From the creator of the Ben Cooper & Diane Fry series

        NEWSLETTER #82                                                                                    September 2026

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Greetings!

There are two bits of news on the TV front this month.

First of all, thanks to the success of Season 1 in the UK, the 'Cooper and Fry' series has been named as a finalist for 'Favourite New Drama' in the TV Times Awards 2026. And the winners of these awards are decided on votes from you, the viewers!

You can cast your vote online from now until 29th September. Just follow this link below (and why not share it with your friends and family too?). All votes are much appreciated!

* Your vote also puts you into a draw with a chance of winning a £50 Amazon gift voucher. So what are you waiting for? Vote here:

Vote here in the TV Times Awards

Season 2 is in the can

Yes, filming for Season 2 of the 'Cooper and Fry' TV series has just been completed, and is now in post-production (hence the happy expressions on the production crew above). We don't know a date for broadcast yet - that's a decision way above my head for the schedulers at Paramount!

Four more books have been adapted for the second season - THE DEVIL'S EDGE, ONE LAST BREATH, THE MURDER ROAD and FALL DOWN DEAD. They will be shown over the course of eight one-hour episodes.

Meanwhile, I know many readers across the pond will be pleased to hear that Season 1 is now showing on BritBox in the USA and Canada: https://www.britbox.com/us/season/Cooper_and_Fry_S1_10329505

The first two episodes premiered on BritBox on 10th September, with a new episode now dropping weekly on Thursdays until 22nd October. This is for standard BritBox accounts. If you happen to have a Premier account, you can already binge the series. I hope our American readers enjoy it!

In Japan, Cooper and Fry will debut on WOWOW on 20th September. Apparently, they will show the entire season in one huge Cooper and Fry binge, with eight episodes back to back over the course of nearly seven hours. The whole thing then repeats a month later on 19th October. The Japanese do seem to do things differently...

Other countries where it's already showing include Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy, the Balkans, and Australia. You can also get BritBox in Germany via an Amazon Prime subscription.

In the UK, Season 1 is still streaming on Channel 5 and Apple TV if you've missed it so far...

Channel 5: Cooper & Fry - Season 1

Apple TV: ‎Cooper & Fry - Apple TV

* Readers of the book will notice many changes for the screen. This is inevitable, since TV is a completely different medium and the stories have to be adapted to suit it. The plots may be different, and characters may have been altered a bit. Please be tolerant of any changes, accept it as an adaptation, and enjoy it as great television. The books are there for you to enjoy too!

**Click here to watch the Cooper and Fry Season 1 trailer**

EVENTS UPDATE FOR 2026

I was delighted to be able to do an event to mark the opening of a brand new Staveley Library in Derbyshire during July. And a beautiful building it is too! The event was sold out, so for anyone who couldn't get a ticket, I'm going to be at nearby Chesterfield Library to give a talk on Thursday 1st October (6pm). This is another free event, thanks to funding for the National Year of Reading, but do make sure to book your place in advance. You can either contact the library by phone on 01629 533400 or email: chesterfield.library@derbyshire.gov.uk or just call in at the library and ask them to sign you up.

TUESDAY 20th OCTOBER, 2pm
Ravenshead Library, Milton Court, Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire NG15 9BD - talk for readers.
Tickets £3, places limited. Book online at Eventbrite here:
Author Event: Stephen Booth - Ravenshead Library

TUESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER, 11am
Southwell Leisure Centre, Nottingham Road, Southwell, Nottinghamshire NG25 0LG - talk for members of Southwell U3A.
Southwell U3A

SUNDAY 15th NOVEMBER, 12.30pm
The Quad, Market Place, Derby DE1 3AR - interviewed by Zena Hawley for Derby Book Festival's autumn edition. Details to follow.
Derby Book Festival

FRIDAY 27th NOVEMBER, 5pm
Buxton Library, Kents Bank Road, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9HW - talk for readers.
Buxton Library

More to come in 2027!

All the best,

Stephen

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