TV personality and author Richard Osman recently took a brief writing hiatus, but he's returned with the latest instalment in the Thursday Murder Club book series.

The series focuses on  a group of retirement village residents who investigate unsolved murders, and it's gotten so popular, it's received a Netflix adaptation starring Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren.

Osman says he's enjoyed returning to the series and he's promised this next instalment will be a 'treat' for readers.

"It's always difficult, but I hope at the end it looks and feels effortless."

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TV personality and author Richard Osman recently took a brief writing hiatus, but he's returned with the latest instalment in the Thursday Murder Club book series.
The series focuses on &nbsp;a group of retirement village residents who investigate unsolved murders, and it's gotten so popular, it's received a Netflix adaptation starring Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren.
Osman says he's enjoyed returning to the series and he's promised this next instalment will be a 'treat' for readers.
"It's always difficult, but I hope at the end it looks and feels effortless."
LISTEN ABOVE

News, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment – we’ve got your Sunday morning listening covered with The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB.

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Richard Osman: author and television presenter on the release of his new book The Impossible Fortune

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a502d9b4-ced5-4a53-a3f7-b36d00081812/transcript

2025 marks 30 years since Kiwi dance company Black Grace was formed, and this anniversary will be marked with some new performances.

Later this month, the company will stage Paul Taylor's Esplanade, in a double bill with If Ever There Was A Time - an original work by founder Neil Ieremia.

Ieremia says when he first started out, there weren't a lot of dance opportunities for Māori men, and he aimed to change that.

"I remember when we put on our first show and it actually sold out - it was at the Kenneth Maidment Theatre at the university there. We put on our first show and it sold out before we actually opened, which was quite incredible."

The Black Grace double bill tour starts in Auckland on November 21 and continues in Christchurch on November 25 and 26, with tickets available here.

LISTEN ABOVE

2025 marks 30 years since Kiwi dance company Black Grace was formed, and this anniversary will be marked with some new performances.
Later this month, the company will stage Paul Taylor's Esplanade, in a double bill with If Ever There Was A Time&nbsp;- an original work by founder Neil Ieremia.
Ieremia says when he first started out, there weren't a lot of dance opportunities for Māori men, and he aimed to change that.
"I remember when we put on our first show and it actually sold out - it was at the Kenneth Maidment Theatre at the university there. We put on our first show and it sold out before we actually opened, which was quite incredible."
The Black Grace double bill tour starts in Auckland on November 21 and continues in Christchurch on November 25 and 26, with tickets available <a href="https://blackgrace.co.nz/">here.</a>
LISTEN ABOVE

Neil Ieremia: Founder and artistic director of Black Grace on the dance company's 30-year anniversary

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0540d46e-d1bf-44b2-b19a-b39000015c5b/transcript

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 9 November 2025, Bill Bryson's book 'The Short History of Nearly Everything, is the best selling science book of the 21st century.  This week he tells Francesca why he came out of retirement to rewrite it after 23 years.

Neil Ieremia is credited with changing dance in New Zealand. This year his company, Black Grace turns 30 and he joins Francesca to talk about celebrating the milestone.

ZB commentator Elliott Smith on a tight win for the All Blacks this morning at Murrayfield, Francesca applauds the Government's film rebates as a step in the right direction.

And off the back  of the announcement that Michelin reviewers are going to rate New Zealand restaurants for the first time, resident chef Mike Van de Elzen shares why chasing a star was never important to him.

Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 9 November 2025, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/bill-bryson-author-on-his-updated-version-of-a-short-history-of-nearly-everything/">Bill Bryson's book 'The Short History of Nearly Everything, is the best selling science book of the 21st century. &nbsp;This week he tells Francesca why he came out of retirement to rewrite it after 23 years.</a>
Neil Ieremia is credited with changing dance in New Zealand. <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/neil-ieremia-founder-and-artistic-director-of-black-grace-on-the-dance-companys-30-year-anniversary/">This year his company, Black Grace turns 30 and he joins Francesca to talk about celebrating the milestone.</a>
ZB commentator Elliott Smith <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/elliott-smith-newstalk-zb-rugby-commentator-on-the-all-blacks-beating-out-scotland-25-17/">on a tight win for the All Blacks this morning at Murrayfield</a>, Francesca<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/opinion/francesca-rudkin-the-government-s-changes-to-the-screen-rebate-scheme-are-a-good-start/"> applauds the Government's film rebates as a step in the right direction.</a>
And off the back &nbsp;of the announcement that Michelin reviewers are going to rate New Zealand restaurants for the first time,<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/mike-van-de-elzen-cured-and-roasted-salmon-pate/"> resident chef Mike Van de Elzen shares why chasing a star was never important to him</a>.
Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
LISTEN ABOVE

Full Show Podcast: 09 November 2025 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a4889849-d963-4adc-8008-b38f017eaa6f/transcript

Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything has sold millions of copies since its initial publication in 2003, but a lot has changed since then.

Bryson had initially retired, but he's since revised his best known work with updated information - and he's set to do a speaking tour, with Auckland and Wellington events to take place in February.

He says a massive amount has changed in the 22 years since writing the book and updating it was a bigger project than expected.

"It was fun, I enjoyed it a lot - I've been kind of retired for a few years and this is why I came out of retirement, to do this. And I really had a good time doing it, it made me remember the joys of actually working."

LISTEN ABOVE

Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything has sold millions of copies since its initial publication in 2003, but a lot has changed since then.
Bryson had initially retired, but he's since revised his best known work with updated information - and he's set to do a speaking tour, with Auckland and Wellington events to take place in February.
He says a massive amount has changed in the 22 years since writing the book and updating it was a bigger project than expected.
"It was fun, I enjoyed it a lot - I've been kind of retired for a few years and this is why I came out of retirement, to do this. And I really had a good time doing it, it made me remember the joys of actually working."
LISTEN ABOVE

Bill Bryson: author on his updated version of A Short History of Nearly Everything

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/972ae093-affd-47ab-915c-b38f01831c41/transcript

Richard Osman: author and television presenter on the release of his new book The Impossible Fortune

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