AGP Executive Report

UK Publishing & Books: Mark Tuohy’s debut novel Walk the Ball turns Dublin’s walking football into a story of friendship, memory and redemption, following six retired teammates wrestling with old guilt. Literary History: AK Blakemore’s new third novel Doom Painting retells the Peasants’ Revolt through Wat Tyler, linking medieval protest to the politics of taxation. Theatre & Adaptation: Bell Shakespeare’s Mackenzie reimagines Macbeth as a 2000s kids’ TV backstage satire, using pop-culture gloss to probe ambition and violence. Reading Habits: A new UK-wide study finds teenage boys are “stuck” on primary favourites like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, while girls’ reading diversifies into broader fiction. Book Culture & Access: A memoir, Lions in the Garden, by Lybster author Alison J Kirk, charts a 1960s African childhood shaped by apartheid-era danger and a return to England. Weather & Public Life: The Met Office pushes the UK’s hottest June record again (up to 37.3C), with red extreme-heat warnings still in play.

Royal Transparency: Buckingham Palace says King Charles III has published his personal tax payments, paying £12.9m in 2024-25 and more than £30m since becoming monarch—an unprecedented move aimed at boosting transparency. Publishing & AI: UK policy pressure is building around “trusted” news on social feeds, while separate legal fights keep heating up: small publishers and local papers are suing OpenAI and Microsoft over alleged copyright scraping. Overseas Voting: Campaigners want the Representation of the People Bill to go further on overseas voting, pushing options like earlier ballots and digital/secure voting. Books & Culture: Picador releases Sathnam Sanghera’s George Michael study, Tonight the Music Seems So Loud, reframing the pop icon’s artistry beyond biography. Media Industry: Karl Stefanovic’s exit from Nine is framed as a ratings gamble—his podcast is surging on Apple charts. Tech & Rights: A former Meta executive sues after a memoir-related arbitration order sought to “silence” her.

Publishing & Bookseller News: The NCTJ is urging the UK government to restore a £17m-a-year Strategic Priorities Grant for journalism training, arguing the Media Green Paper on “trusted news” needs real funding behind it. Book Culture & Community: “Love Is For All Of Us” (poetry and essays from LGBTQ+ writers and friends) has won gold at the Nautilus Book Awards, with organisers pointing to reader feedback from across the globe. Literary Events: The Hay Festival is spotlighted as a major UK books-and-ideas weekend, with big-name authors and free-to-enter festival bookshop access. UK Media & Legal: The Sun has agreed to pay “substantial” damages to actor Qasim Akhtar after a defamation settlement over false claims linking him to Islamic extremism. Tech, AI & Copyright: A report on the hacker attack on Babel details how a script was hidden in files and how CERT-UA analysed the incident, underscoring the risks facing newsrooms. Weather & Reading Life: A heatwave is breaking records across the UK, with 38C forecast—another reminder of how summer conditions shape everyday routines, including what people reach for to read and cool down.

Cambridge Publishing: University of Cambridge scientists have released The Professor, the Pipette & the Path Not Taken, a branching adventure book with 277 pathways and 10 possible endings to help young people map science careers. AI & Copyright: Nearly 400 local newspapers have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging unauthorised copying of copyrighted reporting to train AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot. Books & Media: The Orwell Society/NUJ Young Journalists Awards 2026 went to early-career writers Hugo Harvey and Katie O’Donnell, with Harvey’s Gaza-focused piece drawing Orwell-style language scrutiny. Publishing on Screen: Daisy Edgar-Jones is set to star in a new film adaptation of Sense & Sensibility, with Focus Features and Working Title behind it. Local Governance: East Riding of Yorkshire Council ordered a temporary closure of Moor Lane, Full Sutton, for passing-place works from July 13 to July 31. Sports Culture: Leeds United moved to sign Wales winger Harry Wilson on a free transfer after his Fulham deal expired.

