Cheltenham Literature Festival 2023

Bringing Joy. Sparking Curiosity. Connecting Communities. Inspiring Change.

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I am delighted to welcome you to The Times and Sunday Times

Literature Festival 2023, the 74th to be held in this lovely spa town.

A wonderfully rich and diverse collection of hundreds of events lies between these covers, and in October our buzzing, beautiful site will be full of excited book lovers of all ages – we can’t wait.

As we think, read, talk and laugh together over 10 extraordinary Autumn days, we celebrate the power of words to connect communities and inspire change. Drop into a free VOICEBOX event, explore The Wild Wood, browse the gorgeous bookshops or meet your favourite author – you can be assured of the warmest of welcomes.

Come and join us.

Nicola Tuxworth Head of Programming The Times and

Cheltenham

Sunday Times

Literature Festival

Look out for these icons throughout the brochure

Open captioned events

Programmers’ Picks

Workshop events

Thank you to our Partners and Supporters

Title Partner

We are delighted to sponsor Cheltenham Literature Festival. We work collaboratively with the Festival team, curating a wonderful programme of events featuring the latest literary talent and many of our award-winning journalists. The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

Principal Partners

We are proud to be Partners of this world-renowned literary festival, and to present the annual Cheltenham Literature Festival at Sea bringing you the written word in all its wonderful variety. Cunard

Major Partners

Woodland Trust is proud to partner with Cheltenham Festivals, who share our belief in creating a better future, in a world where woods and trees thrive for people and wildlife.

Woodland Trust

Festival Partners

We’re proud to Partner with Cheltenham Festivals, who help provide our collective communities with interesting and engaging learning opportunities.

University of Gloucestershire

Trust, Foundations and Individuals

Thank you to all of our supporters who have chosen to remain anonymous

Global Partners

We look forward to introducing our Booker Prize-shortlisted books to Festival-goers as part of our mutual ambition with Cheltenham Festivals to share great fiction. Booker

Foundation

With its unbeatable atmosphere and dedication to international writers, the Festival has become a key destination for Dutch and Flemish authors. The Festival is a valuable Partner for the New Dutch Writing and Flip Through Flanders projects.

Martin Colthorpe, Director, Modern Culture

In-Kind Partners

Working with Cheltenham Festivals over the past 20 years has allowed us to be part of a vibrant celebration of culture, creativity and community.

Willans LLP Solicitors

Media Partners

We’re delighted to be working with Cheltenham Festivals — sharing goals to educate, entertain and surprise, it’s a partnership made in heaven! Cotswold

Life

Jennifer Hayward and Richard Waite

Key events

Every book you pick up is a portal to a world beyond your own. Imagine the possibilities when 900+ of the world’s greatest writers, thinkers and creatives behind those books gather in Cheltenham for 10 packed days of conversation, debate and celebration.

World-class novelists, incisive global thinkers, bright new voices, bold explorers and conversation-starting creators await you this October.

Join us as writers from close to home come together with voices from Japan, Norway, Taiwan, Vietnam, India, Ghana, Spain, USA, New Zealand, Iceland and beyond. We are proud to continue our collaboration with Ukraine and hear from its most celebrated authors and young minds.

You will detect a global flavour across a range of events spanning art, fiction, current affairs, classic literature, psychology, travel, science and food, and there is plenty for young explorers too.

As the world’s first literature festival (est. 1949), we have been bringing writers and readers together for more than seven decades and have been hard at work to make this year one of the best, and most inspiring yet.

All you need to do is pack your curiosity and join us on Montpellier Gardens. See you there!

Programmers’ Picks

Change Makers

Image: Alex Cameron

Guest Curators

Our Guest Curators are a unique and treasured part of the Festival team each year – bringing fascinating insights, new perspectives and inspiring energy to the programme.

Dr Alex George

Dr Alex George is a TV doctor, bestselling author, and Youth Mental Health Ambassador to the government. Alex has become a well-known and respected figure amongst healthcare professionals in the UK, from his years as an A&E doctor, bringing the nation accessible and reassuring advice directly from the frontline throughout the pandemic.

@dralexgeorge

Peter Frankopan

Peter Frankopan is Professor of Global History at University of Oxford and Senior Research Fellow at Worcester College, Oxford. His 2015 bestseller the Silk Roads: A New Global History was named one of the ‘Books of the Decade’ 2010–2020 by The Sunday Times. The Earth Transformed is his landmark examination of the way humans have interacted with the natural world.

@peterfrankopan

I am delighted to be returning to the Festival for my second stint as Guest Curator. I will be talking about my new history, The Earth Transformed, introducing the remarkable Nandini Das and Keyu Jin to the Cheltenham audience, interviewing Simon Schama on pandemics, and gathering a panel of experts to predict the future.

I’m incredibly excited to be coming back to the Festival for the third year in a row and this time as a Guest Curator. I’ll be discussing my new book The Mind Manual, as well as speaking with some very exciting guests about the importance of mental health and what we can do to champion it.

Anne-Marie Imafidon

Anne-Marie Imafidon became the youngest ever female to achieve a computing A-Level aged 11. Since then, she’s gone on to become one of the most influential women in tech. Anne-Marie is a computer scientist, entrepreneur and current President of the British Science Association.

@notyouraverageAMI

I’m delighted to be able to curate a set of Cheltenham events having spent so much time at Cheltenham Festivals. These are voices we need to hear, understand and evolve our understanding of the world with – bridging design, creativity in tech and reimagining the future.

Ann Morgan

Our Literary Explorer in Residence, Ann Morgan is an author based in Folkestone. In 2012, she challenged herself to read a book from every country, recording her quest at ayearofreadingtheworld.com and in the non-fiction book Reading the World. Her debut novel, Beside Myself, has been translated into eight languages and her latest novel is Crossing Over

@ayearofreadingtheworld

Caleb Azumah Nelson

British-Ghanaian writer and photographer Caleb Azumah Nelson’s first novel, Open Water, won the Costa First Novel Award and Debut of the Year at the British Book Awards, and was a number one Times bestseller. His second novel, Small Worlds, was published in May 2023.

@caleb_anelson

I’m excited to be speaking and curating at The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival this year. It’s given me space to explore and showcase not only my other disciplines but those I love and admire working within them.

I’m delighted to be returning to Cheltenham for more literary explorations. What better place could there be for playing with ideas of how stories travel and connect us, and testing what such exchanges can teach us about our selves and our world? Bring it on!

Free Activities for Families

As well as weekends packed full of ticketed events for children, there’s plenty of free activities to discover on site.

THEWOODWILD

Walk-about performances

Woodland Wisps

Step into an enchanted world of wonder, as our storytelling wisps share tales of potions, pixies and magical powers.

Secret Agents

Psst! You there! A top secret mission is unfolding at this year’s Festival and our storytelling agents may require your assistance.

Say hello to Cat in the Hat, Mog the Forgetful Cat and The Gruffalo

Arts and Crafts

Come along and create your own tip-top Festival hat, bird mask, wishing wand or paper windmill to take away.

Story Shack

Mystery Trails

Moomin Mail Trail

Snufkin has left Moomintroll a puzzle trail. Pick up your quiz sheet and solve the puzzles.

The Twitchers

Mystery Trail

Find the clues and solve the mystery! Pick up a trail sheet and follow the posters to work out whodunnit.

Waterstones Children’s Bookshop

Covered Picnic Tent

The Wild Wood Info Point

Discover the full ticketed Family and Young Adult Programme from

page 72

Storytellers

Meet the author for short story sessions in the Waterstones Children’s Bookshop.

Roll up to Story Shack for stories galore from around the world about animals, faraway places and creatures large and small.

Book Quiz

Bring your book brains along for our booktastic book quiz.

Book Swap

Bring your old favourites along and find some new ones.

