‘Brick Lane’ (Optimum, €24.99) is a compelling adaptation of Monica Ali’s novel about a young Bangladeshi girl, Nazneen (Tannishtha Chatterjee), who is forced to leave her family and village following her arranged marriage to an older man (Satish Kaushik).

Irish rocker Bono will try his hand at radio this Christmas, when he takes over a BBC radio news programme.

Three Irish writers have been named on the list for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award 2005.

A novel about the experiences of black immigrants in post-war Britain tonight won the Orange Prize for Fiction.

JK Rowling’s fifth Harry Potter book has been shortlisted for the adult fiction prize at this year’s WHSmith Book Awards.