Topic: The Richard and Judy Book Club - information

[Forgotten]

jeepers! Good luck with all that Janien   If you read any really great ones you can always let me know and I can add it to The List. 

I know what you mean about all the good book groups, I'm signed on for a lot myself 

[Janien]

yes - but with all that i won't be reading much else (I've already received a  from Ellie re knitting too much and not  !)

[Cat Mistress El]

On the one hand I was surprised to see this yesterday and on the other, not so much:

link to original article

After more than 20 years of presenting, Richard and Judy will call time on their TV partnership.

Judy Finnigan are considering bringing the curtain down on their TV partnership. Richard Madeley said he was looking at some "tantalising" solo opportunities after fearing there is now little left for them to do together as broadcasters. If the popular duo split, I personally feel it will be the end of a TV era.
 
Speaking to Radio 4's Desert Island Discs show, he said: "I think we both feel we have done pretty much all we can do as a partnership in terms of the talk shows, but I think probably we both feel the need to diversify. It has been over 20 years doing the same kind of thing and there are tantalising possibilities in terms of solo projects or doing one-off projects together. I am not saying we will never work together again - I'm sure we will."

Previously, I reported on the poor ratings the couple have had for their latest chat show on digital channel Watch. Viewing figures fell to just 8,000 at one point after last October's launch. They moved from Channel 4, to a great deal of fanfare, where they had been for seven years and enjoyed seven figure audiences. Richard told presenter Kirsty Young: "We knew before we went that however it panned out, the viewing figures would be minuscule. We hadn't jumped into this not knowing and we don't mind. The only disappointment is the channel as a whole hasn't really got traction."

Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan have been a daytime fixture for over 20 years now. The couple began their careers on local newspapers and regional TV, but found national fame fronting Granada's This Morning way back in 1988. They remained on the show for the next 13 years. Originally broadcast from Liverpool's Albert Dock, This Morning was later transferred to London studios overlooking the River Thames. The couple's friendly, informative style and personal chemistry had proved popular almost from the first moment they appeared on screen. The rest, as they say, is history…
 
Read on as I take a look at their highs and lows and celebrate 'Richard-isms' (occasional cringe-inducing utterances made by Richard Madeley).

The TV career of Britain's premier husband and wife duo has been marked by only a few lowlights. Back in 1996, they presented Tonight With Richard and Judy on ITV. It was an evening chat show so poorly planned that the couple literally ran out of time during their exclusive and heavily-promoted interview with OJ Simpson. Critics slated them for their "candyfloss" questioning: "About as much depth as a puddle," is one I remember fondly. Needless to say, Tonight With Richard and Judy was canned after just one series.
 
Then there was the You Say We Pay premium-rate phone competition which ripped-off many callers. The couple apologised to their viewers and expressed shock and anger about the problems.
 
However, they must be congratulated for their longevity and the plethora of A-list stars that they continue to attract (Oscar-winner Charlize Theron was a recent guest on their flagging Watch show). In addition, kudos to them for innovative TV features: their Channel 4 afternoon chat show showcased a Wine Club (no Tesco jokes now people!) and Book Club (nicked from Oprah, but what the hell?). Without a doubt, both advanced the interactive element of television in the UK. Don't underestimate the power of their force either young Jedis; Richard and Judy recommendations have dominated the bestseller lists since the Book Club's inception in 2004.

The unique rapport between this husband and wife team is part of their appeal. Richard's Richard-isms (the kind of things no one else would say…apart from Alan Partridge) may dismay Judy, but fans love him for it. The likes of: "Remember when you had thrush Judy? You had a hell of a time with it!" and "When we were trying to conceive, I would douse my balls in icy cold water before intercourse," are TV gold.
 
Such utterances, followed by Judy's eye-rolling and exasperated "Oh shut up, Richard!" hiss, have rightly made them cult figures and parody targets. You can't buy that kind of intimacy. In fact, I'm so acquainted with Richard's idiosyncrasies, I've long felt married to him myself…

*if you look at the link it lists the full list of "Richard-isms" if you really want to see them*


I just wonder what will happen to the Book Club 

[Janien]

I just hope they continue with the book club concept even if its a once a year broadcast....Perhaps a newspaper will take it over.......

[Cat Mistress El]

I just hope they continue with the book club concept even if its a once a year broadcast....Perhaps a newspaper will take it over.......

well I wonder what will happen, given that they just merged with the Daily Mail for that New Writers book club, so now they would need to give it back if they gave up the book club altogether   

[Cat Mistress El]

***** NEWS *****

Richard & Judy are coming BACK to Channel 4 - with their Book Club

There's good news and bad news for Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan.

After being sensationally dropped by digital channel Watch (because people weren't) it seems their Book Club has been snapped up as a stand-alone programme by those nice people at Channel 4. Hurrah!

The only hitch, however, is that the husband and wife's presenting skills will not be required when the series, made by Cactus TV, launches on More4.

