Specsavers National Book awards - ITV

The hour long special was filmed at the Royal Institution in Mayfair and was presented by Zoe Ball and Ben Miller. It was broadcast on the 15th of Dec 2018 on ITV. It also features 10 of Jonathan Stow’s dramatic adaptations from the Zoe Ball Book Club that was also broadcast on ITV over the summer. Here is what ITV said……….

Zoe Ball is to host a star-studded celebration of the best books of 2018 for The Specsavers National Book Awards on ITV this December. 

In this fast-paced highlights show viewers will see the great and the good of the writing world honoured for their 2018 works with attendees including Ricky Gervais, Graham Norton, Jonathan Ross, Emilia Fox, Jamie Oliver, Hugh Bonneville, Stanley Tucci, Peter Crouch, Danny Wallace, Dawn O’Porter, Chris Stark, Gennaro Contaldo, Yotam Ottolenghi and Prue Leith.  

Also in attendance are the cream of the writing crop, with best-sellers including David Nicholls, Jane Fallon, Kathy Lette, Val McDermid, Adam Kay, Ian Rankin, Tony Parsons, Matt Haig, Peter James, Benjamin Zephaniah, and Dame Jacqueline Wilson. 

Zoe will be aided and abetted by her glamorous - and hilarious – assistant, comedian and actor Ben Miller in this hour-long special, which sees 70 amazing books celebrated across 12 broad and popular categories.  

The hosting duo will also treat viewers to the action at the after party, where Ricky Gervais and David Baddiel are found arguing humorously about whose children’s book is the best, while Hugh Bonneville reveals his favourite reads and Stanley Tucci quizzes culinary legend Yotam Ottolenghi. 

As well as looking back at great reads viewers have enjoyed over the past 12 months, this fun and funny awards show is set to inspire ideas for what to read this Christmas.