The programme has been announced today for the 16th Chiswick Book Festival in September with tickets going on sale this afternoon (30 June).
It features an array of top authors discussing a wide range of topics, as well as walks, films, performances and workshops as can be seen from the newly-published brochure for the event.
Tickets are on sale here.
Speakers announced today include broadcaster James O’Brien (How They Broke Britain); former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman (Billy in the Wars) with award-winning film producer and director Tony Palmer; novelist Daisy Goodwin (Diva), comedian and historian Al Murray (Arnhem, Black Tuesday), royal historian Robert Hardman (King Charles III), celebrity chefs John Torode & Lisa Faulkner (John and Lisa’s Kitchen), comedian Helen Lederer (Not That I’m Bitter), Dharshini David (Environomics), father and daughter writers Michael & Rebecca Frayn (Among Others and Lost in Ibiza); Guardian columnists Adrian Chiles (The Curious Columns of Adrian Chiles) and Polly Toynbee (An Uneasy Inheritance); classical singer Russell Watson (Encore), and the Horrible Histories creator Terry Deary on his first book for adults, A History of Britain in Ten Enemies. Clare Balding will speak at Chiswick House about her latest book Isle of Dogs.
Jo James, the Festival’s programme director, said: “From big names with memoirs, to urgent discussions of the Middle East and equality in law for women, from gardening and cookery to sport and politics, from fantasy fiction to classic myths, and from British history to military alliances, the authors this year offer inspiration, insight and escapism in equal measure. And the children’s programme is one of the best we’ve done. I’m delighted with the lineup this year, and really do think we’ve got something for everyone.”
Heading this year’s children’s programme are Festival favourites Rob Biddulph, award-winning author and illustrator (Peanut Jones, Draw With Rob), and Joshua Seigal (Who Let the Words Out?), who will present the prizes for our 14th Young Poets Competition, which attracted more than 150 entries.
The Chiswick Book Festival is a non-profit-making community event that raises money for charities: St Michael & All Angels Church, which hosts the Festival, and three reading charities – Read for Good, Koestler Arts and Read Easy Ealing. It takes place in venues around Chiswick including St Michael & All Angels Church & Parish Hall, Chiswick House & Gardens, ArtsEd, Chiswick Library, The Chiswick Cinema, The Theatre at the Tabard, Hogarth’s House, the George IV Boston Room, Chiswick Catholic Centre and St Nicholas Church.
This year’s Festival speakers include:
Memoirs/biography: Polly Toynbee, Helen Lederer, Russell Watson, Michael Frayn, Jessica Hepburn, Clare Mulley, Alan Edwards
History: Robert Hardman, Ben Macintyre, Al Murray, Henry Hemming, Giles Milton, Jennifer Saint, Daisy Dunn, Peter Apps, Terry Deary, Clare Mulley, JC Niala, Ed Conway, Tabitha Stanmore, Taylor Downing, Christine Gregg, Adam Smyth
Fiction: Rebecca Frayn, Scarlett Thomas, Daisy Goodwin, Georgia Summer, Alwyn Hamilton, Laura Sebastian, Andrew Finkel, Maureen Freely, Alex Gerlis, Merle Nygate, Emma Curtis, Susie Lynes, Emily Freud, Jessica Moor, Jacqueline Crooks, Diana Evans, Krystle Zara Appiah
Politics, law, crime, foreign and current affairs: James O’Brien, Asad Qureshi, Harriet Wistrich, Adrian Chiles, Peter Apps, Cara Hunter, DI Andy Thompson, Joey Giddings, Henry Hemming, Subhadra Das, Michael Peel, Simon Hudson, Peter Oborne, Eugene Rogan, Nawal Al-Maghafi
Arts, literature, film, music: Bill Wyman, Tony Palmer, Paulus The Cabaret Geek, Michael Roulston (Fascinating Aïda), The Music of Victoria Wood, Emily D’Souza, Hana Owens, Fee Mak, Jojo Silva, Caroline Raphael, Amanda Brookfield, Francesca Best, Rupert Wallis, Alan Edwards, Charles Cumming (Plane), Owen O’Neill, Michael Billington, The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Adam Smyth, David Moore, Matilda the Musical.
Food, drink, gardening, pets, sport: John Torode, Lisa Faulkner, Carolyn Dunster, Rosie Fyles, Clare Balding, Sarah Rigby, JC Niala, Matt Tiller, Eleanor Ford, Jo Pratt, Lawrence Booth, Nick Hoult
Business and technology: Nigel Toon, Madhumita Murgia, Rory Cellan-Jones, Dharshini David
Faith, science, travel: Michael Taylor, Fr Kevin Morris, Ed Conway, Tabitha Stanmore, Ash Bhardwaj, Phoebe Smith
Children’s events: Joshua Seigal, Matilda the Musical, Kev F Sutherland, Bridget Marzo, Jim Cockin, Martha Vine, Mariesa Dulak, Martina Lima Barbata, Esther Rawlinson, Robert Tregonning, Anna Christina, Zoe Antoniades, Zanib Mian, Ken Wilson-Max, Rob Biddulph, Joseph Elliot
Walks, workshops and publishing sessions: Guy Fairbank, Alan Fortune, Carolyn Dunster, Rosie Fyles, Rachel Schofield, Amanda Brookfield, Faye Brann, Scarlett Thomas, Caroline Raphael, Amanda Brookfield, Francesca Best, Rupert Wallis, Jim Cockin, Martha Vine.