The Booker Prize shortlist was announced last night but I couldn't watch the live stream on YouTube as I was otherwise occupied... interviewing the brilliant director M J Delaney in front of an audience in a cosy room in Soho House.

In addition to a series of fascinating insights about her life making TVCs, films and television, M J spoke passionately about the continuing paucity of opportunity for women directors, noting that, by many measures, the situation remains unchanged since she began directing a decade-and-a-half ago. Despite this, she remains optimistic, and spoke enthusiastically about how a welcome shift in the complexion of crews might contribute to a shift in the ratio in the future. Here's hoping.

M J will be pleased, as I am, that the Booker judges saw fit to reflect the reality of this year's entrants by deciding on a short list which has five books authored by women, and only one by a man. Having read twelve of the thirteen long-listed books (annoyingly, 'Playground' by Richard Powers is not yet available as it hasn't been published), I suspect the judges must have given serious consideration to an entirely female shortlist, as this would not have been unjust.

My favourite is 'The Safekeep'. a debut novel by Yael van der Wouden, which sits among a quartet of powerful contenders which also includes 'Creation Lake' by Rachel Kushner; 'Stone Yard Devotional' by Charlotte Wood; and 'Held' by Anne Michael. (For my money, 'Orbital' by Samantha Harvey and 'James' by Percival Everett, while fine books, are also rans.)

For those who find fault with an 80:20 ratio in favour of women on the Booker shortlist, I would point out that if female directors were to helm as many as 20% of Super Bowl spots in 2025, it would be nothing short of revolutionary.