Free to See

A Very Short Introduction to…

Join experts in The Huddle throughout the day for bite-size introductions to mind-expanding subjects — big topics, short talks.

Join us in the Huddle

Whether you’re after stimulating talks during the day or you fancy great entertainment and music in the evening, visit The Huddle in our Feast Café for a host of free events celebrating writing from close to home and around the globe.

Help us to keep at least 25% of our activities free

From as little as £15 per year you can become a Cheltenham Festivals Member and support our vision for a world in which everyone can explore and create culture

To find out more scan the QR code or visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/members

The Times Crossword

Settle in as The Times Crossword Editor Richard Rogan takes you through the mysteries of the day’s crossword puzzles with a helping hand or a tantalising hint.

Grab a coffee and check out

Clockwise’s contemporary shared workspace at the Festival. Whether you’re looking to connect with your local community or enjoy a relaxed environment, there’s something for everyone.

Images: Still Moving Media

...around town

Lit Crawl

Join us for a fast-paced evening of pop-up events and quirky happenings.

Saturday 7 October, 6pm – late Venues around Cheltenham

FREE (no tickets required)

Lit Crawl is back to take over the streets of Cheltenham with a riotous evening of the written and spoken word – all completely free thanks to sponsorship from Cheltenham BID

Created by Lit Quake Foundation in San Francisco in 2004, Lit Crawl is now in Boston, Brooklyn, Portland, Chicago, New Zealand and beyond.

Lit Crawl is also part of Cheltenham Festivals’ Spotlight talent development programme, featuring a diverse programme of events showcasing up-and-coming authors, performers, poets and comedians in exciting formats and spaces. Drop in for one session or crawl your way through the whole evening of events.

This is literature done differently.

Look out for the full Lit Crawl line-up from mid-September online at cheltenhamfestivals.com/around-town, in print, and on the Cheltenham Festivals app.

in association with Cheltenham BID

VOICEBOX is back, sharing the best and brightest young talent in a vibrant series of free events.

Be part of the conversation as we create change from the ground up and amplify the issues you care about.

With previous speakers including Tom Daley, Francis Bourgeois, Tiwalola Ogunlesi, Dominique Palmer and Alex George, we’re sharing bold content from young people in our community and beyond.

Hear short talks, chats and debates about today’s hottest

topics, delight in pop-up performances from the biggest names and rising stars. Get creative with a drop-in workshop and experience comedy, music and spoken word.

VOICEBOX is home to unmissable experiences and one-off moments.

Drop in to VOICEBOX throughout the Festival.

FREE, NO TICKET REQUIRED.

RECOMMENDS

Our top picks from the ticketed programme...

Let’s Talk 36

About Sex

Liv Little and 70

Yomi Adegoke

Section 28, 71 Pride and Protest

Looks, Lies 84 and Love

Spotlight

Spotlight is Cheltenham Festivals’ year-round talent development programme. It offers a wide range of opportunities for all ages to engage with literature and provides an invaluable platform for up-and-coming talent, supporting writers and performers throughout their career.

You can also see up-and-coming talent throughout the programme in…

Write Now

Watch this space as the creative writing project for talented young writers aged 16-19 in Gloucestershire is set to return next year. Students are supported through mentoring, workshops and networking opportunities.

Ones to Watch

From up-and-coming thriller writers (see page 47) to Guest Curator Peter Frankopan’s top non-fiction picks (see page 20), hear from rising stars of a new generation of writers.

Proof Parties

Introducing upcoming novelists before they are published, with Cheltenham audiences being among the first to take away their novels in proof form (see pages 28, 38, 48).

Debuts and Cocktails

Our pick of the year’s best first novels, showcased as part of our big opening night (see page 23). Alternatively, join our book chat with YA novelists in our Debuts and Mocktails event (see page 85).

Write Now participant

Taking part in Write Now increased my confidence and made me love my own writing.

The talent development work we do is made possible by the funds raised from tickets and donations, as well as the support of our Members, Patrons, Partners, and other supporters. Thank you .

Food and Drink

Whether you fancy a quick bite from our street food traders, want to tuck into a three-course meal in one of our delectable food events or enjoy a picnic with your family, we’ve got you covered.

Feast Café and Festival Bar

At the heart of the Festival, enjoy a selection of hot and cold food, pastries, cakes and more.

Tucked away inside an Art Deco former picture house, this iconic venue is home to some of our most unique events. From culinary adventures around the world to grand nights out with some of Britain’s best chefs.

Head to the Cotswolds Distillery bar to enjoy a delicious cloudy G&T or a refreshing wildflower spritz. As the sun goes down, why not enjoy a signature moment with a Cotswolds single malt whisky serve – perfect as a warming dram or a sundowner whisky cocktail.

By purchasing food and drink on site, you’re supporting Cheltenham Festivals as a charity

Proud to support The Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival

Situated at the heart of the Festival Village and with the very best selection of new books alongside classics and bestsellers, our Waterstones Bookshops are curated especially for this year’s Festival and the visiting writers. Browse the bookshelves between your Festival events, meet your favourite authors and celebrities and get your books signed.

Don’t forget to stop by the Children’s Bookshop where you can browse the latest releases and firm family favourites. If you’re not sure what to try next, ask the booksellers for their top recommendations.

You can also find us in Cheltenham Town Hall’s Drawing Room where you can browse a selection of Festival titles and have your books signed after events in the Town Hall.

20% of the proceeds from all books purchased onsite are donated back to Cheltenham Festivals, supporting our charitable work. You can also purchase books through our online Waterstones Bookshop.

Times Radio – the intelligent radio station from The Times – will be broadcasting live in Waterstones throughout the Festival. Come and say hello or listen on DAB radio, online, on your smart speaker or via the Times Radio app.

1–3pm LDF05

Lunch with Sabrina Ghayour

The Daffodil

£42

Ticket includes a two-course lunch and a glass of wine.

12–1pm LH10

Rethinking

Frankopan

the World with Peter

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£11

Festival Guest Curator Peter Frankopan introduces his pick of new writing that reframes our understanding of the world. In Courting India, Nandini Das offers a radical challenge to the narrative of Britain’s early empire. In The New China Playbook, world-renowned economist Keyu Jin offers an insider’s perspective of the people, culture and history of China to explain its economic success story.

British-Iranian chef Sabrina Ghayour’s debut, Persiana, was a cookbook phenomenon, with her simple yet flavour-filled dishes from across the Mediterranean becoming on-trend dinner party staples. She talks about recreating and reinventing the flavours of her ancestry: Persian with influences from the Turkish, Arab, Armenian and Afghani cultures and cuisines celebrated by her family.

1.45–2.45pm LE63

The

Year in Books

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£11 £14

The year has been an interesting one in the world of books and publishing. We’ve seen the emergence of new genres like cli-fi and bestselling authors kept off the top spot by books about air fryers. Join our panel of experts as they tell us their top picks of the year and reveal some of the quirkier facts and stats.

1.45–2.45pm LC14

The Election Generals

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£12 £15

A long-standing Festival favourite, join Broadcasting House presenter Paddy O’Connell, former BBC Political Editor John Sergeant and new recruit Nicky Morgan as they look at the year in politics and draw on their long experience to debate the twists and turns ahead.

Sponsored by Oldham Foundation

With thanks to our event sponsor

Image: Charles Moriarty

2–3pm LA17

Now You See Me: 100 Years of Black Design

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£11

Black designers have been working in every major industry for decades without the spotlight. But that’s about to change. Delving into everything from fashion and architecture to graphic design, Charlene Prempeh brings Black designers and pioneers from the 20th and 21st century into focus.

Ukraine’s

New European

2–3pm LR13

Andrey Kurkov

The Hive £11

Author Andrey Kurkov (Death and the Penguin, Grey Bees) was one of the most incisive and illuminating Ukrainian voices throughout Russia’s invasion. He joins Rosie Goldsmith to discuss his remarkable writing career, his role representing Ukraine on the world stage and his new novel Jimi Hendrix Live in Lviv

3.45–4.45pm LR62

Kate Mosse and Emma Donoghue:

Defiant Women

4–5pm LT12

From Africa to the Arctic Circle

Town Hall, Pillar Room £11

Discovering a book about Greenland in 1950s Togo sparked Tété-Michel Kpomassie’s fascination with life in the Arctic. A determined 10-year journey from his small village to live among the Inuit people followed, immortalised in the classic travelogue An African in Greenland. Now 82, and making one final trip out of Greenland, he reflects on his remarkable life with Ann Morgan

2–3pm LL07

Finding Home

The Garden Theatre

£11

Where is home? Our individual experiences of home have complex and emotional roots thanks to our own experiences, ideals and memories. Join Kate Humble and Marchelle Farrell as they reflect on their journeys to connect with the land and ultimately find a place to call home. Chaired by Inua Ellams

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£11 £14

From swashbuckling female pirates to the illicit love between Anne ‘Gentleman Jack’ Lister and Eliza Raine, leading historical fiction writers Kate Mosse (Languedoc Trilogy, Joubert Family Chronicles) and Emma Donoghue (Room, The Pull of the Stars, The Wonder) explore what happens when women refuse their prescribed role in a man’s world. They discuss bringing boundary-pushing women of history to life with Sarah Shaffi

Sponsored by Institut Français

With thanks to our event sponsor

What happens when women refuse their prescribed role in a man’s world?

greatest living novelist

Kate Mosse and Emma Donoghue: Defiant Women

Image: Richard Grassie

4–5pm

Rural Idyll: Myth and Reality

The Garden Theatre

£11

Natasha Carthew grew up in rural poverty battling isolation and limited opportunities. Priced out of the housing market, Catrina Davies has lived in a tiny shed for over a decade. With Raynor Winn, they discuss the impact of living without the means or support to build a future, and the solace they have found in the beauty of the Cornish landscape.

4–5pm LL14

The Write Place?

The Hive £11

Where’s the best place for your writing? With new forms of media changing the trajectory of publishing, it can be difficult to know the best way to reach your audience. Speaking with chair Abigail Bergstrom, Substack’s Farrah Storr, and Joshi Hermann share how to create a community around your work and thrive as a writer.

6–7pm

LH15

Between Two Islands

The Hive

£13

‘I’m black, so you don’t have to be,’ Colin Grant’s uncle Castus would tell him. Through portraits of his Windrush generation family, Colin explores the British-Caribbean experience. Jacqueline Crook ’s acclaimed debut, Fire Rush, tells a story of Black womanhood rooted in the dub reggae scene of the eighties. They discuss patois, dancehall, generational change and Britain’s multilayered history.

5.45–6.45pm LR08

Sebastian Barry

The Garden Theatre £11

‘Nobody pushes the language and the heart together like Sebastian Barry does’ (Ali Smith). Returning to Cheltenham after more than 10 years, one of Ireland’s foremost novelists and twice Costa Prize-winner talks to Clare Clark about his illustrious career and new novel Old God’s Time, in which a policeman’s peaceful retirement is shattered when dark details of an old case emerge.

6.15–7.15pm LE57

Shirley Ballas

Live on Air with Cathy Newman

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£12 £15

Strictly superstar and Queen of Latin Ballroom Shirley Ballas chats to host Cathy Newman in a live broadcast for her Times Radio show, The Ladder. Shirley shares her new novel Murder on the Dance Floor and talks about life in general and all things Strictly

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

With thanks to our event sponsor

Image: Blake Ezra

Image: Hannah Cunningham

6.30–7.30pm LX05

Chris Packham

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£13

£16

Embark on an epic journey across the place we call home. Leading naturalist and award-winning conservationist Chris Packham and scientist Andrew Cohen share the 4 billion-year biography of planet Earth, revealing extraordinary moments from its history, from the first seconds of existence to the arrival of its incredible inhabitants.

Sponsored by Visitor+

7–8pm LR06

Debuts and Cocktails

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£16

Ticket includes a cocktail on arrival. Many of today’s biggest names in literature appeared at Cheltenham with their very first books. Now it’s time to meet the next generation. The Sunday Times Deputy Literary Editor Laura Hackett talks to three hand-picked debut novelists we think are ones to watch: Cecile Pin Wandering Souls, Maud Ventura My Husband and Michael Magee Close to Home

Sponsored by Institut Français

7–10pm LDF19

Dinner with Michel Roux

The Daffodil

£65

Ticket includes a three-course dinner and a drink on arrival.

Journey into the heart of awardwinning and celebrated chef Michel Roux’s home kitchen as he shares the mouth-watering everyday recipes he enjoys cooking and eating with family and friends. Drawing on his experience as a chef and restaurateur, he speaks to Romy Gill about the recipes that have been passed down through generations of the legendary Roux family.

Sponsored by Peter Stormonth Darling Charitable Trust

7.30–8.30pm LE39

Rachel Parris

The Garden Theatre

£13

Over the course of a year, comedian Rachel Parris asked her live audiences for pieces of advice, and in Advice from Strangers she uses those nuggets to inspire her as she explores topics ranging from loss to lockdown to looseleaf tea, in a way that is hilarious and heartbreaking. She shares the wisdom with Caroline O’Donoghue

With thanks to our event sponsors

You can filter events on our website by theme or search for your favourite author

Image: Wesley Tingey

Embark on an epic journey across the place we call home, from the first seconds of existence to the arrival of its incredible inhabitants

Chris Packham

8.15–9.15pm LL04

Busy Being Free

The Hive £13

Do we need to change our idea of a fairytale ending? We’re told to seek romance and settle down, but do we need to rethink this as a marker of success? Amy Key and Emma Forrest have experienced the joy that comes from a life built on their own terms. They speak with Abigail Bergstrom about loneliness, connection, self-care and friendship.

Buy books by your favourite Festival authors from our online Waterstones bookshop

With thanks to our event sponsor

8.30–9.30pm LE04

Bernie Taupin

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£16 £20

English lyricist and singer Bernie Taupin has written songs for the world’s biggest stars including Rod Stewart and Alice Cooper, but he remains best known for his collaboration with Elton John. He talks to Matt Chorley about the dramas and accolades of his musical career as exposed in his book Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton and Me

Sponsored by Rathbones

8.30–9.30pm LC52

Fighting Fake News

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £14 £17

We’re all susceptible to fake news, but how does misinformation spread and what can we do about it? One of the world’s top experts on fighting misinformation, Sander Van Der Linden, author of Foolproof reveals the psychology behind its power and how we can protect ourselves.

9–10.15pm LP17

WritersMosaic Live

Town Hall, Pillar Room £13

Join the innovative writers and performers of WritersMosaic including Gabriel Gbadamosi ( Abolition) and Colin Grant

(I’m Black So You Don’t Have to Be). They bring together readings, sea shanties and more in a powerful and multi-element response to Britain’s role in establishing and abolishing the Atlantic slave trade.

Words That Burn

A human-rights and poetry project in partnership with Amnesty International UK

This year, poet Deanna Rodger has been running Words that Burn workshops in three Gloucestershire secondary schools.

Look out for Words That Burn events taking place in VOICEBOX during the Festival

Do we need to change our idea of a fairytale ending?

Image: Alexandra Cameron

Image: Still Moving Media

9.30–11am LDF03

The Success Myth

The Daffodil

£28

Ticket includes brunch. Our obsession with achievement is a trap and our interpretation of success is leaving us busy, burnt-out and lonely. It’s time for a reset. Join Emma Gannon and Elizabeth Uviebinené for an optimistic look at the future of work. Speaking with Abigail Bergstrom they encourage you to write a new manifesto to craft work (and life) on your own terms.

