Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Jenny Colgan on her secret to success: "The world belongs to people who just turn up for stuff"

01:16

“The world belongs to people who turn up”: Doctor Who author Jenny Colgan on the secret to writing a novel

In this clip from The Independent’s Like This Love This podcast, Jenny Colgan reflects on her writing philosophy. Colgan has written more than sixty books, selling fifteen million in more than thirty five countries, as well as six stories in the Doctor Who universe under the name J.T. Colgan.

Jenny also speaks about her love of reading to her kids at bedtime, how the country doesn’t need campaigns to tell us we should read and instead how we need to remind people of the joy to be had from reading.

Watch the full episode of Like This Love This with Jenny Colgan on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Up next

Fired Apprentice candidate fights back tears

00:49

Fired Apprentice candidate fights back tears

I was watching an art show in a seaside town - then Madonna walked in

01:19

I was watching an art show in a seaside town - then Madonna walked in

Zayn jokes about his ticket prices in apparent Harry Styles dig

02:04

Zayn jokes about his ticket prices in apparent Harry Styles dig

Chris Hemsworth says working with Halle Berry left him starstruck

00:42

Chris Hemsworth says working with Halle Berry left him starstruck

Editor’s Picks

Cast of Bridgerton Season 4 Get Real About Representation

08:15

Cast of Bridgerton Season 4 Get Real About Representation

These are the films taking over awards season

06:35

These are the films taking over awards season

Euphoria, Blade Runner, and the TV shows dominating 2026

05:52

Euphoria, Blade Runner, and the TV shows dominating 2026

Inside Netflix’s unhinged Christmas universe

07:17

Inside Netflix’s unhinged Christmas universe

More Editor’s Picks

ACFC

Why Matheus Cunha is Man United’s best signing in years

14:11

Why Matheus Cunha is Man United’s best signing in years

The real reason Liverpool signed Jeremie Frimpong

12:18

The real reason Liverpool signed Jeremie Frimpong

Making a Premier League team of the season that actually works

30:24

Making a Premier League team of the season that actually works

The Newcastle tactics that proved Eddie Howe is an elite manager

16:08

The Newcastle tactics that proved Eddie Howe is an elite manager

Well Enough

Deliciously Ella founder on why we’re in a ‘fruit and veg crisis’

35:47

Deliciously Ella founder on why we’re in a ‘fruit and veg crisis’

Joe Wicks on his controversial ‘Killer’ protein bar documentary

42:11

Joe Wicks on his controversial ‘Killer’ protein bar documentary

Joe Wicks on the moment he decided to become a ‘phone-free dad’

01:05

Joe Wicks on the moment he decided to become a ‘phone-free dad’

Dr Alex George and therapist Anna Mathur on how to feel happier

41:50

Dr Alex George and therapist Anna Mathur on how to feel happier

More Well Enough

Travel Smart

The TravelSmart guide to perfect summer escapes

07:11

The TravelSmart guide to perfect summer escapes

London’s secret spots: A local’s guide to visiting the capital

08:32

London’s secret spots: A local’s guide to visiting the capital

Mauritius vs Maldives: Which is the paradise island for you?

05:45

Mauritius vs Maldives: Which is the paradise island for you?

How to escape the crowds on an Italy holiday

05:35

How to escape the crowds on an Italy holiday

More Travel Smart

World of Trouble

‘Putin’s whole life revolves around war – he’s manipulating Trump’

01:02:38

‘Putin’s whole life revolves around war – he’s manipulating Trump’

Former MI6 chief says Britain must get ready for war

02:08

Former MI6 chief says Britain must get ready for war

Washed Away: A city under siege and a country in climate chaos

08:31

Washed Away: A city under siege and a country in climate chaos

UK’s most senior army officer on Ukraine, Iraq and breaking the rules

59:36

UK’s most senior army officer on Ukraine, Iraq and breaking the rules

More World of Trouble

Drive Smart

The Updated 2025 Nissan Micra That No One Expected!

07:40

The Updated 2025 Nissan Micra That No One Expected!

How This Car Gets Amazing Aerodynamics With Hidden Features!

08:56

How This Car Gets Amazing Aerodynamics With Hidden Features!

Fiat Grande Panda EV Review – Nostalgia, Recharged

13:49

Fiat Grande Panda EV Review – Nostalgia, Recharged

What Makes the Genesis GV70 Electrified So Special?

10:57

What Makes the Genesis GV70 Electrified So Special?

More Drive Smart

Money Smart

Gabriel Nussbaum on five money habits worth starting in 2026

02:20

Sponsored

Gabriel Nussbaum on five money habits worth starting in 2026

Santa-approved budgeting: The guide to a smarter Christmas

02:49

Sponsored

Santa-approved budgeting: The guide to a smarter Christmas

Saving or investing? Ask your future self…

02:50

Sponsored

Saving or investing? Ask your future self…

Money Smart: ‘That Money Guy’ teaches you how to spend wisely

03:09

Sponsored

Money Smart: ‘That Money Guy’ teaches you how to spend wisely

More Money Smart

Music Box

Watch Sam Ryder’s brilliant pared-back performance of single ‘OH OK’

07:30

Watch Sam Ryder’s brilliant pared-back performance of single ‘OH OK’

Watch rising star Annie DiRusso’s electrifying pared-back session

07:54

Watch rising star Annie DiRusso’s electrifying pared-back session

Watch singer-songwriter Clara Mann’s stunning Music Box performance

05:23

Watch singer-songwriter Clara Mann’s stunning Music Box performance

Konyikeh performs gorgeous pared-back Music Box session

05:35

Konyikeh performs gorgeous pared-back Music Box session

Decomplicated

Why Is The UK So Bad At Eurovision?

