We are still reeling here at LoveReading. Gutted that BBC Two’s Between the Covers with Sara Cox has been cancelled. Cancelled? Yes, you read that right. In a travesty for books, in a travesty for reading, in a travesty for our society, the BBC's only mainstream book-based show has gone.
What is Between the Covers?
Between the Covers is the lively BBC Two book-club talk show hosted by Sara Cox. It first aired in October 2020 and has aired for eight series, concluding in December 2024, with a total of around 50 episodes
Each episode features Sara Cox alongside a panel of four celebrity guests, a mix of actors, comedians, presenters, who dive into their favourite books and discuss a newly published title or thematic pick of the week. It’s a fun and engaging format that blends literary chat with light-hearted banter. Book lovers rejoiced when it launched several years ago, and are gutted about this announcement.
Why Did the BBC Cancel Between the Covers?
The broadcaster confirmed that the show’s eighth series will be its last in the statement:
"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," a BBC spokesperson said. "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."
Cox will continue to host Radio 2’s Book Club, while BBC Radio 4 will spotlight books through shows including Take Four Books with James Crawford, Book at Bedtime and Book of the Week, which feature readings of fiction and non-fiction, and the long-running A Good Read programme, in which guests discuss their favourite books.
Viewer Love and Fan Sentiment
On IMDb, one fan put it succinctly: “I love books & absolutely love this show!!!”
A feature writer described it as a “BBC gem” with a format that mixes thoughtful literary conversation and gentle humour - for a literature lover, “a banquet of choice.”
On social media, fans expressed heartfelt disappointment at its cancellation. Comments included reflections like:
“I loved this programme! Whenever we get something on TV that is actually good then it has to go.”
“I found lots of good books to read through this programme. Sad to see that it’s been axed.”
“I shall miss it a lot, it certainly widened my reading horizons.”
From blog commentary, Rick Johansen put it passionately:
“I loved it… now like these things it’s been discontinued.” He lamented its cancellation, calling it a “madness” that the BBC would axe its only book-related show.
Why a TV Show About Books Matters
Books rarely get prime-time airtime. It's a fact. It's always been a fact. A TV show signals that reading is part of everyday culture, not a niche hobby. And of course, when familiar faces, when celebrities and broadcasters discuss books, it makes reading more accessible and “normalised” for a wide audience. A potentially new book-loving audience.
Much like we do at LoveReading shows like Between the Covers introduce readers to a mix of new releases, diverse authors, and backlist gems they might never stumble across on their own. They might never have found. We broaden horizons, especially for people without easy access to physical bookshops or libraries.
But critically, TV reaches people who might not consider themselves book lovers. Who might not consider themselves a reader. And that is crucial. For some, watching a show is the entry point to picking up a book, especially if they’re lured in by a favourite celebrity guest or a compelling discussion.
And in an industry that can be tough for authors, it's sad to see something go that supports their livelihoods, that boosts their coverage, that drives their awareness. Featured books often saw a spike in sales, sometimes dubbed the “Sara Cox bump.” That bump has a ripple effect on publishers, booksellers, and the wider creative economy.
Why This Is Such a Travesty - Especially Now
Whilst we acknowledge that the BBC is under huge pressure to compete in the streaming landscape, these huge, far-reaching decisions are being made less on cultural need and more on audience numbers, reach, and digital performance. Where is the focus on cultural enrichment? On literacy? On the critical importance of reading.
This is a critical moment. Having a TV show about books, and encouraging adult reading, matters always. But especially now. We are in the midst of a deepening children’s literacy crisis with reading for pleasure in children being at the lowest levels since records began.
The Literacy Crisis: How Bad Is It?
In 2025, only 32.7% of children and young people aged 8–18 said they enjoyed reading in their free time. The lowest level in 20 years according to The National Literacy Trust.
Just 18.7% of this age group read something daily in their free time. Also at a record low.
The decline is especially acute among boys (just 25.7% enjoy reading vs 39.1% of girls), and in older age groups, with teenage boys showing particularly sharp drops.
Shockingly, 1 in 10 children aged 5–18 don’t even have a book at home.
This isn’t just a reading slump. It’s a full-blown cultural emergency with long-term implications for education, social mobility, and mental health. Recognising the urgency, the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust have launched the National Year of Reading 2026, aiming for a nationwide “reading revolution.”
Why Its Crucial to Get Adults Reading
Adults are the best role models for kids. Children are more likely to read for pleasure if they see the adults in their life reading. If reading disappears from adult culture, it’s harder to sustain a reading habit in the next generation.
Countless studies from organisations like The Reading Agency show that reading for pleasure reduces stress, improves empathy, helps with sleep, and combats loneliness. For adults facing isolation or anxiety, books can be a critical lifeline.
Shared book experiences, whether that's in clubs, communities, social media, via LoveReading, or via TV shows, create a sense of belonging. For some, that’s as valuable as the reading itself.
And that's before we get into the economic value of literacy.
The Economic Value of Literacy
Poor literacy costs the UK economy billions annually through lost productivity, unemployment, and lower tax revenues. A National Literacy Trust estimate put it at around £20 billion per year, whilst other studies from KPMG suggest the wider impact could be even higher, up to £40 billion per year.
Adults with strong literacy skills are more likely to be in work, earn higher wages, and upskill more easily. OECD data shows that every step up in literacy proficiency is associated with higher GDP per capita.
Low literacy is linked to school underachievement, which feeds into lower levels of people in higher education, vocational training, and professional jobs, limiting the talent pool.
Adults with poor literacy are up to twice as likely to be unemployed. This leads to greater dependency on benefits, while high literacy correlates with better health outcomes and reduced pressure on the NHS.
Could It Have Been Part of the Solution?
Given the crisis and national initiative, a show like Between the Covers wasn’t just TV. It was a cultural lifeline. It amplified reading culture on mainstream telly. It made libraries, bookshops, and literary conversations feel visible and mainstream. It brought books out of the niche.
By modelling reading as a pleasure and habit, the show influenced adult behaviour, and, in turn, could have inspired kids. We know that children are more motivated to read through familiar media, through TV shows, films, graphic novels, social media and podcasts. A book show could have bridged that gap. Supported our literacy crisis. Helped create our next generation of readers.
The TV show could have been a high-impact partner for the 2026 campaign, extending its reach beyond schools and libraries into living rooms across the country.
And for that we are sad. Sad for ourselves, as we were big fans. Sad for the audience of book lovers who will miss it. Sad for the future readers that might have been. Goodbye Between the Covers, we'll miss you.
Thank Goodness for LoveReading
Thankfully LoveReading is still here to satisfy your bookish needs. One of the UK’s leading book recommendation brands: LoveReading is here day in day out, all year round - reading, reviewing and shouting about books right across the genres.
Since 2005 families across the nation have relied on us to help them find their next favourite book. And as an online bookstore with social purchase, you can buy from our bookstores and purchase with purpose. Knowing that 25% of your spend can be donated to a school close to your heart, or 10% donated to schools in need. Shop with LoveReading and help create our next generation of readers.
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Suzanne R - 17th September 2025
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