Sponsored by Clockwise

10–11am LC47

Hugo Rifkind Canters Through the News

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

What’s been happening this week?

Join Times Radio presenter Hugo Rifkind and his guests, comedian Geoff Norcott and Labour MP and campaigner Jess Phillips as Hugo broadcasts live from The Forum stage and takes an entertaining canter through the week’s news and culture.

In partnership with The Times,  The Sunday Times and Times Radio

10–11am LC08

Andrew Roberts and David Petraeus

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £14 £17

Historian Andrew Roberts and battlefield commander and strategist David Petraeus discuss Conflict, their landmark examination of war since 1945. They consider the evolution of warfare up to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and analyse what we must learn from the past and anticipate in the future to navigate an increasingly perilous world. Chaired by Leslie Vinjamuri

10–11am LA13

Picturing Vermeer

The Garden Theatre

£13

Jonannes Vermeer’s paintings are admired around the world. While many are captivated by the mystery and stillness of his work, we still know little about the Dutch artist. Art critic Laura Cumming and artist and writer Jane Jelley reflect on the continued power of Vermeer’s paintings to inspire. Chaired by Gavin Plumley

With thanks to our event sponsors

Image: Audrey Bizouerne

Image: Alise Katrina Jane

Image: Paul Storrie

It’s time for a reset. Write a manifesto to craft work (and life) on your own terms.

The Success Myth

10.30–11.30am LR33

Caroline O’Donoghue and Annie Macmanus: Broke Young Things

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

Exhilarating freedom, minimal responsibilities, dizzying first loves and wild parties...but also broke, anxious and flailing: your twenties are a rollercoaster. Annie Macmanus and Caroline O’Donoghue capture the ups and downs of the ride brilliantly in The Mess We’re In and The Rachel Incident. They join Sarah Shaffi to discuss writing the messy years and the power in finding your feet.

12–1pm LC17

The World in 2050

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£13 £16

Can we build a peaceful, green and healthy future? New technology and our need for sustainable living will dramatically change how we live by 2050. Peter Frankopan explores the future many of us will experience with his expert panel, computer scientist Michael Wooldridge, the former head of GCHQ David Omand and psychologist and health expert Susan Michie

Sponsored by Baillie Gifford

12–1pm LR01

Kate Atkinson with Richard Osman

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

Praised by the late Hilary Mantel as ‘inexhaustibly ingenious’, Kate Atkinson has sold over 4 million books globally, won major literary prizes and had her work adapted for television. She returns to Cheltenham to discuss her esteemed career and new collection of stories Normal Rules Don’t Apply in conversation with long-term fan and fellow author Richard Osman

Sponsored by Sofas & Stuff

2–3pm LR30

The Booker

2023

Shortlist

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £13

The Booker Prize is the leading literary award in the English-speaking world. Join The Booker Prize podcast co-host James Walton as he introduces you to the books and authors shortlisted for the 2023 prize and presents the world premiere of the award-winning filmed readings. Sponsored by The Booker Prize Foundation

2.15–3.30pm LC12

The Times Debate:

Fixing Broken Britain

1–3pm LDF06

On the Farm with Julius Roberts

The Daffodil

£42

Ticket includes a two-course lunch and a glass of wine.

Former London chef Julius Roberts left the acclaimed Noble Rot restaurant to embrace a slower pace of life. Now the first-generation farmer and star of Channel 5’s A Taste of the Country is on a mission to live a self-sufficient life on his family smallholding. He shares stories from the farm over a lunch inspired by his thoughtful, seasonal recipes.

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

Britain seems stuck in a rut, with crumbling infrastructure, feeble growth and declining living standards. Former Foreign Secretary and The Times columnist William Hague, Director of the Centre for Policy Studies and The Sunday Times columnist Robert Colvile, the economist Faiza Shaheen and the former cabinet minister Nicky Morgan discuss the strategies needed to get Britain on its feet. Chaired by John Pienaar. In partnership with The Times,  The Sunday Times and Times Radio

With thanks to our event sponsors

Image: Stephanie Sian Smith

Image: Jamie Drew

3.30–6pm LK05

Cheltenham

Bookshop

Crawl

Meet at the Box Office, Montpellier Gardens

£15

Join fellow book lovers on a walking tour of Cheltenham’s bookshops. Get an exclusive look at Cheltenham’s rarest books, find out what it’s like to run to an Indie bookshop, and delve into the treasure troves of the secondhand shelves. Peruse the shelves and hear from booksellers as they share their recommendations and give you a sneak peak behind the scenes.

Sponsored by Cheltenham BID

4–5pm LH09

The Earth

Transformed

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£13

£16

When we study history we rarely pay attention to the most destructive storms, the worst winters or devastating droughts. Festival Guest Curator Peter Frankopan and scientist Adam Rutherford discuss how the natural environment and changing ecosystems have shaped global history and, with the effects of climate change becoming ever more visible, draw salutary conclusions about what the future holds.

Sponsored by Baillie Gifford

With thanks to our event sponsors

4–5pm LL03

Crew Love

The Garden Theatre

£13

During lockdown, five selfconfessed geeks watched a film about the end of the world. What emerged was a chaotic and delicate bond that reaffirmed their faith in male friendship. Eavesdrop on Inua Ellams, Nish Kumar, Nikesh Shukla, Vinay Patel and Musa Okwonga for beef and banter about endgames, tracksuits, split infinitives and beyond.

4.30–5.30pm

An Eye on 2023

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

As the Private Eye Annual 2023 launches, the editor Ian Hislop joins us to reflect on a tumultuous year and highlight his picks of the cartoons, campaigns and covers from the nation’s favourite (and only) satirical magazine.

Chaired by Hannah MacInnes

4.30–5.30pm

LA06

Disobedient Bodies

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

Redefine beauty ideals with writers

Emma Dabiri and Lauren Elkin. For decades, feminist artists have confronted the problem of how to tell the truth about their experiences of their bodies, rebelling against ideals and redefining women’s stories through their work. Emma and Lauren explore these artists and celebrate the power of our disobedient bodies with Charlene Prempeh.

Delve into the treasure troves of secondhand bookshops and peruse the shelves.

Start creating your wishlist on our website before tickets go on sale

Image: Stuart Simpson

Image: Sophie Davidson

Image: Kasia Kim-Zacharko

Image: Helen Murray

Image: KAbi Bansal

Cheltenham Bookshop Crawl

5.30–6.30pm LR44

The PEN Translates

Proof Party

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

£20

Ticket includes a goody bag of limited edition proofs.

PEN Translates is English PEN’s grant for translated literature. Since 2012, it has enabled over 300 titles translated from over 90 languages to be published, including 18 books listed for the International Booker Prize. Join the authors and translators of forthcoming PEN Translates books for a preview of the UK’s most exciting new literature in translation.

Chaired by Will Forrester

Sponsored by English PEN

6–7pm LM04

Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad

The Garden Theatre

£13

In 1939, after Hitler and Stalin carved up Poland, Daniel Finkelstein’s father was deported to Siberia and endured the horrors of the Soviet Gulag. His mother Mirjam — a schoolfriend of Anne Frank in Amsterdam — was sent to Belsen concentration camp. Daniel recounts their devastating wartime experiences of persecution, resistance and survival with his friend and Times colleague

6.30–7.30pm LQ09

The Long View: Saving Time

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £13 £16

5.45–6.45pm LP10

Linton Kwesi

Johnson: Time Come

Parabola Arts Centre £13

A true living legend, Jamaican dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson has been at the forefront of poetry, reggae and social activism for five decades. He joins Paul Gilroy to discuss Time Come, his urgent and incisive career-spanning collection that brings his cultural and political writing together for the first time.

