Roddy Doyle to Chair 2025 Booker Prize Judging Panel
Booker Prize 2025: Roddy Doyle to Lead Star-Studded Judging Panel
Celebrated Irish author Roddy Doyle, winner of the prestigious Booker Prize in 1993, will chair the judging panel for the 2025 Booker Prize. This marks the first time a previous Booker Prize winner will lead the esteemed panel. Doyle, known for beloved novels like the Snapper, The Van, and The Commitments, expressed his excitement for the role.
“For more than forty years, I’ve been writing novels, or editing novels, or thinking about the next novel,” Doyle said. “So,to have license to do little else but read the year’s best novels,to find the familiar in the unfamiliar,to examine the remarkable,unique things that great writers can do with the shared language,English – I can’t wait.”
Joining doyle on the panel is a diverse and accomplished group of literary figures:
Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀: Booker Prize-longlisted novelist known for her powerful debut Stay With Me.
Sarah Jessica Parker: award-winning actress, producer, and publisher, a passionate advocate for contemporary fiction.
chris Power: acclaimed writer,broadcaster,and literary critic,known for his sharp insights and discerning taste.
Kiley Reid: New York Times bestselling author and Booker prize-longlisted writer, recognized for her insightful and thought-provoking novels.
Gaby Wood, Chief Executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, praised the remarkable lineup. “The 2025 judges form a jury of creative peers like no other,” she said.”We’ve never before had three Booker authors on the panel. Roddy, the first past Booker winner to chair the judges, has already brought generosity, wit and calm to the process, and I have no doubt that he will draw together this stellar crowd as they seek the best fiction of the year.”
The Booker Prize,awarded annually to the best single work of fiction written in English and published in the UK and Ireland,is now open for submissions. Publishers have until September 30, 2025, to submit books published between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025.The “Booker Dozen” shortlist will be announced in July 2025,followed by the final shortlist of six books in september. The winner of the Booker Prize 2025 will be revealed in November, receiving a prize of £50,000 (€60,000).
booker Prize 2025: A Conversation with Chair Roddy Doyle
NewsDirectory3: Congratulations on being chosen to chair the esteemed judging panel for the 2025 Booker Prize, Roddy! what are your initial thoughts and feelings about leading this year’s panel?
Roddy doyle: Thank you! It’s a tremendous honor. For more than forty years, I’ve been writing novels, or editing novels, or thinking about the next novel. So, to have license to do little else but read the year’s best novels, to find the familiar in the unfamiliar, to examine the remarkable, unique things that great writers can do with the shared language, English – I can’t wait.
NewsDirectory3: You’re the first past Booker Prize winner to chair the panel. How do you think this unique perspective will shape your approach to judging?
roddy Doyle: I understand the thrill and pressure that comes with being shortlisted, and ultimately, winning the Booker Prize.I hope that experience will allow me to approach the judging process with empathy and a deep understanding of what it takes to create a truly exceptional work of fiction.
NewsDirectory3: The judging panel is incredibly diverse and accomplished this year.Could you tell us a bit about the strengths each panelist brings?
Roddy Doyle: We have a truly remarkable group. Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ brings her insightful perspective as a Booker-longlisted novelist and powerful storyteller. Sarah Jessica Parker’s passion for contemporary fiction and her experience as a publisher will be invaluable. Chris Power is a master of literary criticism, with a sharp eye for detail and a keen understanding of the craft of writing. And Kiley Reid is a brilliant voice in contemporary literature, known for her thought-provoking and insightful novels. I can’t wait to engage in conversations with these exceptional individuals.
NewsDirectory3: What are you most looking forward to in this journey as chair of the 2025 Booker Prize judging panel?
Roddy Doyle: I’m excited to discover new voices, to be challenged by the diversity of experiences and perspectives presented in the submissions, and ultimately, to celebrate the power of storytelling in all its forms. The Booker Prize is a global platform for exceptional fiction, and I’m honored to be a part of this literary tradition.