Watch the Booker Prize 2023 winner ceremony this Sunday
With two days to go until our winner is announced, we revisit the shortlisted books; Her Majesty The Queen hosts the shortlisted authors; and meet the designers behind this year's bespoke bound books
The moment we've all been waiting for is almost here – the Booker Prize 2023 winner ceremony will take place this Sunday, at Old Billingsgate in London. And we’d love you to join us from home, where you can be among the first to discover who is taking home the trophy. The event will be livestreamed in a special hour-long programme, broadcast simultaneously on the Booker Prizes’ and Jack Edwards’ YouTube channels from 9pm UK time (you can head over there now to set a handy reminder). Jack will be reporting from the red carpet and interviewing several special guests, before the big moment, so please do join us.
The ceremony will also be broadcast in a special half-hour edition of BBC Radio 4’s Front Row from 9.30pm.
Ahead of Sunday’s ceremony, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about our shortlisted books and authors, below.
‘Thank you for enhancing our life’: The Queen meets Booker-nominated authors past and present
At a special event at Clarence House for friends of the Booker Prizes, Her Majesty The Queen thanked authors for providing much-needed escapism, and wished this year’s shortlistees luck for Sunday’s winner ceremony.
Meet the designers behind the Booker Prize 2023's bespoke bound books
For over three decades, Fellows from the Designer Bookbinders society have created bespoke, handmade editions of each title on the Booker shortlist. Here, this year’s designers reveal the process behind their unique books, and offer a sneak peek in advance of the ceremony, where the designs will be presented to the shortlisted authors.
Watch our video Q&As with the Booker Prize 2023 shortlistees
We have once again gathered your questions from social media and put them to our shortlisted authors – Sarah Bernstein, Paul Murray, Chetna Maroo, Paul Harding, Jonathan Escoffery and Paul Lynch. Watch as they discuss their writing styles, favourite characters, and the inspiration behind their nominated works.
The Booker Prize Podcast, Episode 22: Shehan Karunatilaka's Booker Prize year
On The Booker Prize Podcast this week, our hosts are joined by the winner of the Booker Prize 2022 to discuss the frenzy that followed after he took home the trophy for The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. Listen in as Shehan chats with James and Jo about what happened in the 13 months following his win, why he wore black nail polish to the winner ceremony and what the 2023 winner can expect on the big night and beyond.
Discover our reading guides for the shortlisted books
Whether you’re new to the books on the shortlist or would like to explore them more deeply, our guides are packed with insights from critics, judges and authors, as well as discussion points and suggestions for further reading.
Watch actors read extracts from the six shortlisted books
Watch Caitríona Balfe, Alfred Enoch, Bel Powley, Paterson Joseph, Susan Lynch and Nina Wadia read extracts from the six books on the shortlist. The extraordinary films are made by Sharon Horgan’s production company Mermade, directed by Hannah Berry George, and will also be shown at the winner ceremony.
The Booker Prize live! Dates for your diary
Join us as we celebrate the Booker Prize 2023 winner at these UK and online events.
Tuesday, November 28, 5.45pm: Winner Q&A + paired film screening in partnership with MUBI
Join us at HOME in Manchester for a special event in partnership with MUBI – the global streaming service, production company and film distributor – for the first in-person Q&A with the winner of the Booker Prize 2023, chaired by writer Okechukwu Nzelu, followed by a screening of the film that MUBI has paired with this year’s winning novel. Find out more here.
Click here to see which films MUBI has matched to all six shortlisted books and to get 30 days of MUBI for free.
Wednesday, November 29, 6.45pm: Winner of the Booker Prize 2023 in conversation with Shehan Karunatilaka
The winner of this year’s prize will appear in conversation with last year’s winner, Shehan Karunatilaka, for an unmissable evening at Foyles Charing Cross Road in London hosted by broadcaster Anita Rani. A livestream ticket is also available for this event. Find out more here.
Which book from the shortlist is your favourite, and which author would you like to see win this year’s prize? Let us know in the comments below…
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the two part preview podcast. Helped crystallise some of my muddled takes on the six books. Thank you Jo and James.