Announcing A Brand New Show From Goalhanger: The Book Club
The books that shaped the world, explained.
Launching on 17 February 2026, The Book Club is a weekly exploration of the world’s greatest stories, spanning timeless classics and modern masterpieces. Each episode focuses on a single book, unpacking the ideas, themes and historical context that have shaped its legacy.
Hosted by Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett, the show airs every Tuesday, examining the author behind the book, why it still resonates today, and where it ultimately stands - concluding with a definitive ranking that invites audiences to revisit, reconsider or discover each work anew.
Speaking on the announcement co-host Dominic Sandbrook, said: “I’m so thrilled to be unveiling this new show. I’ve loved books for as long as I can remember, and Tabitha and I have spent many happy hours debating our favourites while working on The Rest Is History. I’m really looking forward to taking listeners into these fictional worlds - from Middlemarch and Middle-earth to Wuthering Heights and Westeros and exploring the real stories behind them. It’s been enormous fun talking books with a colleague as enthusiastic, sparky and funny as Tabitha, and I can’t wait to welcome listeners into The Book Club.”
Co-host Tabitha Syrett, added: “I’ve always loved reading, and I hope the show captures the enthusiasm for literature I’ve carried from childhood into adulthood. From the outset, I wanted The Book Club to move beyond traditional literary criticism - making books feel accessible, engaging, and rooted in the historical worlds that shaped them and their authors. After three years producing The Rest Is History, it’s incredibly exciting to cross the table and step in front of the mic. Dominic is a true delight to work with, and I can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on.”
In Episode One, the pair explore the 1847 classic Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, delving into the life of the novel’s famously enigmatic author and examining why the book caused such controversy on publication - from its depictions of mental and physical cruelty and domestic abuse to its challenges to Victorian morality, religion and the class system. They also explore how the novel resonates today, and discuss how it compares with Emerald Fennell’s Hollywood adaptation, released the previous week on Valentine’s Day.
The Book Club began life as members-only episodes within The Rest Is History, covering modern classics such as In Cold Blood, L’Étranger and The Hobbit. It now launches as a standalone show, with upcoming episodes featuring Never Let Me Go, The Great Gatsby, The Secret History, Frankenstein, Hamnet, 1984, East of Eden, Normal People and Northern Lights - with many more to come over the next few months. This is smart, accessible literature talk, designed for readers, lapsed readers and the simply curious.
Dominic Sandbrook is one of Britain’s best-known historians and broadcasters. He is the bestselling author of acclaimed histories of post-war Britain, alongside books on the United States, popular culture and the Adventures in Time series for younger readers. His work has been adapted into numerous BBC television documentaries, many of which he has written and presented, and he has been a prolific newspaper columnist since 2005. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, he is also the co-host of The Rest Is History, the world’s biggest history show, which reaches millions of listeners and has been taken to sold-out stages across the UK and around the world.
Tabitha Syrett is the producer of one of the world’s most popular podcasts, The Rest Is History, which she has produced since 2023. During her tenure, she has overseen the show’s hugely successful series and produced numerous live editions, helping cement its status as a global podcasting phenomenon. The show has received widespread critical acclaim, including winning Apple Podcasts Global Show of the Year in 2025. That same year, Syrett began co-hosting special The Rest Is History Club episodes focused on classic works of fiction, including The Handmaid’s Tale and Dracula.
Building on the success of Goalhanger’s acclaimed shows The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Entertainment and Sherlock & Co., The Book Club is the latest addition to the Goalhanger lineup. Its launch follows a major milestone for the company, which surpassed 750 million full-episode streams last year alone.
The Book Club will be available on YouTube and all podcast platforms from 17th Feb, 2026
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About Goalhanger
Goalhanger is the UK’s largest independent podcast producer and the biggest outside the US. We make chart-topping, story-first shows across history, politics, sport, business, entertainment, current affairs, and audio drama, reaching tens of millions around the world each month. Our podcasts include The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics, Empire, The Rest Is Entertainment, The Rest Is Politics: US, Leading, The Rest Is Money, Journey Through Time, The Rest Is Football, Sherlock & Co., The Rest Is Classified, The Rest Is Football: Daly Brightness, and We Have Ways of Making You Talk. In 2024 alone, our programmes were downloaded over 400 million times. But Goalhanger is more than just a podcast network. We’re a new-generation cultural media brand producing across YouTube, live events, and long-form audio. From in-depth interviews and cultural commentary to immersive storytelling, everything we create is rooted in trust, talent, and curiosity. Goalhanger is shaping the future of media, one great conversation at a time. Read more here: https://www.goalhangerpodcasts.com/
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