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The
Big Read - Britain's biggest ever reading campaign
"The
book that bit me to read was HMS Ulysses by Alistair MacLean. I'm
a dyslexic and previous to that, reading was nothing more than pain
and frustration.
"But
reading it I suddenly got glued to the pages. Back in the 70s the
morning of a grand prix, I would want to read a novel to escape
from what I knew I was having to do later that day. It was, if you
like, my great escape." Jackie Stewart
What
is your favourite work of fiction? Would you choose a childhood
favourite or a modern classic? Would you take it to a desert island?
Has it influenced your life or cheered you in a difficult moment?
From
April 2003, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ begins a nationwide search to find Britain's
best-loved book with an exciting launch night of programming including
contributions from well-known faces as they reveal their own favourite
novels, a movie premiere, and a very special version of Mastermind.
The
Big Read is one of the biggest ever campaigns to get the
country reading. There will be innovative programming throughout
the year on ´óÏó´«Ã½ TWO and across all ´óÏó´«Ã½ networks, particularly C´óÏó´«Ã½,
´óÏó´«Ã½ FOUR, Radio 4 and Radio Five Live; a dedicated ´óÏó´«Ã½i website;
and the ´óÏó´«Ã½ will be harnessing the support of schools, libraries,
national literacy organisations and charities, and all major publishers
and book retailers.
The
Big Read hopes to get the whole country enthused, excited and talking
about the books that bring pleasure to the nation, from avid readers
to anyone who hasn't opened a book since school.
The
first way to get involved in The Big Read is by voting. From Saturday
5 April until Saturday 19 April members of the public will be able
to nominate their best-loved book, whether it is Winnie the Pooh
or War and Peace.
Books
must be a single work of fiction and can be written by an author
of any nationality providing they have been translated into English.
Only one book per author will be included in the Top 10.
Nominations
are by phone – 09011 110 820 - or via the ´óÏó´«Ã½ website - .
The
two-week nomination period will determine Britain's Top 100 best-loved
books, to be revealed alphabetically at the end of April, and the
Top 10, to be revealed in the Autumn.
Excitement
peaks as voting begins in the Autumn to determine which Top 10 novel
will be chosen by the public as Britain's best-loved book.
Jane
Root, Controller of ´óÏó´«Ã½ TWO says: "This launch weekend is just
the start of something really big. We've already got the support
of education and literacy organisations, libraries, publishers and
retailers and we think The Big Read can really revive the nation's
interest in books this summer and turn what is usually a private
experience into a shared public experience."
As the project
launches in April, planning is still ongoing, but below are some
of The Big Read activities the public can expect to see and become
involved in.
On
´óÏó´«Ã½ TWO
•
The Big Read launches on Saturday 5 April with an evening of captivating
literary programming. Prepare to be intrigued, surprised and amused
as well-known faces including Michael Palin, Helen Fielding, Nicole
Appleton, Richard Eyre, Iain Duncan Smith, Sophie Dahl, Linford
Christie and Terry Pratchett exclusively reveal their best-loved
books and why they mean so much to them in a 90-minute reading extravaganza.
The
programme follows a thematic exploration of much-loved books to
stimulate and inspire viewers to nominate their own personal favourites.
The
launch night will also include a movie premiere with a literary
theme and The Big Read Mastermind – Celebrity Special.
•
In the Autumn, a special feature length programme will reveal the
Top 10 for the first time. And ten passionate advocates argue the
case for each of the Top 10 books in a series of ten documentaries
examining the intriguing stories behind the shortlist.
Expect
fascinating new insights into favourite novels, surprising facts
about each celebrity presenter and persuasive arguments.
•
After weeks of voting, ´óÏó´«Ã½ TWO reveals Britain's best-loved book.
Across the ´óÏó´«Ã½
•
The ´óÏó´«Ã½i
is the one-stop online guide to learning everything you need to
know about the project.
Users
can nominate their best-loved book; test their literary knowledge
in an exclusive quiz; swap news and views about favourite books
and authors on the message board; and discover the best-loved books
of their favourite celebrities.
The
site will continue to be updated throughout the year as the Top
100 and Top 10 are announced.
• ´óÏó´«Ã½ FOUR features complementary Big Read programming throughout
the year, exploring in more detail the Top 100 best-loved books.
• The debate will also rage on C´óÏó´«Ã½, Radio 4 and Radio Five
Live.
• The ´óÏó´«Ã½ will be fully employing its programming, educational
and publicity personnel in the Nations and Regions to ensure that
The Big Read reaches every corner of the UK.
Nationwide off-screen activity
•
The ´óÏó´«Ã½ is working closely with The Reading Agency (TRA) and the
National Literacy Trust (NLT) to take The Big Read into libraries
and schools across the UK, and harness their work with readers to
involve the whole community across the UK.
Work
is ongoing, but so far nearly all the 208 library authorities in
the UK have signed up to the project.
•
The Big Read is also working in collaboration with Booktrust, an
independent organisation bringing books and individuals together,
in the creation of a network of book groups up and down Britain.
If
anyone wants to join a book group, start one up, or register an
existing group on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Big Read network, The Big Read team will
make it happen.
•
Big Read events and activities will be taking place in schools,
libraries, community centres, bookshops, workplaces and prisons.
From
'swap a book' games at work to parent-child reading groups, 'meet
the author' events to Big Read Lucky Dips, Big Read activity days
in schools to The Big Read pub quiz, activities are planned for
all ages.
•
With TRA, NLT and Booktrust, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ is creating a series of downloadable
resources to help everyone in Britain get involved in The Big Read.
- For
library professionals and teachers, there will be a series of specially
devised packs available on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Big Read website, offering ideas
for how to involve pupils and library-goers in The Big Read.
- For
teachers, there will be lesson plans and ideas for activities devised
for pupils and students of all ages, taking teachers through the
initial nomination round in the Spring, through the Top 100 over
the summer and into the Top Ten in the Autumn.
- For
librarians, downloadable packs will suggest ways in which their
location can become a hub of Big Read activity in the community.
- And
finally, a ´óÏó´«Ã½ Big Read pack for reading groups - both existing
and new – is brimming with ideas about how to read, talk about,
and enjoy books.
Whether
you want to be in a formal book group meeting every fortnight, or
just like talking about novels in the pub with your friends, the
pack will help get the best out of literary conversations.
•
´óÏó´«Ã½ Big Read is also working closely with publishers and retailers
to maximise the impact of The Big Read. Bookstores will not only
run reading groups and Big Read activities, but will also promote
the campaign throughout the year, and help keep customers talking
about their best-loved novels.
Notes
to Editors
Voting
Rules
1.
Viewers should nominate/vote for their best-loved book.
2.
This must be a novel (non-fiction, short stories, poetry or plays
do not qualify).
3.
It can also be a novel from anywhere in the world, as long as it
has been translated into English, and from any era.
4.
There will be mechanisms in place to stop automated and block voting.
5.
The nomination period to discover the Top 100 best-loved books will
begin on Saturday 5 April 2003 and end on Saturday 19 April.
6.
A Top 10 will be compiled from this list. Only one book per author
will be allowed in the Top 10. The final Top 10 will be determined
by 'shuffling' the results to enable this to happen. For example,
if an author has two books in the Top 10, the lowest scoring of
these two books will be moved down the list to place number 11 and
the number 11 book will enter the Top 10 at number 10.
7.
The voting period for the best-loved book in the Top 10 will commence
later in the year around the Autumn TV series.
8.
Viewers should nominate/vote for their single best-loved book. The
only exception is for continuous stories such as trilogies or quartets
that have been published in a single bound volume eg. Lord of the
Rings, The Alexandria Quartet.
9.
Viewers cannot nominate/vote for a collection of books that may
have been compiled in a box set. Nominations/votes should be for
an individual book only eg. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
10.
If a viewer inadvertently nominates a collection rather than a single
book, the nominations will be added to the top scoring book in that
collection. But nominations for an author without any book title
will be discounted.
For
example, if a viewer nominates Harry Potter rather than naming a
specific book in the series, that nomination will be added to the
top scoring Harry Potter title. If, however, the viewer nominates
JK Rowling without the name of a book or collection, the nomination
will be discounted.
11.
The ´óÏó´«Ã½ reserves the right to disqualify any mass orchestrated vote
by an individual or organisation and will discount those votes or
books accordingly.
Update
The
Big Read television special to reveal Nation's Top 100 books
(16.04.03)
All the
´óÏó´«Ã½'s digital services are now available on ,
the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well
as on satellite and cable.
Freeview
offers the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s eight television channels, interactive services
from ´óÏó´«Ã½i, as well as 11 ´óÏó´«Ã½ radio networks.
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