The BBC has cancelled its celebrity book club show Between the Covers after eight series, prompting an outcry from fans who have called the decision 'really bad'. The programme, hosted by Sara Cox, featured celebrities discussing their favourite books and recommending reads.
A BBC spokesperson said: 'After eight series we have made the difficult decision to bring Between the Covers to an end to enable us to prioritise high impact content that drives viewers to iPlayer. We would like to thank Sara Cox and all the team at Cactus TV for their hard work bringing Between the Covers to our screens.'
The show, which debuted in 2020, featured guests including Laura Whitmore, Gethin Jones, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Grace Dent. The final episode aired on 3 December 2024, with Richard Osman, Ranvir Singh, Ben Miller, and Alex Jones sharing their book choices.
Fans expressed dismay on social media. One said: 'What a nonsense decision! The BBC are basically a self parody at this point.' Another added: 'Really bad decision. Only show I actually watch on the BBC.' A third fan commented: 'This is sad – really enjoyed this programme and bought 9 books as a result of watching. Stupid decision by the BBC.'
However, book lovers can still enjoy The Radio 2 Book Club with Sara Cox, which will continue as a podcast on BBC Sounds. Sara Cox also hosts a weekday teatime show on BBC Radio 2.
