From Lockdown Podcast to Bestseller: Paul Weller Fan’s Journey Hits Sunday Times Top Five

In 2020, as the UK entered lockdown, music fan Dan Jennings set out to interview his hero, Paul Weller. Five years later, his book, Paul Weller: Dancing Through the Fire: The Authorised Oral History, has entered the Sunday Times Bestseller list at number five!

What began as a personal mission became Desperately Seeking Paul, a podcast that grew into a global community over 180 episodes. Jennings, who had no prior connection to Weller beyond his admiration, gradually drew in the musician’s friends, family, and collaborators - and eventually Weller himself.

Impressed by Jennings’ dedication, Weller urged him to turn the podcast into a book. Eighteen months and over 200 hours of interviews later, Dancing Through the Fire offers an unprecedented oral history of Weller’s life and legacy, told through the voices of those who know him best.

“This started as a way to fill a personal void, a dream of interviewing Paul,” says Dan Jennings. “But it became so much more - a global conversation, a celebration of music that has shaped generations. To see it become a Sunday Times Bestseller is truly surreal. It proves that even in the strangest of times, following your passion can lead to the most extraordinary places.”

Dancing Through the Fire is more than a book for Paul Weller fans. It’s a story of persistence, community, and the unexpected power of a passion project - a reminder that even in difficult times, remarkable things can happen.

Paul Weller: Dancing Through the Fire: The Authorised Oral History is out now, published by Constable (£30).