William Hague

In partnership with The Times,  The Sunday Times and Times Radio

Could time be the key to a brighter future on Earth? The way we think about our past and future is unique, but our busy lifestyles mean we tend to think short-term. Writer Richard Fisher and philosopher William MacAskill examine why, to tackle long-term challenges, we must recapture our ability to look ahead.

Chaired by Julia Wheeler

The Scribbled Self

A guide to writing for wellbeing for young people

Curated by previous participants of our Beyond Words project which put a writer-in-residence in the Gloucestershire Hospital Education Service.

Learn more at cheltenhamfestivals.com/the-scribbled-self And watch out for Scribbled Self events taking place in VOICEBOX during the Festival.

With thanks to our event sponsors

Image: Katie Downham

Image: Ajamu Ikwe-Tyehimb

7–8pm LR11

Love and Loss in Viêt Nam

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

Global bestselling author of The Mountains Sing Nguyễ n Phan

Quế Mai’s new novel Dust Child explores the struggles of Amerasians – children born from wartime relationships between American soldiers and Vietnamese women. Cecile Pin’s Women’s Prize-longlisted Wandering Souls shows the very human cost to a family forced to make a perilous journey in escape from war.

Chaired by Ann Morgan

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From King

With thanks to our event sponsors

7–8pm LH02

David Mitchell

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£38

£42

Ticket includes a signed copy of Unruly RRP £25.

Comedian and student of history

David Mitchell presents Unruly, his exuberant history of England’s earliest kings and queens. From King Arthur to Elizabeth I, this is a tale of narcissists, middle-management insurrection, uncivil wars and at least one total Cnut. He tells Hannah MacInnes how the monarchy came to be, why it matters in the 21st century – and who is to blame.

Sponsored by Hazlewoods

7–10pm LDF20

The Suya Kitchen

The Daffodil

£65

Ticket includes a three-course dinner and a drink on arrival.

Journey into the rich, vibrant world of Nigeria’s food, music and poetry. Feasting on West African street food Suya, poet, playwright and performer Inua Ellams is joined by restaurant critic and author Jimi Famurewa as they weave together a beautiful and complex portrait of Nigeria.

7.30–8.30pm LR29

Karl Ove Knausgaard

The Hive

£13

It’s 1986 and a nuclear reactor has exploded in Chernobyl. In presentday Russia, a young mother ponders big questions amidst the everyday juggle of work and family.

Karl Ove Knausgaard talks to Georgina Godwin about how he masterfully weaves these different, yet deeply connected lives together in The Wolves of Eternity and discusses writing fiction following his global hit memoir series My Struggle

Sponsored by the Norwegian Embassy and NORLA

Arthur to Elizabeth I, this is a tale of narcissists, uncivil wars and at least one total Cnut.

Image: Andy Lo Pó

Image: Ariane Lebon

Image: Sølve Sundsbø

David Mitchell

8–9pm LD08

Marcus Brigstocke’s I’ve Never Read...

The Garden Theatre

£13

How does it feel to take a leap into the literary unknown? In this annual Festival favourite, our host Marcus Brigstocke takes novelist Nicole Flattery, comedian Josie Long and author and podcaster Musa Okwonga out of their bookish comfort zones as they discuss their own reading preferences and the book they have never read… until now.

Sponsored by Cunard

8.30–9.30pm LT06

Epic Voyage, Stolen Childhood

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£13 £16

When she was seven, Suzanne Heywood was taken out of school and taken on her father’s dream three-year voyage following in Captain Cook’s footsteps. Three years became a decade, and the ‘dream’ became a nightmare of shipwrecks, isolation and no formal schooling. She talks to Caroline Hutton about her remarkable journey back to land, stability and an education.

9–10pm LE07

Adrian Edmondson: Beserker

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£16 £20

8.15–9.15pm LR20

Victoria Hislop

Parabola Arts Centre

£13

Multi-million-copy bestselling author of The Island, One August Night and Cartes Postales from Greece Victoria Hislop returns with The Figurine, a captivating tale of one woman’s quest to come to terms with her family’s brutal past. She talks to Sarah Shaffi

9–10pm LD17

Good

Art; Bad People?

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

Can we separate an artist’s work from their life? Should we?

Claire Dederer’s Monsters wrestles with how the likes of Polanski, Hemingway and Picasso should be viewed today. Carmela Ciuraru’s Lives of the Wives investigates the tumultuous marriages of Roald Dahl, Kingsley Amis and more to reveal how women fared in creative partnerships. They talk to Sam Baker

From brutal schooldays to storming the 1980s comedy circuit, through The Young Ones, Bottom and beyond, Berserker! is a one-of-a-kind, fascinating memoir from an icon of British comedy, Adrian Edmondson. With wisdom, nostalgia and uniquely observed humour, Ade traces his journey through life and comedy: growing up in a strict Methodist household, starting out on the alternative comedy scene, through to meeting Rik Mayall, with whom he created outrageous characters in iconic sitcoms such as The Young Ones and Bottom

You can filter events on our website by theme or search for your favourite author

With thanks to our event sponsor

9.30–11am

LDF02

Here Comes the Fun

The Daffodil

£28

Ticket includes brunch.

Ever wished that life was more fun? Ben Aitken decided to spend a year trying things he thought might be fun (a pilgrimage in Spain, afternoon bingo) and things he was assured were fun (improv, wakeboarding, learning Welsh). Over a hearty brunch he reviews his year of merry making with Inua Ellams and shares his fail-safes for lifting your mood.

Michael Palin

10–11am

Threads of Life

The Garden Theatre

£13

LL16

10–11am

Michael Palin

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

LH01

From the political propaganda of the Bayeux Tapestry to the maps sewn by schoolgirls in the New World. The fascinating cultural history and biology of textiles – and the ways we have created and adorned them – chronicle a rich history of identity, power and politics. Clare Hunter and Aarathi Prasad discuss the history of the world, through the eye of a needle.

12–1pm

The Times Live

The Garden Theatre

£13

LC15

Join columnist Daniel Finkelstein and senior journalists

Alice Thomson, Hugo Rifkind and Michael Binyon as they debate the hot topics of the day, including the leading articles for Monday’s edition of The Times

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

10–11am

LC16

The Sunday Papers with Marcus

Brigstocke

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£13 £16

Start your Sunday the right way with host Marcus Brigstocke and special guests Suzanne Heywood, Michael Binyon and Nicola Tuxworth. Together they run through the Sunday papers and pick out the stories that matter and the ones that really don’t, but that promise to make you smile anyway.

£38 £42

Ticket includes a signed copy of Great-Uncle Harry RRP £22.

When Michael Palin discovered the existence of his great-uncle Harry, he embarked upon a quest to find out about him. Following his trail from India to New Zealand, to the trenches of WW1 and his death at the Battle of the Somme, Michael reveals a story of empire – and of an entire generation – told though the experiences of one man.

Sponsored by u3a Cheltenham

12–1pm

LF11

Skulduggery Pleasant Graphic Novel

Parabola Arts Centre

Plunge into the magical and macabre world of Bad Magic with YA fiction superstar Derek Landy and comic artist P J Holden

See p84 for full event details.

With thanks to our event sponsors

Image: John Swannell

Michael Palin reveals a story of empire –and an entire generation

Write Second Time?

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £13 £16

If you could rip up the ending of a famous book and start over, which one would you choose? Everyone’s favourite classic literature debate returns with a new theme. Reigning champ James Marriott, Katherine Heiny, Andi Osho and Elizabeth Acevedo join Caroline Hutton in fun and fiery bookish battle.

Sponsored by Cunard

If you could rip up the ending of a famous book and start over, which one would you choose?

Write Second Time?

With thanks to our event sponsors

12.30–1.30pm

Holly Smale, Geek Girl

Town Hall, Pillar Room

Geek Girl author Holly Smale talks about the importance of neuro-diverse characters in books. See p84 for full event details.

2–3pm

The Sunday Times Debate: Is Journalism

Doomed?

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £13 £16

Can we prevent an entire generation becoming adrift in a sea of clickbait and misinformation online? As a record number of journalists are detained across the globe for doing their job – is the profession under threat? The Wall Street Journal ’s Editor-in-Chief Emma Tucker, Editor of The Sunday Times, Ben Taylor, journalist Sophia Smith Galer, and media expert Charlie Beckett investigate. In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

1–3.30pm LDF12

Sunday Lunch with Mike Brearley

The Daffodil £42

Ticket includes a two-course lunch and a glass of wine.

There are few figures in public life like Mike Brearley. Not only a brilliant all-round sportsman and legendary Ashes-winning cricket captain, but a leading intellectual and successful psychoanalyst – a true polymath. Join him for Sunday lunch as he shares his private passions and recounts his extraordinary life and career, on and off the field. Chaired by Matthew Stadlen

2.30–3.30pm LE61

Hilary Mantel: A Celebration

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

Commemorating the anniversary of her death in September 2022, and for Wolf Hall fans everywhere, join us for a very special celebration of the immense writing talent that was Dame Hilary Mantel. Full details will be announced later.

Image: Karolina Heller

Image: Denzel Golatt

Image: mcphersonstevens.com

Image: Lexey Swall

Plan your visit to the Festival on the Cheltenham Festivals app

Scan the QR code to download it

2.30–3.30pm LR31

Samantha Shannon and Elizabeth

Acevedo

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

Sarah Shaffi meets two chart-topping authors who are setting readers’ imaginations alight and taking BookTok by storm.

Samantha Shannon discusses the 10th anniversary of her Bone Season series and new novel, A Day of Fallen Night. US National Poetry Slam champion and Clap When You Land author

Elizabeth Acevedo’s novel Family Lore imagines a lineage of sisters with unique powers.

Sponsored by the Embassy of the Dominican Republic

4–5pm LT01

Steve Backshall’s Ocean Journeys

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £13

Spotting a shark at age nine sparked Steve Backshall ’s life-long fascination with ocean life. Since then, his esteemed career as an naturalist, explorer and BAFTAwinning presenter has taken him to enchanting underwater locations across the globe. He joins Julia Wheeler to discuss Deep Blue, a love letter to our precious oceans and a rallying cry for how we can protect them.

Sponsored by Kohler Mira

4–5pm LR12

Katherine Heiny

Parabola Arts Centre

£13

No one combines wry humour and clear-eyed wisdom about life’s ups, downs and all the chaos in between like Katherine Heiny. She joins Clare Clark to discuss her sparkling career, which spans Single, Carefree, Mellow, Standard Deviation, Early Morning Riser and her most recent collection, Games and Rituals

4–5pm LA02

Will Gompertz: See What You’re Missing

The Garden Theatre £13

Learn how to view the world through the lens of an artist with Will Gompertz. Taking us into the minds of artists – from Rembrandt and Frida Kahlo to David Hockney and Kara Walker – the Barbican Centre’s Artistic Director shows us how to look at and experience the marvellous, life-affirming phenomena of our world with heightened powers of perception.

4.30–5.30pm LR35

Books from Japan

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

Don’t miss two of Japan’s most popular authors in conversation with Nick Bradley Toshikazu

Kawaguchi’s million copy-selling Before the Coffee Gets Cold series asks: if you could time travel, who would you meet one last time? In Emi Yagi’s Diary of a Void – Osamu Dazai Prize winner for best debut –a woman’s spontaneous lie about being pregnant to avoid menial office tasks quickly escalates. Co-presented by the Japan Foundation. Sponsored by the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation

With thanks to our event sponsors

4.45–5.45pm LX01

Foreign Bodies: The Health of Nations

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£13 £16

Smallpox strikes London; cholera hits Paris; plague comes to India. Humanity has an epic history of being caught between the terror of contagion and the ingenuity of science; desperate for vaccines but fearful of what inoculation may bring. Simon Schama speaks to Peter Frankopan about his latest work Foreign Bodies, a fascinating history of pandemics and vaccines.

5.30–6.30pm LM09

Family Ties

The Hive £13

Bestselling novelist John Niven and acclaimed memoirist Blake Morrison explore sibling relationships, secrets and grief with journalist Poorna Bell . In their powerful new memoirs, John chronicles his upbringing with his troubled brother Gary, and the impact of suicide on a family; Blake explores how addiction can tear families apart as he unravels his sister and half-sister’s lives.

6–7pm LL08

Max La Manna

The Garden Theatre

£13

Max La Manna is an award-winning author and low-waste chef, passionate about sharing ways in which we can enjoy delicious food whilst fighting food waste. He speaks about the simple changes we can make to live a more planetfriendly life.

6–7pm LP05

You’re Bard

Parabola Arts Centre

£13

Experience Shakespeare like you’ve never seen before. Four actors. Four Shakespeare shows. Endless possibilities. You decide everything, from the play to the performance style and which actor plays which part. This hilarious, unpredictable show promises an unforgettable evening of Shakespeare unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.

6–6.40pm LE59

Tommy Jessop: A Life

Worth Living

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

£13

Multi-award winning actor, theatre performer and campaigner Tommy Jessop has been at the helm of raising awareness of the potential of people living with Down syndrome, both to the media and our government. He talks to Alex Clark about his remarkable journey, including finding fame in Line of Duty

Westhoff Reviews

6.45–7.45pm LR39

Sebastian Faulks

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £13 £16

When a young American academic offers to carry another woman’s child, she has no idea of the life-changing consequences. Sweeping between New York, London, and the Scottish Highlands, Sebastian Faulks’ new book

The Seventh Son is a spectacular examination of what it means to be human. He joins Daniel Hahn to discuss it, and the complex ethical issues it explores.

A chaotic, ambitious, side-splittingly funny interactive Shakespearience

7–8pm LD13

Inside The Baillie

Gifford Prize

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

Ticket includes a glass of fizz.

Be the first to know this year’s Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction shortlist as chair of judges Frederick Studemann announces it live at this year’s Festival. He’ll be talking to 2022 winner Katherine Rundell about her remarkable biography of John Donne, Super-Infinite, which was catapulted up the book charts by its Baillie Gifford Prize win.

7–9.30pm LDF21

Dinner with

Skye McAlpine

The Daffodil

£65

Ticket includes a three-course dinner and drink on arrival.

Cooking is one of the greatest ways to show your love for someone. Celebrate the joy of eating with family, friends and loved ones with Skye McAlpine. Speaking with Julia Leonard, she shares recipes to comfort, seduce and celebrate and lets us in on the secrets to her stylish and relaxed hosting skills.

7–8pm LE37

Brian Cox

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£16 £20

Star of the successful series Succession, actor Brian Cox has enjoyed a prestigious stage and screen career. He opens up to Julia Wheeler about his rags to riches story. From his difficult childhood in Dundee to the heady days of international fame, all is revealed in his no holds barred memoir Putting The Rabbit in The Hat

8–9.15pm LK01

Gloucestershire

Writers’ Network

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

£13

Gloucestershire Writers’ Network competition winners present their work inspired by the theme “Journeys”. Competition judges, author Jane Bailey and poet Philip Rush read a selection of their work.

8–9pm LR22

Writing for Laughs

The Garden Theatre

£13

Come and have a laugh with three talented comedic writers from the worlds of stand-up, screenwriting and fiction. Schitt’s Creek screenwriter and Really Good, Actually author Monica Heisey; actor and former stand-up comedian turned rom-com writer Andi Osho; and Comedy Women in Print

Prize-winner Michelle Gallen, whose portrayals of Northern Irish life have been compared to Derry Girls. They talk to Sam Baker

Image: Karolina Heller

Image: Rachel Sherlock

Image: David Ho

8.15–9.15pm LC28

Let’s Talk About Sex

The Hive

£13

Why is sex still a taboo?

