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Nottingham Trent University launches Book Club programme with Notts TV and UNESCO City of Literature

Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has teamed up with Notts TV to co-produce a brand-new monthly show which aims to explore and celebrate reading.

    Notts TV Book Club is a new collaboration between Notts TV and Nottingham Trent University

    The new show - Notts TV Book Club – is broadcast in collaboration with Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature and will use social media platforms to encourage viewers to discuss the books featured and even share perspectives or ask questions to be covered on the live show.

    Notts TV Book Club is hosted by Dr Becky Cullen – a lecturer in English at NTU. The first episode of the show featured the Director of Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature, Sandeep Mahal with special guests William Ivory, BAFTA winning script writer of Made in Dagenham, and novelist Polis Loizou.

    Future special guests include creator of online empowerment platform ‘Femme Fatale Gals’ Khaya Job and Faber writer Ashley Hickson-Lovence.

    Notts TV Book Club was the inspiration of Barbara Matthews, Executive Dean for Culture at Nottingham Trent University, who saw an opportunity for people who love reading to share their passion while celebrating the extraordinary quality and diversity of the writers living in the city.

    A team of NTU students also work on the show, curating social media interactions and questions from viewers as well as having the opportunity to develop real-life experience of working in film, TV and journalism.

    Dr Becky Cullen, Lecturer in English and WRAP Programme Manager at Nottingham Trent University said:

    “Notts TV Book Club is an exciting collaboration between the University and Notts TV which also supports NTU’s  wider cultural emphasis to build connections with the community and celebrate creative expression.”

    Chris Breese, Channel Manager for Notts TV said:

    "It's fantastic to be able to bring a brand-new show to audiences which is a true team effort between Notts TV, the university and the City of Literature.

    "Not enough TV shows put books and reading centre stage, so we hope it will help celebrate the city and county's rich literary heritage, and provide a platform for local writing talent."

    Notts TV Book club airs every 2nd Tuesday of the month between now and July 2022 on Freeview channel 7, Virgin 159 or on demand and available to be watched at any time on the Notts TV website.

    You can also interact and ask questions directly to the show by taking a look at the Notts TV Book Club Facebook or Twitter channels.

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      About Nottingham Trent University

      Nottingham Trent University (NTU) was named University of the Year 2019 in the Guardian University Awards. The award was based on performance and improvement in the Guardian University Guide, retention of students from low-participation areas and attainment of BME students.

      NTU was also the Times Higher Education University of the Year 2017, and The Times and Sunday Times Modern University of the Year 2018. These awards recognise NTU for its high levels of student satisfaction, its quality of teaching, its engagement with employers, and its overall student experience.

      The university has been rated Gold in the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework – the highest ranking available.

      It is one of the largest UK universities. With over 37,000 students and more than 4,000 staff located across four campuses, the University injects £1.6bn into the UK economy. It has been the largest recruiter of UK undergraduates in each of the last four years. With an international student population of more than 6,000 and an NTU community representing around 160 countries, the University prides itself on its global outlook.

      The university is passionate about creating opportunities and its extensive outreach programme is designed to enable NTU to be a vehicle for social mobility. NTU is among the UK’s top five recruiters of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and was awarded University of the Year in the UK Social Mobility Awards 2019.

    Published on 7 December 2021
    • Category: Press office