Queen Camilla features in BBC documentary on the power of reading

The BBC documentary “The Book That Changed My Life” explores the transformative impact of literature on individuals. Produced as part of the United Kingdom’s National Year of Reading 2026 program, the film was created in partnership with the Open University and the Queen’s Reading Room.

Directed by BAFTA-nominated documentarian Toby Trackman, the program features Queen Camilla alongside diverse individuals, including a former prisoner, an HGV driver, and a cafe owner. These participants share personal accounts of how specific books influenced their life journeys or provided essential escape during difficult times. For example, former inmate Omar Mentesh describes how reading a Jack Higgins thriller during a prison sentence served as his introduction to literature.

The documentary is scheduled to air on BBC Two on Wednesday, October 14, and will be available for streaming on BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom.