Wiley acquires O’Connell’s “Unscript”

Wiley has acquired world rights to broadcaster Christian O’Connell’s personal development book Unscript.

Unscript strips away “the ghost scripts that keep us disconnected, through a mix of vibrant storytelling, authentic vulnerability and deep conversations,” said commissioning editor Jordon Lott.

O’Connell, a stand-up comedian, was the youngest DJ to be inducted into the UK Radio Hall of Fame and has won 25 radio awards. In Australia, his high-rating breakfast radio program is broadcast in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. He is the author of No One Listens to Your Dad’s Show (A&U, 2022).

O’Connell said, “After years of hosting conversations on radio, I noticed something: the moments that truly connected with people weren’t the polished ones – they were the raw, unrehearsed, vulnerable ones.

“Unscript explores why we’ve forgotten how to simply be with each other, and offers a path back to authentic human connection in an increasingly artificial world […] [The book] is about what happens when we dare to stop performing and start showing up as ourselves. Real connection doesn’t come from getting it right. It comes from being real.”

Lott added, “What’s truly special about Unscript is that it was born from the lessons learned over Christian’s 27 years in radio, connecting live on air with countless listeners across 2 continents. The lessons and frameworks in this book are the secret behind his own success, so for a legend like Christian to share this with the world is a true gift.”

Wiley plans to publish Unscript in July 2026.

Photo credit: Steve Ullathorne.

Category: Local news Rights and acquisitions