UK book banning: A new UCL study says book-banning and censorship attempts are rising in the UK, with a Salford school using AI to “audit” 200 titles including 1984 and Twilight—and a librarian who refused later resigning. Publishing & royalty gossip: Reports claim Meghan Markle’s team informally sounded out major publishers about a possible “post-Harry divorce book”, while Harry and Meghan are also being branded “troublemakers” after alleged secret calls to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Books on screen: BritBox is spotlighting Jane Austen’s 250th with The Other Bennet Sister, a Mary Bennet-focused adaptation. Religion & publishing: Pope Leo XIV’s new book of homilies and writings, Freedom Under Grace, lands with Cornerstone (Penguin Random House UK) in September 2026. Culture & books nearby: A £6m Harry Potter visitor centre is planned for the Glenfinnan Viaduct area, with a late-2028/early-2029 target. Gaming meets publishing economics: GTA 6 pricing is set at $79.99/$99.99, with physical editions using download codes—another sign of rising costs across entertainment.

UK social media regulation: The government is weighing rules that could force platforms to prioritise “trusted news” in users’ feeds, sparking a fight over who gets to define trust and whether it risks censorship or platform neutrality. Edinburgh literature boost: As Edinburgh marks 20 years as a UNESCO City of Literature, “readers in residence” and free six-minute excerpts from major Scottish authors are rolling out, with a report putting literature’s annual economic impact at £50.9m. Libraries under pressure: Birmingham Conservatives are urging the council to protect libraries after Erdington Library’s roof and window repairs were reportedly delayed until November. Summer reading for kids: Bishop’s Stortford Library launches the Reading Agency’s music-themed Summer Reading Challenge, “Read to the Beat,” with free sign-ups from 4 July. Local book event: Hungerford Bookshop hosts “Spy Night” on 2 July with Charles Cumming, James Wolff and Alistair Wood. Immigration settlement row: A House of Lords committee calls proposed changes to ILR settlement qualifying periods “manifestly unfair,” warning against retrospective rules. World Cup tie-in: Scotland’s Tartan Army turns up in force for matches abroad, with a big Miami takeover reported.

Independent Bookshops: The number of independent bookshops in the UK and Ireland has climbed to 1,086, the highest level since 2012, up from 1,025 last year, according to new data released during Independent Bookshop Week. Public Service Media Online: The UK government has published a Media Green Paper on reforming public service media, consulting on ways to push trusted news content higher on social platforms and video sites. AI in News & Publishing: A Reuters report flags slow adoption of AI news chatbots as newsrooms expand automation, while other coverage highlights growing pressure on publishers and platforms around AI-driven distribution. Local Pride & Community Tensions: York’s Pride drew big crowds, but organisers also faced an offensive letter referencing Section 28, with LGBTQ+ groups warning incidents and hate crimes are rising. Books in the Spotlight: Left Bank Books in Belfast hosts Christina Baker Kline discussing The Foursome on 9 July.

Local Crime Fiction: Clacton author Chris Buckle has released The Clacton Verdict, a second crime novel set entirely in the town, sparked by arguments on Facebook groups and featuring local reporter Grace Capel. Community & Culture: A 1200-year-old Pictish fortress at Burghead is set for a fresh August excavation, with the public invited to watch and an open day planned after rare finds. Publishing & Print Industry: Durst hosted an open house at Pixartprinting near Venice, highlighting on-demand label printing and international visitors ahead of Labelexpo Europe. Book-to-TV/Screen Buzz: Heartbeat creator Nicholas Rhea’s family will reunite with his Jaguar Mark 2 at a Goathland rally, tying local storytelling to ITV nostalgia. Reading & Society: Baby banks in the UK supported 400,000 children in 2025, up 11%, as charities warn they can’t keep absorbing child poverty without government help. Tech & Media: A Reuters report says Tata Electronics detected a cybersecurity incident tied to alleged Apple and Tesla files, underlining supply-chain risks.

