You don't need us to tell you there's a general election coming.

So what does it mean for you?

Every day on newscast we dissect the big talking points, the ones that you want to know more about.

With our book of contacts, we talk directly to the people you want to hear from.

And with help from some of the best BBC journalists,

we'll untangle the stories that matter to you.

Join me, Laura Kunsberg, Adam Fleming, Chris Mason,

and Patty O'Connell for our daily podcasts.

Newscast, listen on BBC Sounds. This is the BBC.

Hello, you've downloaded a podcast of BBC Radio 4's The Food Program.

Welcome to our world from cooking to culture, politics to pleasure.

We hope you enjoy it.

As the roller coaster ride otherwise known as 2017 hurtles toward its close

and the festive season gets more frenetic, it's time for us to gather calmly of course

to celebrate the food and drink books of the year and in the process

help you out with your Christmas gifts and maybe a treat or two for yourself because

against a backdrop of conflict, hardship and that strange new hate for anyone with different views from yours,

there's been a rich outpouring of food books this year that focus on generosity and understanding that give us pictures of the world

in all its shades, not just black and white.

And in a genre where originality can seem almost impossible, there has been originality from old and young.

But first, over to you.

We recently ask you to tell us about your books of the year, and cheeringly, a lot of you took a little time and shared your enthusiasm via your smartphones

...