Macintyre to chair BBC Samuel Johnson Prize

The Bookseller - 15.02.11 - Katie Allen

Operation Mincemeat author Ben Macintyre is to chair the judging panel for this year's BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction.

The panel also comprises historian, writer and broadcaster Amanda Vickery, Prospect's editor-at-large David Goodhart, journalist and author Sam Leith and biographer Brenda Maddox. (Pic. right)

MacIntyre said: "The wealth of superb non-fiction writing is so great at the moment that we expect the task of selecting an overall winner to be demanding and hotly-debated, but also tremendously enjoyable."

Mark Bell, BBC commissioning editor, arts, added: "The BBC is glad to be associated with the Samuel Johnson Prize, in a year in which we have a special focus on books. I keenly anticipate seeing what great non-fiction the illustrious panel of judges will draw attention to."

The longlist for the £20,000 prize will be announced in late April, with a shortlist of up to six titles revealed in early June. The winner will be announced on 6th July; each of the five shortlisted authors will also receive £1,000.