Celebrities like Fern Britton and Richard Osman are calling on the nation to lean into the love of reading tonight. Join the #ReadingHour from 7pm to 8pm to enjoy any book or free Spotify audiobook
Celebrities and authors are calling on the nation to put down their phones and pick up a book this evening to take part in a special national moment.
As part of World Book Night on 23 April, the National Year of Reading is inviting everyone to lean into the love of reading by joining the #ReadingHour.
From 7pm to 8pm tonight, people across the country are encouraged to dedicate just sixty minutes to a story they love, celebrating the fact that reading belongs in our busy, modern lives. This date is a special one for book lovers, marking both William Shakespeare’s birthday and the UNESCO International Day of the Book.
High-profile ambassadors are leading the charge to show that reading is for everyone. Household names such as Richard Osman, Adam Kay, Dermot O’Leary, Adele Parks, Ann Cleeves, and Ian Rankin are supporting the campaign.
READ MORE: Women’s Prize for Fiction 2026 shortlist spotlights fresh voices and small publishersREAD MORE: Researcher wins £10,000 for hopeful climate change books showing we can save Earth
They are joined by Fern Britton, Paterson Joseph, Sathnam Sanghera, and George the Poet, all of whom are encouraging the public to rediscover the joy of a good book, whether it is a thriller, a biography, or a graphic novel.
Richard Osman said: “New thoughts, new worlds, new friends, peace, imagination, and, above all, joy. These are just some of the gifts that books give us. In an increasingly noisy, complicated world, reading is our quiet superpower. I am proud to support the National Year of Reading campaign.”
The event is organised by The Reading Agency, a charity dedicated to bringing people together through the power of sharing and gifting books. A major focus this year is supporting those who may lack confidence or have limited access to literature. Now in its sixth year, the #ReadingHour is built on total flexibility.
The message is simple: any book, any format, and any place. Whether you are relaxing with a novel on the sofa, flicking through a magazine on your commute, or listening to an audiobook while cooking in the kitchen, the hour is about making space for yourself and your interests.
Want to hear the latest books news and reviews from The Mirror’s resident bookworm? Follow Aimée Walsh on Tiktok and Instagram
To make participation even easier, Spotify has partnered with the Quick Reads programme to offer titles as free audiobooks today. This partnership aims to reach those who are time-poor or find traditional print a challenge.
Additionally, Spotify Premium customers can access 15 hours of free audiobooks from a library of over 700,000 titles, making it simpler than ever to find a story that resonates.
The National Year of Reading aims to redefine reading as a contemporary, social activity that connects directly to your personal passions. Research shows many people want to read more but feel held back by modern distractions or the idea that reading must be a formal task.
By joining the #ReadingHour between 7pm and 8pm this Wednesday 23 April, you can join a national movement that proves reading is not just a hobby from the past, but a vibrant part of our present. It is an opportunity to switch off from the noise of the day and get lost in a page instead.
Love reading? Join Dr. Aimée Walsh and our community of fellow readers in the Mirror Book Club to dive deeper into the books everyone is talking about.
