CBC has announced a new one-hour national literary program, Bookends with Mattea Roach, joining the CBC Radio and CBC Listen schedule this fall.
Premiering Sunday, Sept. 8, the show will see Roach, best known as the winningest Canadian contestant ever on Jeopardy!, in conversation with Canadian and international writers. It will air Sundays at 1 p.m. (1:30 NT, 3 PT) and repeat Wednesdays at 1 p.m. (1:30 NT).
“I’m incredibly excited to move into this new role, which I hope and expect will allow me to grow as both a reader and an interviewer,” said Roach, in a CBC announcement. “I’ve always loved books and am curious about creativity and the world around us. I’ll be speaking with authors from different genres, different parts of the world and different stages in their career. This is an amazing opportunity for both me and our audience to get to know writers I love and be introduced to exciting new voices shaping today’s literature.”
Roach’s upcoming guests will include Iranian American poet Kaveh Akbar (Martyr!), American humourist Sloane Crosley (Grief is for People) and Canadian novelists David Huebert (Oil People) and Heather O’Neill (The Capital of Dreams).
In addition to their 23-win run on Jeopardy! in 2022, Roach has more recently been hosting Canadaland weekly political pod, The Backbench. The Halifax native also won CBC’s Canada Reads book debate in 2023, championing Kate Beaton graphic novel, Ducks.
“Mattea’s sharp insights on writing and the literary scene make them the perfect choice to helm this new program and bring listeners across Canada in-depth and thoughtful conversations with a wide range of authors,” said Sally Catto, General Manager, Entertainment, Factual & Sports, CBC.
Roach will appear on the final episode of long-running CBC literary program Writers & Company on Sept. 1. Eleanor Wachtel, largely considered “Canada’s first lady of literature,” announced her retirement from CBC Radio earlier this year.
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