Book Slam's 59th podcast takes a trip down memory lane in the company of comedian and writer Viv Groskop, with whom Patrick once worked on a 'leading men's lifestyle periodical'. She subsequently went on to better things including her book 'I Laughed, I Cried'. Also featured is the remarkable Simon Rich who was one of the youngest ever writers on Saturday Night Live and looks considerably younger than that. He reads from the excellent 'The Last Girlfriend On Earth'. There is also magical music from Ana Silvera while Patrick waxes lyrical and Elliott simply wanes.

The 58th Book Slam Podcast finds Elliott abandoned and alone. He appears unfazed. He introduces spoken word from the quite brilliant TALIA RANDALL, plus readings from and interviews with MATT RUDD, author of 'The English: A Field Guide', and singer, broadcaster and now author, CERYS MATTHEWS. Check out Cerys's passion for songs and songwriting - she's an impressive lady. Patrick is not there, Elliott is not all there.

Book Slam's 57th Podcast is, frankly, one of our better ones. It features a brilliant reading from his novel 'Coconut Unlimited' by our old friend NIKESH SHUKLA; an excellent interview with WILL SELF, a man who puts the 'brio' into 'lugubriousness'; comedy from the SARA PASCOE; and beautiful music from GEORGE EZRA. Elliott is funny ha ha, Patrick is funny peculiar.

The 56th Book Slam Podcast includes MATT HAIG expressing an alien view of 'The Humans', ROSS SUTHERLAND dedicating a poem to someone very special, simply beautiful music from the extraordinary SOAK, and CAITLIN MORAN on being late for the Prime Minister. Patrick is taking ibuprofen, Elliott notes that the drugs don't work.

Book Slam's 55th Podcast features talk of 'cankles', the oxymoronic nature of self-help, and esoteric idiom. HADLEY FREEMAN reads from 'Be Awesome: Modern Life For Modern Ladies', PATRICK NESS introduces us to his briliant new novel, 'The Crane Wife', and MOHSIN HAMID is 'Filthy Rich In Rising Asia'. There's even truly beautiful music from the remarkable NADINE SHAH. Elliott is the Reverend William Archibald Spooner, Patrick is Mrs Malaprop. 

The 54th Book Slam Podcast is a brief madness, but no less angry for that. NIALL GRIFFITHS reads from his latest novel, 'A Great Big Shining Star', and explains why he's no misanthropist but high on life, SARA PASCOE's not feeling herself (but her boyfriend may be) and OLIVIA CHANEY just plain blew off our pop socks. Elliott's joined in the studio by SALENA GODDEN (pictured): they have more chemistry than copper sulphate.

Book Slam's 53rd podcast sees us put the 'anti' into 'Valantine's day' (sic) as Dan Rhodes launches his excellent collection of short stories, 'Marry Me', Aidan Moffat sings songs about swinging, and Tim Key makes us all feel slightly mad. There's also a snippet of our friend Nikesh Shukla reading his story from 'Too Much Too Young: Book Slam Vol. II' at the very first Book Slam Bristol (hear that country air!). Elliott is Cupid, Patrick is stupid.

The 52nd Book Slam podcast concludes the most overblown spell of coalitionary self-congratulation since Dave and Nick first tickled each other's fancy. In this case, we continue to celebrate the launch of 'Too Much Too Young: Book Slam Vol. II', with contributors David Nicholls and Jackie Kay reading from their brand new short stories; plus Stephen K Amos introducing his brilliant memoir, 'I Used To Say My Mother Was Shirley Bassey', and live music from Kyla La Grange. Elliott is probably Clegg, Patrick is probably Compo.