Publishing & Books: The Booksellers Association has urged Keir Starmer’s successor to reform the business rates system urgently, arguing it’s a make-or-break issue for the book trade. Book Festivals: A new UK-wide indie book festival, the Literary Escape Festival, is heading to Leeds as part of a 14-city 2026 tour tied to the National Year of Reading. Print Industry: Print Library in Newtownards is investing nearly £2m in new Heidelberg machinery to double capacity, while a separate report says a UK print press has expanded after a major move. Major Author News: Dame Jilly Cooper’s probate documents reveal an £8.56m net estate split between her adopted children and stepdaughter. Film/Screen Culture: Warner Bros’ Clockwork label will finally bring Ken Russell’s long-censored The Devils to cinemas in a new 4K restoration. Tech & Security (publishing-adjacent): Tata Electronics says it’s investigating a cyber incident after claims that Apple and Tesla design/spec papers were posted online. Local Community: A Post Office branch is set to relocate after closure, with access and consultation details published.

Publishing & AI: The Guardian has appointed Hayley Waller as head of Guardian Labs in Australia, aiming to build trusted branded storytelling as audiences fragment and trust becomes a key media asset. Tech & Books: A new Penguin title, The Infinity Machine, follows Demis Hassabis and the push toward “superintelligence”, while also taking a swipe at the hype-and-money assumptions driving today’s AI boom. Health Policy: A BMJ Global Health study warns that fixing one part of a healthcare system can backfire if the wider system can’t cope, with injury care used to map how trust and capacity shape outcomes. Sports & Culture: World Cup coverage dominates, including Egypt’s first-ever World Cup win over New Zealand and a record-breaking Women’s T20 World Cup chase by South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp. Local Books & Community: A Hackenden Lane woodland parcel is up for sale in Sussex, feeding the growing UK trend of private woodland ownership for nature and outdoor living.

AI & Healthcare: Experts warn that “blind trust” in clinical algorithms can nudge clinicians to defer to machine confidence, raising the risk of missed serious conditions. Public Services & Politics: A Burnham ally’s “Productive State” blueprint argues for reversing decades of privatisation by taking failing utilities back into public control. Wales Budget Watch: Plaid Cymru’s finance plans for the Senedd are due to set out how around £300m left unallocated in the last budget will be spent, with NHS, childcare and free school meals already flagged. Royal Transparency: Buckingham Palace says King Charles will publish personal tax information for 2024-25, with 2025-26 details to follow. Publishing & Culture: Penguin publishes Sebastian Mallaby’s account of Demis Hassabis and the push for superintelligence, while a new book review spotlights Kapka Kassabova’s climate-and-community “Borrowed Land” (Jonathan Cape). Local Books & Libraries: Saltcoats Library hosts a railway memoir handover, and Fair Isle’s bird observatory trust unveils a major two-volume birdlife publication.

Royal Transparency: King Charles will publish his personal income tax details for 2024-25, a first for a monarch and a fresh push for openness as royal finances face renewed scrutiny. Publishing & Books: The Critic reviews Sebastian Mallaby’s The Infinity Machine on Demis Hassabis and the AGI quest, while also taking aim at BookTok’s power to lift “unvetted” names onto bestseller lists. Literary Awards: Virginia Evans wins the Women’s Prize for Fiction (The Correspondent), and Lyse Doucet takes the Women’s Prize for Nonfiction (The Finest Hotel in Kabul). Heritage & Storytelling: Bristol’s maritime museum at SS Great Britain will rebrand next month to “Bristol Dockyards”, shifting focus from Brunel to the wider people and global trade around the ship. Local Print Industry: BeanPrint relocates to a bigger unit in Washford Industrial Estate to expand print capacity and product range. Books & Community: Shreve Memorial Library highlights free summer creative labs for teens and tweens, from snack-making to stop-motion.

