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Original poster

Richard Osman’s new book

61 replies

KnickerlessParsons · 25/08/2026 15:29

I was doing a small shop in our small and not very well equipped Sainsbury’s yesterday, minding my own business, when Richard Osman’s voice comes booming over the tannoy telling us about his new book and how we should all buy it, in store, right now.
Apart from the fact it was very intrusive on a quiet Monday afternoon, it was much louder than all the “can a grocery assistant please come to til 5” type announcements, and our Sainsbury’s doesn’t even sell books.
I really hope this isn’t some new marketing initiative by Sains - are we going to get announcement suggestions we try their courgettes, washing powder, bread….. whatever?
I’m not usually one to complain, but seriously considering a letter to HQ.

OP posts:
UserName001002 · 25/08/2026 17:19

Sex people

purplegrinch · 25/08/2026 17:07

It’s only unreasonable if it’s not the next Thursday Murder one!

Didimum · 25/08/2026 17:05

Sainsbury’s and the publisher will have agreed on the in store promo – it will be contracted. Series tend to have diminishing returns as the books go on, and since PRH operate on a blockbuster model, they will need to ensure it sells to meet that and to cover his enormous advance.

Promo is how bestsellers work.

SissySpacekAteMyHamster · 25/08/2026 17:00

Can't believe you would actually complain about a supermarket promoting stuff. I seem to remember years ago tannoy was used all the time to promote stuff.

Stick some noise cancelling headphones on in future.

TheTortiePuffinNeedsHerBreakfast · 25/08/2026 16:57

My Sainsburys does the richard Osman promos too, along with others as well like "3 for 2 on hobnobs in aisle 12" type thing. A shop is a commercial entity not an oasis of calm, I don't think you can really moan about them upselling stuff.

allgoodhere783 · 25/08/2026 16:55

Thursday Murder series is ok, bit overdramatic but light and entertaining. It doesn't make me inclined to read any of his others though. Even less if they're going to push it down our throats.

Wonderwall23 · 25/08/2026 16:54

Not the point of the thread but I absolutely loved The Thursday Murder Club (first book). I haven't enjoyed the others as much, but there was a bit in one of them that actually made me cry...a first for me.

I don't mind if I'm now looked down on by other Mumsnetters!

I don't think the tannoy thing is worth complaining about.

Sartre · 25/08/2026 16:53

BrezhnevsLuxuriantEyebrows · 25/08/2026 16:49

Charity shops are permanently hoaching with them. Those and various titles in the Fifty Shades of Smut series.

I really like Richard on TV; but I don't think I'll bother with his books, from everything I hear of them.

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Makes a change from the endless Lee Child and Danielle Steel books I guess.

BrezhnevsLuxuriantEyebrows · 25/08/2026 16:52

I'm currently on holiday where they only have a small Sainsbury's - and it's so annoying seeing all of the generous Nectar offers ping up for products I would gladly buy, but which they don't actually sell there!

BrezhnevsLuxuriantEyebrows · 25/08/2026 16:49

ExtraOnions · 25/08/2026 15:33

Richard Osmans new badly written book …should be in the yellow sticker bin soon

Charity shops are permanently hoaching with them. Those and various titles in the Fifty Shades of Smut series.

I really like Richard on TV; but I don't think I'll bother with his books, from everything I hear of them.

UncleTed · 25/08/2026 16:42

@KnickerlessParsons the tannoy thing would annoy me, too. My local supermarket plays music and I love it. I find myself singing along in the aisle, passing someone else pushing their trolley who is also singing along. This would be ruined if Osman piped up.
I actually quite like Richard Osman and find him interesting to listen to on The Rest is Entertainment podcast, but sadly I don’t like his books. (I tried, I really did. But one and a half was all I could manage).

AnneLovesGilbert · 25/08/2026 16:35

Anothernameretired · 25/08/2026 15:54

There are not enough books written about giraffes.

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Hard disagree. One of my DC is giraffe mad and we own more books about the lanky long necked buggers than should even exist.

Shedsqueek · 25/08/2026 16:31

Its probably as rubbish as his others too!

IsawwhatIsaw · 25/08/2026 16:22

I read the first one, it was ok, nothing more.
It’s sad really that these pretty mediocre books sell on the back of famous names when more talented writers are ignored.

PurplebudsWhitebuds · 25/08/2026 16:22

We've had these promotions over the tannoy system for quite a while in our local Sainsbury's. I remember when Osman brought out his second book they advertised that in a similar way. They had an advert over the tannoy system for a book about the Menopause for a while - possibly by Davina Mccoll.

The annoying advert that really upsets me is the one which is actually children's voices - sounding extremely annoying and officious. I don't even know what it's for. The first time i heard it i was actually in the toilets and it gave me such a fright when this advert came blaring over the tannoy system in there . I thought a whole load of children had come into the Ladies lavs.

Sartre · 25/08/2026 16:18

I’ve never read them and have zero desire to but I’d imagine with him selling so many copies he’s probably pretty popular. Doesn’t mean he’s good, but popular nevertheless. Guessing they’re easy to read.

TalonOfDuty · 25/08/2026 16:16

Hotafternoon · 25/08/2026 15:48

I was given one The Thursday Murder Club by a friend for Christmas couple of years ago.

I've never felt the need to read another one of his books. Awful.

You don't need to, they're all the same 😴

the80sweregreat · 25/08/2026 16:06

I agree that celebs get all the glory and the real writers are often overlooked.

AnonyMumAuDHD · 25/08/2026 16:02

I’ve not read any of his books yet as I am a bit sick of celebs getting contracts to produce often quite mediocre offerings, when many talented writers can’t even get into the slush pile.

But I may just be a little bit bitter! And a very jealous…

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 25/08/2026 15:58

KnickerlessParsons · 25/08/2026 15:45

To be fair, I quite enjoy is books. They are very light reading.
I’ve never heard Sainsburys doing promotional tannoys before and that’s what I’d complain about, not the book per se.

Supermarkets have been doing promotional tannoys for decades. I used to work in one, they have the same adverts on repeat through the day for say, a week or two, then they'd swap to promoting something else.

Anothernameretired · 25/08/2026 15:54

lalalagarden · 25/08/2026 15:53

Giraffes mostly

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There are not enough books written about giraffes.

lalalagarden · 25/08/2026 15:53

smallglassbottle · 25/08/2026 15:50

What are his books about?

Giraffes mostly

AbsintheMakesTheHeartGrowFonder · 25/08/2026 15:52

smallglassbottle · 25/08/2026 15:50

What are his books about?

The migratory habits of the monarch butterfly.

AbsintheMakesTheHeartGrowFonder · 25/08/2026 15:51

KnickerlessParsons · 25/08/2026 15:45

To be fair, I quite enjoy is books. They are very light reading.
I’ve never heard Sainsburys doing promotional tannoys before and that’s what I’d complain about, not the book per se.

Of course they do promotional announcements. Why wouldn’t they? It’s a shop, not a public service. It literally exists to sell stuff to you. Everything you see or hear from a supermarket is a promotional tool.

UnpopularOpinionsIWouldUsuallyKeepToMyself · 25/08/2026 15:51

Ah, yes, he’s omnipotent now, sorry. Sounds like the opposite of subliminal messaging though.