188 Words for Rain | BBC Books

‘This delightful book … this lovely book’ – The Times

ORDER: Local bookshop | Amazon | Waterstones | more

Travel around these islands enjoying our many kinds of rain and the words we use for them.

‘A gorgeous, funny tour of the British Isles as seen from the clouds.’ – Konnie Huq

‘Alan knows everything, knows everyone, and writes beautifully too.’ – Richard Osman

‘I’ve always been in awe of Alan Connor: the man with the contents of the Oxford English
Dictionary stored just above his left eyebrow … and he’s quite funny too.’ – Rory Cellan-Jones

Goodreads | Librarything
BBC Books, 14 Nov 2024
ISBN: 9781785948541, 320 pages, £16.99

Destination X | BBC1

This was fun. Episode one Wed 30 July.

David Nobbs Memorial Trust longlist

It’s an honour!

Bafta nomination

Decision time: 11 May, Royal Albert Hall.

Update 11 May: here I am with the BBC’s Caroline a short while before the award went elsewhere.

Broadcasting House | BBC Radio 4

A Paddy O’Connell interview is intense. Listen from 24:15. Book is here.

Really enjoyed hearing @alanconnor.bsky.social talk about 188 WORDS FOR RAIN on Radio 4. People often trot out the dubious truism about the Inuit having umpteen words for snow to me, but it seems we Brits have cornered the market for rain!

— Ann Morgan (@annmorgan.bsky.social) 16 February 2025 at 09:36

Word ↔ Puzzles: A Conference | University of Oxford

‘A conference celebrating the parallel lives of literature and puzzles at Magdalen College, Oxford.’

Update 22 Mar: here are the slides:

  • Friday, March 21 · 9am – 6pm GMT
  • Magdalen College Oxford OX1 4AU
  • Tickets

The Verb | BBC Radio 4

Talking rain with Ian McMillan and pals. 188 Words for Rain published next week.

Ludwig | BBC1

Great fun working with Robbie again and Jonny and Georgie on this:

House of Games | BBC2

Series eight, still question editor:

Emmy nomination: Outstanding Writing

‘ … for a Nonfiction Program’ (The Reluctant Traveler). Decision time 7 September, Peacock Theater, Los Angeles.

September update: OK, so next time.

Gegs | BBC Radio 4

Good times being profiled by James Peak for this documentary.

And an Everyman puzzle to match.

Radio 4, 7 April 2024, 1915

The Reluctant Traveler s2 | Apple TV

The Traitors: The Interactive Game Book | BBC1 / Century Books

Choose your way through the story, plus some new games, out 23 November:

Pointless Facts for Curious Minds | BBC Books

Be the Host and the Pointless Friend:

The World At One | BBC Radio 4

I’m right at the end of today’s episode:

House of Games | BBC2

Series seven:

‘Very Guardian’ puzzle | Guardian

Everyman No 4,000 | Observer

I collaborated with Allan Scott, Colin Gumbrell and – via the archives – the other three setters of the Everyman crossword since 1945 (Alec Robins, Dorothy Taylor and of course Derrick Somerset Macnutt) on an anniversary puzzle.

Off-Grid | Podcast

More from the ‘not really about crosswords’ podcast:

The Reluctant Traveler | Apple TV