Goalhanger is debuting new show, The Book Club, fronted by The Rest is History presenter Dominic Sandbrook and producer Tabitha Syrett.
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.
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.
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.
Picture copyright Goalhanger/Chris Floyd
Jon Creamer
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