UK Publishing & Books: The Critic spotlights two very different reads: Sebastian Mallaby’s “The Infinity Machine” on Demis Hassabis and the AGI quest, and Charlie Pye-Smith’s “Real Lives, Real Voices” defending liberty, livelihoods and lawful hunting amid rural collapse. Book Culture: A Critic column argues BookTok is increasingly driving bestseller charts with little critical vetting, while also flagging the Nibbies judging panel for the British Book Awards. Author Recommendations: The Critic’s weekend panel of acclaimed writers shares summer picks, including David Nicholls’ “You Are Here” and Amy Tan recommending Yang Shuang-zi’s “Taiwan Travelogue.” UK Politics & Media: The UK government’s under-16 social media ban is prompting wider fights with Big Tech, with new pressure to boost UK public service broadcasters’ content prominence. Community & Reading: Orkney author Lorraine Kelly returns with “The Island Secret,” a sequel to “The Island Swimmer,” bringing more mystery and darker turns to Evie’s homecoming.

Publishing shake-up: The Critic reports BookTok’s “fatal magic” is driving repeat names up the Sunday Times fiction lists, even when readers can’t find critical coverage—while the Nibbies (British Book Awards) judging panel is chaired by Dame Prue Leith, with publishers and authors again spotlighted. New fiction spotlight: Serpent’s Tail’s The End of Everything by M John Harrison leans into a post-apocalypse that feels uncomfortably close to home, with an iGhetti entity and a beachcomber’s discovery kicking off the chaos. Nonfiction with bite: John Murray’s Fantastic Kingdom by Helene von Bismarck frames Brexit as damage to the UK and EU, using a “contrary country” lens to argue the UK is still wildly contradictory. AI and rights debate: EL PAÍS features intellectual property lawyer Eleonora Rosati on whether generative AI should pay creators, pointing to US lawsuits and a major Anthropic settlement. Libraries in action: A free home delivery service is bringing books to housebound readers in Suffolk/Norfolk, and Oxfordshire’s “Read to the Beat!” Summer Reading Challenge ties reading to music for July–September. Bookish picks: Kemps Books reveals June’s books of the month, including Eden McKenzie-Goddard’s Smallie on the Windrush scandal.

Publishing & AI Search: Five big publishers (Arena Group, BuzzFeed, DMGT, Frommer’s and Sports Illustrated) are rolling out a white-label “Q&A economy” search bar with Gist, aiming to keep readers on-site by answering questions from publisher content and selling sponsored questions. Arts & Literature Leadership: Aoife K. Walsh is appointed Head of Exhibitions & Programming at Ireland’s Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI), bringing New Island Books experience. Book Culture & Community: Heartfelt tributes follow Arnolfini co-founder Annabel Rees, while a Bulgarian Reading Contest for children abroad heads to Paris with Prosveta Publishing House among partners. World Cup Fever (UK angle): England’s World Cup betting promos include Sky Bet’s “England to beat Ghana” offer, and pubs across the UK are leaning into match-night crowds. Books & Publishing People: Jeremy Clarkson’s Clarkson’s Farm spin-off continues with another book expected after his latest venture announcement.

World Cup Watch: FIFA’s group-stage tiebreakers are now the big talking point as the tournament’s first matchweek settles early paths to the knockout rounds. Publishing & Books: The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending June 19 spotlights new and returning titles across New Zealand. Author & Festival: Nairn Book and Arts Festival unveils a packed programme with Nicola Sturgeon’s memoir talk and Booker winner Douglas Stuart among the literary heavyweights, plus panels on AI in publishing. Book Culture: A new event in August features Alison Weir discussing her novel The Boleyn Secret with talk, Q&A and signing. UK Policy for Readers: Pension Credit holiday rules are a reminder for older readers—report changes if you leave mainland Britain. True Crime & Travel: A retired detective leads a Boston true-crime tour, mixing local history with real case details. AI & Publishing: A debate continues around AI’s role in publishing, with industry-focused sessions making it a headline theme.