Danny Bate at Books & Bevs!

Where does the alphabet come from? Find out as we host Danny Bate at Books & Bevs to dicuss his bestselling debut Why Q Needs U! Where does the alphabet come from? Who do we have to thank for creating, ordering and handing down these super successful letters? And, what with all its silent letters and Magic Es, why does English spelling use the alphabet in such a quirky way? These are the mighty questions answered in 'Why Q Needs U', the bestselling new book hailed by Sir Stephen Fry as a “a wonderful achievement” and named by The Economist as one of its books of 2025. Author Dr Danny Bate combines linguistics, archeology, history and humour to guide readers through the millennia-long story of the alphabet, as well as English’s very specific take on the ancient technology. Danny Bate is a linguist and author. He took his first steps into the world of linguistics by studying for a BA at the University of York, and since earning a PhD in 2024, he has committed himself to public linguistics – sharing his field with the public via the media of podcasts, radio, videos, articles and his bestselling debut book. He lives in Prague, Czech Republic.