From debunking myths to recentring physicality, pleasure and consent, founder and host of Sex Talks

Emma-Louise Boynton talks to Everyday Sexism founder Laura Bates, doctor and writer Annabel Sowemimo and Everyone’s Invited founder Soma Sara about how we can rewrite the story of our sex lives and develop safe, healthy and inclusive relationships.

9–10pm LR65

The Talk of the Town Town Hall, Pillar Room £13

A child is dead, and the finger-pointing has begun. Discover the page-turning, society-examining new thrillers by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen (The Wolf Hunt) and Megan Nolan (Ordinary Human Failings). They talk to Clare Clark about writing families and communities under scrutiny and the dark side of tracking down the truth.

9–10pm LE13

Nick Frost

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

Well known for cult classics such as Hot Fuzz, Paul and Shaun of The Dead, accomplished actor and writer Nick Frost is a passionate self-taught cook, and even delivered pies to his Instagram followers during lockdown. He talks about his love of food and the memories it evokes which he details in his memoir, A Slice of Fried Gold

Image: Tom Trevatt

Image: Tilly Pearson

Image: Siggi Holm

Image: Pal Hansen

Monday 9 October

8.30–9.45am LC01

Breakfast

with The Times: Behind the Headlines

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

£20

Ticket includes a tea or coffee and a pastry.

Make an informed start to your day. Grab a coffee and pastry and join the Editor of The Sunday Times Ben Taylor, and columnists

Susie Goldsbrough and Josh Glancy as they look at the news stories of the day.

In partnership with The Times,  The Sunday Times and Times Radio

12–1pm LH05

Spain: A Different History

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

Generations have been transfixed by Spain’s turbulent period following civil war in the 1930s. Yet beyond the stereotype of a country haunted by its Francoist past, lies a radically different history that fits into the narrative of modern Europe. Madrid-based historians

Michael Reid and Nigel Townson explore key forces that are shaping Spain’s modern era with El País journalist Ana Carbajosa

Sponsored by Instituto Cervantes and the Embassy of Spain

2–3pm LC43

Growing Up Between Two Continents

Town Hall, Pillar Room £11

Aasmah Mir shares the story of her childhood in 1970s Glasgow, reflecting on the highs and lows of growing up between two cultures. Intricately woven into this story is that of Aasmah’s mother, who left 1950s Pakistan for a new life in Scotland. Aasmah talks to Sam Baker about her story of family, identity, and finding yourself where you are.

In partnership with The Times,  The Sunday Times and Times Radio

11.30am–12.30pm LA16

The Power of Art

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£11 £14

From ancient Babylon to contemporary Pyongyang, curator and Director of the National Gallery of Ireland Caroline Campbell will transform your understanding of the world through the eyes of artists. Journey through fifteen vibrant cities and periods in history and unlock the human stories, societies, creativity and innovation hidden behind a millennia of art. Chaired by Gavin Plumley

1–2pm LE42

Judy Murray

The Times and Sunday Times Forum £12 £15

Judy Murray has enjoyed a successful tennis career as a player and coach, while also being mum to tennis champions Andy and Jamie. She talks to Tim Hubbard about all things tennis and how she’s built her knowledge of that world into her debut novel The Wild Card, a story about a once-promising tennis star returning to fulfil her dreams.

3–4pm LH04

A Personal

History of Europe

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£11 £14

Drawing on half a century of travel and firsthand experience, historian Timothy Garton Ash explores Europe’s progress in its post-war decades of hope – and why so much went wrong. In conversation with his friend, novelist Ian McEwan, they consider how Europe’s past will shape its future and issue an urgent call for us to understand and defend what we have collectively achieved. Sponsored by Baillie Gifford and supported by The British Academy

With thanks to our event sponsors

Image: Sane Seven Photography

3.30–4.30pm LE08

Jane Garvey and Fi Glover: Live

on Air

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£16 £20

Join the indominable duo and Jane Garvey and Fi Glover as they record one hour of their popular Times Radio show live in The Forum. They’ll be joined by a special guest for a guaranteed hour of fun.

In partnership with The Times,  The Sunday Times and Times Radio

3.30–4.30pm LR47

The Penguin Michael Joseph Proof Party

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

£20

Ticket includes a goody bag of limitededition proofs.

3.30–5pm LDF14

Feathers and Flowers: Arthur Parkinson and Sarah Raven

The Daffodil

£32

Ticket includes afternoon tea with a selection of finger sandwiches and cakes.

Gardeners Sarah Raven and Arthur Parkinson have a unique friendship built on a shared passion for growing beautiful flowers and seasonal veg. Arthur’s other love are his hens, an interest nurtured by two devoted grandmothers – and the Duchess of Devonshire. Over afternoon tea, they chat with Julia Leonard about gardening, growing, feathered friends and their shared delight in nature.

3.30–4.30pm LQ10

The Anxiety Project

The Hive £11

Daan Heerma van Voss is 74 times more anxious than the average person. Why are 264 million people worldwide suffering from anxiety? Daan introduces us to philosophers, artists and writers in a quest for answers that takes us through literature, classics, the history of anxiety and the science behind it. Supported by the Dutch Foundation for Literature and The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

With thanks to our event sponsors

Penguin Michael Joseph introduce three talented new voices: Sweetness in the Skin is Ishi Robinson’s comingof-age story about finding your voice; Olivia Ford ’s debut Mrs Quinn’s Rise to Fame charts a 77-year-old’s journey on TV show ‘Britain Bakes’; Jessica Bull introduces Miss Austen Investigates: The Hapless Milliner, a regency drama combined with the intrigue of cosy crime novels.

4–5pm LQ04

Embracing Solitude

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£11

Jade Angeles Fitton fled a destructive relationship for a life of solitude in remote Devon. Will Millard tells the story of Ken Smith, the Hermit of Loch Treig, who has spent 40 years living alone in the wild Scottish Highlands. Together they reflect on turning away from society, experiences of solitude through the centuries, and finding calm in our hyper-connected world.

A regency drama combined with the intrigue of cosy crime novels.

The Penguin Michael Joseph Proof Party

Image: Jonathan Buckley

Image: Jonathan Buckley

4–5pm LA12

Rediscovering Black British Portraiture

The Garden Theatre

£11

Baritone Peter Brathwaite attracted international attention when he researched and recreated 100 artworks featuring portraits of Black sitters. Exploring Black subjects in Western art, from medieval Europe through to the present day, Peter talks about the motivations behind the project and discusses how it directly confronts the debate about representation and decolonisation in museum collections. Chaired by Julia Wheeler

5.30–6.30pm LR17

Ian McEwan

Revisits

Atonement

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£11

£14

On the hottest day of 1934, a 13-year-old’s misunderstanding sets in motion a chain of events that will alter the course of three people’s lives, and for which she will spend her whole life trying to atone. Critical acclaim, record sales and an Oscar-nominated film made Ian McEwan’s 2001 novel Atonement a publishing phenomenon. He revisits it with Clare Clark

6–7pm LL06

The Age Rage

The Garden Theatre

£13

Middle age is the prime of life, with empty nests, changing priorities and new freedoms. But why do middle-aged women seem to enrage almost everyone? Often branded as entitled and selfish, how did women in their forties and beyond get such a bad reputation? Sussanah Wise, Lorraine Candy and Victoria Smith investigate.

