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Â鶹Éç Two today announces its partnership with World Book Night, the biggest ever book giveaway. The charity initiative invites 20,000 passionate book-lovers to give away up to one million books on the inaugural World Book Night on Saturday 5 March 2011.

Â鶹Éç Two will broadcast the event in March as part of a evening devoted to books and tonight's Culture Show (at 7pm) will report on today's announcement of the project, extending the invitation to become book-givers to Â鶹Éç audiences.

Following a nationwide call to the UK book trade for recommendations, of which hundreds of lists were received, an independent editorial committee of industry professionals and cultural commentators, including the Â鶹Éç's Creative Director Alan Yentob, were invited by World Book Night to refine the list of books that givers can choose from, to just 25 titles.

Mark Bell, Arts Commissioning Editor of the Â鶹Éç, says: "Reading and sharing a good book is a pleasure enjoyed by millions of people in this country so it is fitting that the Â鶹Éç, as part of its continued commitment to literature and reading, partners with World Book Night."

Alan Yentob, Creative Director, Â鶹Éç, and member of the World Book Night editorial committee, adds: "Â鶹Éç Two will host World Book Night from its inception on 2 December through to the event itself on 5 March.

"Whether as a giver, recipient or viewer, we hope that Â鶹Éç audiences will be inspired to get involved with this ground-breaking project."

Notes to Editors

The independent editorial committee comprises of a broad mix of 28 industry professionals: booksellers, librarians, authors and broadcasters.

The final 25 books selected offers a wide array of outstanding literature encompassing all types of fiction be it historical, literary, crime as well as poetry and memoir.

JB