Festival 2026, which is scheduled to run from 21 to 31 May.
The festival has already released a selection of earlybird events, with the full programme due in March. Authors confirmed to attend include Bernardine Evaristo, Lea Ypi, Samira Ahmed, and David Olusoga.