My source reveals: "The Book Club was a very successful part of Richard and Judy's C4 show. Sales of the books featured went through the roof.

"This time around it was felt that a new presenter or two would work better. There are some great names in the frame."

Oh dear. Well, at least R& J will have time this summer to catch up with a spot of, erm, reading.

Read the article in The Mirror June 5th, 2009

Other news about their chat show being cancelled on Watch, read The Telegraph announcement here

They moved to the UKTV digital channel Watch, initially managing to bring in 100,000 viewers but this dropped to just 5,000 and yesterday they announced it had been a "mutual decision" to end of their Richard and Judy chat show.

In a joint statement, Richard Madeley, 52, and Judy Finnigan, 60, said: "Some you win, some you lose."

They added: "When we started we said we wanted to get ahead of the curve, as British television inevitably goes digital. Looks like we were a bit too far ahead of the curve! Perhaps a bridge too far too soon, despite UKTV's strong support.

"But TV is all about taking risks and that means sometimes you fail. It was a really worthwhile experiment and we don't regret it at all. Now we're both going on to other projects, together and separately."

The final edition of the show will be broadcast on July 3.

The couple's company, Cactus TV, are currently in discussions about how the hugely successful Book Club can continue.

***** NEWS *****

[Forgotten]

It's not exactly R&J's book club then is it lol

[Cat Mistress El]

no not really 

I was just updating some threads and I noticed that we didn't have a New Writer's book after March 2009, but I just checked and there aren't any more.  So they must have stopped doing that - I wonder why?

*checks their forum*

There isn't even a section for New Writers on the forum! lol

Threads: 584, Posts: 2,756, Members: 12,026, Active Members: 36

it might be dying 

[Janien]

How can they call it the Richard and Judy Bookclub without them - unless it becomes the Galaxy bookclub or something similar. 

[Cat Mistress El]

I guess the Richard and Judy brand and the name of the book club are owned by them/their company so they would still be in control in a way and get a cut of the profits? 

Plus I guess they are hoping that the name is still a big draw card for them

[Janien]

If you're after some bargain new books The Book People have all of the Summer 2009 R & J books on offer 2 for £5.  I have just bought all 8 for £20 and p&p was included too in their special offer to the end of August.  Be careful to go to the main Book People website though - not the Richard and Judy Bookclub website where the same offer is £4 more and p&p is not included!).  At the website click on adult fiction - you'll find the books there.

As a reminder of the books included.......(from the R&J website):

Kick back and relax this summer with Richard and Judy's summer reads for 2009! Whether you're a fan of romance, intrigue or comedy there's something for everyone in this fabulous collection. For superbly stylish fiction delve into Julian Fellowes' Past Imperfect where you'll meet a rich sickly gentleman desperate to find his heir before his death. In Dave Boling's powerful novel Guernica history and fiction merge in a tale of a love that war and tragedy cannot destroy. Also combining fact with fiction is Jill Dawson in her captivating novel The Great Lover, featuring charismatic poet Rupert Brooke who broke the hearts of men and women alike. Then join writer Eddie Wesley as he investigates a murder and attempts to uncover a conspiracy that threatens democracy in the United States, in Stephen L. Carter's gripping thriller Palace Council.

Prepare to be riveted by Charles Elton's mysterious tale of the unexpected effects of fame and fortune, Mr Toppit, and get ready to laugh-out-loud at Colin Bateman's blackly funny and gripping novel Mystery Man. Sure to be a talking point this summer is American novelist Sue Miller's complex and haunting tale The Senator's Wife, in which an unexpected friendship threatens to reveal some shocking secrets. End your holiday with Janice Y.K. Lee's The Piano Teacher featuring a cast of memorable characters who become entwined in events that will eventually lead to devastating consequences.

Let Richard and Judy's specially chosen selection whisk you away this summer!

[Forgotten]

Thanks for the site Janien, i'm checking it out now.

[Janien]

It looks like the Richard and Judy Bookclub will be continuing for 2010 onwards though in a different guise........
Ross confirms C4 for book show
20.09.09 Katie Allen

Amanda Ross, m.d. of Cactus TV, has divulged more detail of the company's forthcoming televised book club, as first revealed in The Bookseller.

Picking up the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Bookselling at The Bookseller’s retail awards last night (17th September), she announced that the new project would be on Channel 4, and confirmed that the deal was guaranteed for three years, and that there would be a book club and summer read as part of the series.

Ross thanked publishers for their support and asked them to join the "journey" of her next venture; she added: "Thanks for the previous six years, here's to the next three."
 

[Cat Mistress El]

yeah I knew they were going back to Channel 4 but I don't think that it's going to be hosted by R and J, but by special guest hosts.  They are just retaining the name.

[Cat Mistress El]

Whatever happened to the "New Writers" books, they seemed to stop with March 2009.  They were quite good too.