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Comedian Alexandra Haddow has shared the book that gives her hope in tough times, as this week’s guest on Like This Love This, The Independent’s podcast.

Each week, special guests tell Lucie McInerney about the books, movies, TV shows and podcasts they can’t stop raving about and why they love them so much .

Writer and comedian Haddow, who sold out her debut show Not My Finest Hour at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023 and her follow-up show Third Party the following year, shared her picks this week.

For her book of choice, Haddow recommended Skipshock by Caroline O’Donoghue for its demonstration and warning about creeping fascism. However, Haddow, who says “fascism is here” is left hopeful by the book.

“It’s about a great number of people who are exiled and stereotyped,” she said. “It was a brilliant commentary on real life.

“I don’t want to give it away but there’s a symbol of hope in the book. In real life, it feels like we don’t have that at the moment. Reading this was like fantasy in a quite literal sense. Like, ‘If I’ve got that magic thing, then maybe we’re going to be alright.’ It is hopeful, not naively so.”

Haddow also shared her thoughts on the depiction of women in TV and film and how fantasy fiction should not be reserved for boys.

Baddie noted that her choices of female-focused titles have relationships at their centre.

The comedian has opened for comedy titans such as Frankie Boyle, Tommy Tiernan and Bill Bailey as well as being a contributor to Have I Got News For You, The News Quiz on BBC Radio 4 and co-hosting the pop culture hit podcast, Sentimental Garbage.