The Queen’s Reading Room, the charity formed from the book club set up by Her Majesty Queen Camilla, has today announced the return of its chart-topping book podcast, ‘The Queen’s Reading Room Podcast’. The launch of season 2 comes just weeks after Her Majesty unveiled findings of the Charity’s ground-breaking research into benefits of reading at Clarence House AND comes only weeks before The Queen’s Reading Room Festival, which boasts a line-up including Helena Bonham Carter, Dame Harriet Walter & Harlan Coben, returns to Hampton Court Palace.

The first series of The Queen’s Reading Room Podcast featured Rebus author Sir Ian Rankin, actress Dame Joanna Lumley, and comedian David Baddiel and was listened to in 158 countries. Upon its launch, ‘The Queen’s Reading Room Podcast’ reached the top 1% of podcasts globally and spent several consecutive weeks at #1 in the UK arts and books podcast charts, #1 in the Canadian and Australian Apple books podcast charts and #14 in the US Apple podcast charts.

Available weekly from Monday 20th May, the second season of ‘The Queen’s Reading Room Podcast’ will continue to create a space where book lovers – and those who wish to connect more with books – can hear straight from the mouths of literary heroes.

The new season will feature a celebrated literary line-up which boasts ‘American Gods’ author Neil Gaiman, ‘Labyrinth’ author Kate Mosse and author of the ‘Roy Grace’ series Peter James, who will invite listeners inside their own reading rooms, taking us on their own personal journeys through the literature that influenced their lives. This brand new season will also feature Her Majesty Queen Camilla, who will once again let listeners in on some of her all-time favourite reads.

CEO of The Queen’s Reading Room and podcast host Vicki Perrin said:

“We were astounded by the response to the first season of The Queen’s Reading Room Podcast. It is clear that the podcast reached and resonated with listeners globally, enabling them to connect and fall in love with books.

I hope that this second season of the podcast will continue to inspire listeners to go on new literary adventures and help those wishing they loved books a little more, to discover the true joy of reading.”

The Queen’s Reading Room Podcast season 2 is available from 00:01 on Monday 20th May on all podcasting platforms. The episode schedule is as follows:

Episode 1 – 20th May – Neil Gaiman
Episode 2 – 27th May – Mel Giedroyc
Episode 3 – 3rd June – Kate Mosse
Episode 4 – 10th June – Peter James
Episode 5 – 17th June – Santa Montefiore
Episode 6 – 24th June – Ben Okri
Episode 7 – 1st July – Clare Mackintosh
Episode 8 – 8th July – Curtis Sittenfeld
Episode 9 – 15th July – Richard E Grant