A pre-Christmas queue in Thirsk for a Strictly finalist turned author
On December 23, a line formed outside a small independent bookshop in Thirsk—not for last-minute gifts, but for a face-to-face moment with Tasha Ghouri. The Strictly Come Dancing finalist was back in the North Yorkshire market town to sign copies of her new book, "Hits Different," turning a quiet shopping street into a miniature fan zone just two days before Christmas.
Her visit was simple in format and big in draw: meet readers, chat, and sign books. It worked. Supporters of the BBC dance competition came with programmes and camera phones; readers arrived with fresh copies; some brought extra for friends. The timing helped too. With families already out for festive errands, the stop-in became an easy seasonal detour and a lift for a local retailer in the crunch week before the holidays.
"Hits Different" marks a new chapter for Ghouri as she moves from weekend TV fixture to first-time author. The book tour is about visibility, sure, but it also shows a familiar shift: popular TV figures are increasingly becoming multi-hyphenates—presenters who write, performers who publish. For fans, a signing offers something social media can’t deliver: a minute of real conversation and a name written in ink.
The Thirsk event doubled as a nod to the indie trade. Organizers positioned the visit as part of a broader push to support independent bookshops ahead of Independent Bookshop Week 2025. These in-person moments matter to small stores. A signing pulls people off the high street and into the stacks, where browsers often leave with more than the one title they came for. That footfall, especially during the holidays, is a practical boost.
The crowd reflected the crossover pull of Strictly and publishing. There were regular viewers of the BBC show, local families making a stop between shops, and plenty of readers who were curious about the book itself. Staff kept the flow moving while giving enough time for brief conversations. It was warm, organized, and unmistakably local.
Why Thirsk? The answer is partly about connection. Returning to a smaller town rather than sticking to big-city venues gives an event a different tone. It feels direct, less stage-managed. In a place like Thirsk, where word of mouth carries, a Saturday afternoon signing can echo for weeks, drawing new readers who heard about it after the fact.
Ghouri’s Strictly profile did the heavy lifting on awareness. The BBC dance competition remains one of the most-watched shows in the UK, and a finalist slot delivers national recognition in a hurry. Turning that TV momentum into a book audience isn’t guaranteed, though. That’s why hands-on promotional stops—especially in communities that back independent retailers—are part of the playbook.
What’s in the book? The team kept the focus on the title rather than a chapter-by-chapter tease, but the message was clear: this is a personal project designed to stand on its own, not just an add-on to a TV career. Readers who came out seemed to understand that distinction. Many bought on the day, some brought copies already purchased earlier in the week, and a fair few were making the book a gift.
The calendar placement mattered. With December 23 falling on a busy shopping weekend, the event offered a rare blend of festive buzz and author access. For the bookshop, that’s more than atmosphere—it’s measurable: more people through the door, more conversations with staff, more interest in other titles featured on tables nearby.
- Date: Saturday, December 23
- Location: Independent bookshop, Thirsk (North Yorkshire)
- Feature: Signing and meet-and-greet for "Hits Different"
- Context: Part of a wider promotional push and a show of support for indie retailers ahead of Independent Bookshop Week 2025
The visit also tapped into something the publishing world has rediscovered since in-store events returned in force: small-scale gatherings can outperform glossy launches in terms of goodwill. A short line, a few words, a signed title—they stick. For independents, that stickiness often means new regulars.
Expect more appearances as the book beds in with readers. For now, Thirsk got the pre-Christmas chapter: a Strictly finalist, a stack of hardbacks, and a local shop buzzing as the lights went on across the high street.
Why it matters for independent bookshops
Indie stores run lean. They don’t have the marketing budgets of big chains, but they do have community reach. Author visits like this one turn that strength into sales on the day and trust in the long run. People remember the shop that hosted the signing. They come back for recommendations, children’s story time, or the next event. That’s the cycle Independent Bookshop Week aims to celebrate—and the reason a December signing, even before the 2025 edition rolls around, makes sense.
For readers, the pay-off is simple: access. For retailers, it’s momentum. And for a first-time author with a TV audience, it’s a chance to meet real readers, hear what lands, and carry that energy into the next stop.
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