Deadline set in the world of live TV- Steph McGovern

Submitted: 22nd June 2025

Deadline- Steph McGovern

Steph McGovern has been on the TV for ages now – she’s a stalwart of the news and her own show Steph’s Packed Lunch which ran until last year. Since then, well she’s still very much on the telly but she’s also written a gripping novel!

A novel about what it would be like to be on a live broadcast only for someone to whisper in your ear that your child has been kidnapped.

Map of locations in Deadline

Deadline steph mcgovern

BOARDING PASS INFORMATION

Destination : The world Steph McGovern

Genre: thriller, crime

Food and drink to accompany: anything you can grab from the on location vans

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A novel to transport you to the world of live TV

Map of locations in Deadline

If there’s anyone who is going to write a gripping crime novel set in the world of live TV, it’s Steph McGovern. A popular TV presenter and journalist, she’s also a lovely lady and knowing her, I was a bit nervous to read her book if I’m honest. But – that was worry for nothing as it’s grand, as they say here up North.

It’s much more than the hijack blurb would have you believe though – the publisher is marketing the book on this but its only a small part of the story. That’s no bad thing either as the rest is a delve into what goes on behind the scenes of TV news. There are on-location worries, political spats on the show and in the production room. But there’s also the good side of the cameraman and the crew’s loyalty, life on the road etc. All very insightful and told with wit and charm personified by Steph herself.

Map of locations in Deadline

I could hear her accent as I read Rose and smiled at the mention of Greggs and the service station stop offs * very Northern* The banter that goes on in a newsroom is funny with the nicknames and the jokes. Only Steph could have written it with such charm and such a down to earth edge.

Rose at one point has an interview with a very high profile figure in a top secret and secure location. The tension and nervousness as she gets ready to give a fiscal forecast and state of the nation was palpable. There are more threads to this story that it cares to advertise and that for me was the real gem here – getting dirty with all the political and tv shenanigans as well as the hijack thread.

So, grab this, turn off the TV (ironically) and step inside the head of a live broadcast journalist. Fascinating stuff!