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Publishers remain confident that the Richard & Judy book club will continue or be replaced with another similar show, after UKTV channel Watch cancelled the television duo's chat show last week citing poor ratings.
The last episode will air on 3rd July, six months before the contract was originally due to end. Cactus TV said it was in "advanced talks" with "media partners" about the future of the Book Club, saying it "hopes the Book Club will continue beyond UKTV". This year's Summer Read will continue as normal from 13th May.
Publishers spoken to by The Bookseller were disappointed, but unsurprised by the show's curtailment, with the blow softened by the lack of impact the show has had since it moved to a digital channel.
Penguin marketing and publicity director Joanna Prior said: "Richard and Judy and their book club have been a hugely important part of our industry for the last two years. I am sad but not hugely surprised." Publishing director at HarperFiction Wayne Brookes said: "If Richard and Judy were still on Channel 4, the loss would have been greater. Since they moved to Watch, they haven't fared as well. While it is a strong brand - and the books are identified by the stickers - without people watching them being presented on television the sales were never going to be the same. You needed the show on prime time Channel 4 with the books being talked up for a person sitting at home at teatime to think 'I'll go out and buy that tomorrow'."
Bloomsbury editor-in-chief Alexandra Pringle said: "I’m sure the book club will continue in one form or another – it’s gone beyond the TV show now and is a brand of its own, which is associated with good books. The range of books that they choose, and on the whole they are extremely good books, means booksellers and readers can trust that list."
Since its launch in 2004, 92 books have been selected for the Richard and Judy book clubs. These titles have sold 30.2m copies with a total value of £179.7m (or £254.6m before discounting). But publishers expressed confidence that if the book club didn’t continue something new would replace it.
Publishing director at Canongate Anya Serota said other broadcasters could be looking to take advantage of the show's demise: "I’m sure a lot of people are thinking about [doing something similar] on the back of their success – and there is such a need for it I hope someone steps into that role soon." Prior added: "We have seen now that books on television really can work and can drive sales and can be compelling television. It’s just a question of finding another way of doing that."
Asked about alternative hosts for the book club, Pringle responded: "'The One Show' would be perfect – that is exactly the sort of profile we need - that would be my favourite place if there were to be a new club, which is definitely the way to go in terms of finding wider audiences for books."
Brookes, suggested a television show like 'This Morning' could prove a home for a televised book club. He added: "For it to work, you need it on terrestrial television, with great viewing figures and a loyalty among viewers that they have a belief in what the presenters are telling them."