08:03

Why Is The UK So Bad At Eurovision?

Can Meghan Sussex Ever Win?

11:54

Can Meghan Sussex Ever Win?

Trump tore apart global aid - here’s how the world will suffer

08:21

Trump tore apart global aid - here’s how the world will suffer

Is the party over? How Gen Z is killing big booze

06:38

Is the party over? How Gen Z is killing big booze

More Decomplicated

On The Ground

Mission Aborted: Trump’s War on Maternal Care

13:23

Mission Aborted: Trump’s War on Maternal Care

Death Sentence: The real cost of Trump’s aid cuts on HIV

17:05

Death Sentence: The real cost of Trump’s aid cuts on HIV

Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

03:51

Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

04:18

On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

More On The Ground

That Dress

How Melania and Donald Trump’s awkward kiss got everyone speculating

02:03

How Melania and Donald Trump’s awkward kiss got everyone speculating

The Brookside kiss that made a lesbian storyline mainstream

03:22

The Brookside kiss that made a lesbian storyline mainstream

The Spider-Man kiss was an ordeal for both actors but it was worth it

02:15

The Spider-Man kiss was an ordeal for both actors but it was worth it

The green dress Keira Knightley wore everyone wanted

02:22

The green dress Keira Knightley wore everyone wanted

More That Dress

Binge Watch

Sinners star Jack O’Connell on his secret Irish dancing past

10:44

Sinners star Jack O’Connell on his secret Irish dancing past

Penn Badgley is glad ‘You’ is over

03:44

Penn Badgley is glad ‘You’ is over

The kid from Jojo Rabbit is all grown up

07:42

The kid from Jojo Rabbit is all grown up

Gangs of London cast reveal behind-the-scenes secrets

09:22

Gangs of London cast reveal behind-the-scenes secrets

More Binge Watch

Behind The Headlines

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

10:42

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

06:27

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

How airlines greenwash the skies

07:23

How airlines greenwash the skies

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

06:35

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

More Behind The Headlines

News

I was watching an art show in a seaside town - then Madonna walked in

01:19

I was watching an art show in a seaside town - then Madonna walked in

Watch: Anthony Joshua makes vow to friends who died in car crash

02:01

Watch: Anthony Joshua makes vow to friends who died in car crash

Watch: Leo Ross’s teenage killer claims to be witness

01:36

Watch: Leo Ross’s teenage killer claims to be witness

Barry Keoghan debuts Ringo Starr haircut ahead of Beatles biopics

00:13

Barry Keoghan debuts Ringo Starr haircut ahead of Beatles biopics

Sport

Watch: Anthony Joshua makes vow to friends who died in car crash

02:01

Watch: Anthony Joshua makes vow to friends who died in car crash

Priest startled by Benfica goal as TV studio erupts in celebration

00:35

Priest startled by Benfica goal as TV studio erupts in celebration

Lineker urges Arsenal to sign £81m star after Man United disaster

01:29

Lineker urges Arsenal to sign £81m star after Man United disaster

Snowboarder Shaun White jumps over Shane Gillis in Central Park

00:12

Snowboarder Shaun White jumps over Shane Gillis in Central Park

Climate

Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

00:49

Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

00:33

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

Greece shuts down Acropolis as temperatures hit almost 40 degrees

01:00

Greece shuts down Acropolis as temperatures hit almost 40 degrees

Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

00:31

Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

Lifestyle

Rebecca Loos calls Brooklyn statement ‘validation’ of past claims

00:22

Rebecca Loos calls Brooklyn statement ‘validation’ of past claims

Watch: King and Queen walk red carpet at documentary premiere

00:51

Watch: King and Queen walk red carpet at documentary premiere

Prince William laments ‘loss of debating’ due to social media

00:18

Prince William laments ‘loss of debating’ due to social media

Calum Best says mother Angie found cancer ‘quite late’

01:38

Calum Best says mother Angie found cancer ‘quite late’

Will Bayley's Electric Road Trip

Paralympian Will Bayley puts his “Range Anxiety” to the test

03:29

Paralympian Will Bayley puts his “Range Anxiety” to the test

The feel-good perks of living the Electric Vehicle lifestyle

03:07

The feel-good perks of living the Electric Vehicle lifestyle

Paralympian Will Bayley checks the performance of electric vehicles

03:07

Paralympian Will Bayley checks the performance of electric vehicles

To EV or not to EV? Paralympian Will Bayley considers electric cars

03:24

To EV or not to EV? Paralympian Will Bayley considers electric cars

Saudi Cup

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

01:36

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

00:42

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

01:26

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

00:32

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

Galaxy The Ripple Effect

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

04:23

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

04:26

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

01:01

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

Simple ways to boost your money situation with Ellie Austin-Williams

01:07

Simple ways to boost your money situation with Ellie Austin-Williams

Big In America

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

15:55

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

16:33

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

16:06

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

15:01

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

More Big In America

Saudi Green Initiative

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

01:16

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

00:36

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

00:48

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

01:08

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

More Saudi Green Initiative