6–7pm LT11

The Man Who

Loved Siberia

The Hive

£13

19th century naturalist and explorer Fritz Dörries travelled to Eastern Siberia when there were still blank spaces on world maps. Bears, bandits, storms and ice chasms lay in his path, but he overcame every danger to bring home invaluable knowledge of Siberia’s flora and fauna. Roy Jacobsen and Anneliese Pitz talk about his remarkable journey with Daniel Hahn

Sponsored by the Norwegian Embassy and NORLA

7–8pm LU08

QI Elves: Everything to Play For

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

QI Elves James Harkin and Anna Ptaszynski are here to hop, skip and jump into a curiously grand tour of sport. From its weirdest rules to its most unlikely heroes, covering everything from the psychology of football chants to pole-vaulting priests and sporting history’s greatest cheats, join them for a hilarious evening of game, set and facts.

With thanks to our event sponsors

You can filter events on our website by theme or search for your favourite author

Image: Bastian Schweitzer © Diogenes Verlag

7.15–8.15pm LR07

Heather Morris

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

Author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilka’s Journey and Three Sisters, bestselling novelist Heather Morris has sold 16 million books worldwide. In a special visit from Australia, she discusses her remarkable writing journey and her novel Sisters under the Rising Sun, a moving story of bravery and survival inspired by true events during WWII with Chitra Ramaswamy

7.30–10pm LDF28

Roast Figs, Sugar Snow

The Daffodil £65

Ticket includes a three-course dinner and a drink on arrival.

Dine and raise a toast to Roast Figs, Sugar Snow, the classic at the heart of Diana Henry’s extraordinary cookbook repertoire. Sharing comforting delights from cold-weather climes – from the ski slopes of Italy to the coffee houses of Vienna and Budapest, rural New England and beyond – Diana talks about the unique pleasures of autumn and winter.

7.30–8.30pm LC23

No Offence, But...

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£13 £16

Talking about social justice can be tough when we’re met with outrage, disagreement and echo chambers. And winning the argument doesn’t necessarily mean we’re right. Philosopher Arianne Shahvisi, political activist Gina Martin* and journalist Rafael Behr discuss how we can bridge our political, generational or cultural divides and bring about change when it comes to the most urgent issues of our time. Chaired by Julia Wheeler *This participant will appear digitally.

8.30–9.30pm

The Missing

The Garden Theatre

£13

LR41

Can a person ever truly disappear? In a world where observation, surveillance and technology are advancing all the time, leading crime and thriller writers Adele Parks, Louise Doughty and Simon Mason talk to Sam Baker about the ongoing fascination with missing people and reveal how they navigate modern technology to create their gripping and suspenseful tales of disappearance.

8.30–9.30pm LK04

The Wisdom

of Myth and Folklore

The Hive

£11

We can learn a lot from myths, fairytales and folklore, but why is it so important to preserve and retell these ancient stories in modern day? Tom Phillips talks to prolific storytellers Taffy Thomas, Anthony Nanson, Sally Pomme Clayton and Kirsty Hartsiotis about the importance of telling these tales.

Image: Rosie Turner

Tuesday 10 October

10–11am LN06

How

to Read a Tree

The Garden Theatre

£11

What can trees tell us? If we learn to read the clues, they can reveal secrets about the landscape, guide us to the nearest source of water, show which way is north or where to find the sweetest birdsong. Join author and natural navigator Tristan Gooley to learn their language. You’ll never look at a tree the same way again.

Image: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

11.30am–12.30pm LA10

The Rossettis

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £11 £14

Spice Up Your Life

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12–1pm

LT10

Ask the Travel Experts

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£11

Want the inside scoop on where to go in 2024? The Times and Sunday Times Travel experts Claire Irvin, Laura Jackson, Jenny Coad and Lucy Perrin are here to help. From short-hop to long-haul, save to splurge, slow travel to quick getaway, they are your guides, whatever your taste or budget. In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

12–2pm LDF07

Spice Up Your Life

The Daffodil

£42

Ticket includes a two-course lunch and a glass of wine.

Spices are a cook’s secret weapon – they can transform a dish from something drab and lifeless to flavour-packed and vibrant. Beloved TV chef Nadiya Hussain shares the ingredients and techniques used in her family kitchen when she was growing up and presents a delicious lunch featuring recipes that blend her British and Bangladeshi heritage together.

Chaired by Chitra Ramaswamy

With thanks to our event sponsor

Image: Simon Wilkes

Spices are a cook’s secret weapon – they can transform a dish from something drab and lifeless to flavour-packed and vibrant

Plan your visit to the Festival on the Cheltenham Festivals app

12.15–1.15pm LK03

A Helping Hand

The Hive

£11

‘No man is an island’.

Polly Morland ’s A Fortunate Woman charts the life and work of a country doctor, while Ann Morgan’s Crossing Over captures an unlikely allyship between an elderly woman with dementia and a recently arrived refugee. Together they speak to Julia Leonard about the importance of care, compassion and community and reaching across the social divide.

2–3pm

The Ways of the Woods

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£11

LR67

2.15–3.15pm LA09

Radical Spirits

The Hive £11

1.30–2.30pm LQ12

Life of a Spy

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£11 £14

What does it take to be a spy? From James Bond to George Smiley, we have long been fascinated by the world of espionage. Former civil servant and novelist Ava Glass, who brings spy characters to life through nail-biting fiction, and psychologists

Adrian Furnham and John Taylor explore the inner-workings of secret agents – both real and imagined –with Clare Clark

Every tree has a tale to tell. Join natural navigator Tristan Gooley and Pulitzer Prize-shortlisted novelist Daniel Mason as they discuss nature’s most valuable way markers with Daniel Hahn and dive deep into Mason’s novel North Woods, an enchanting exploration of a woodland cabin through the centuries that Mason wrote in sync with the changing seasons around him.

2–3pm LR28

Rose Tremain

The Garden Theatre

£11

How do you find the courage to forge your own path? That is the question facing the young heroine at the heart of Absolutely and Forever, Rose Tremain’s short and piercing new novel of thwarted love and true friendship set in 1960s London and Paris and inspired partly by her own girlhood experiences. She joins Georgina Godwin to discuss it.

From Hilma af Klint and Leonora Carrington to Frida Kahlo, there’s a strong tradition of women artists drawing on the spiritual and supernatural. Illuminating key figures from art history, art critic Jennifer Higgie and curator and art historian Catriona McAra explore the influence and importance of spiritualism and ancient ritual on feminism and contemporary art. Chaired by Grace Banks

2.45–3.45pm LR63

Celebrate with...

Mick Herron

Hotel du Vin £35

Ticket includes fizz and nibbles. Enjoy a rare encounter and intimate audience with a major writer as they revisit a career-defining book. Mick Herron revisits Slow Horses, the first of the acclaimed Slough House series, and now in a major adaptation starring Gary Oldman. He talks to Sam Baker

Image: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Image: Craig Whitehead

Image: Jim Holden

3–4pm LQ06

Gelong Thubten Meditation Workshop

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

£25

Ticket includes tea and coffee. Join Buddhist Monk Gelong Thubten for a practical meditation workshop. Thubten has worked with everyone from Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, the NHS and schools, to Ruby Wax, and in this guided session will share teachings and techniques from his new book Handbook for Hard Times that aims to make you more resilient and much better able to handle life’s challenges.

3.45–4.45pm LR71

Bernard Cornwell

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£11 £14

Bernard Cornwell ’s Sharpe series has sold more than 20 million books worldwide. He’s here on a rare visit to share the recently published, Sharpe’s Command. At a time when both his career and Britain’s hopes of victory seem in danger, Richard Sharpe and his small band of rogues are sent on an impossible mission behind the enemy lines.

4–5pm LC25

Lessons in 21st Century Diplomacy

The Garden Theatre

£11

What does modern-day diplomacy look like? Sharing their insights are the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs from 2009 to 2014 Catherine Ashton and former Permanent Undersecretary for the UK’s Diplomatic Service Simon McDonald, who have observed, supported and guided leaders and countries towards collaboration and stability where hope could rise and fall, often in a matter of hours.

Sister Act

4–5pm LR53

Sister Act

Town Hall, Pillar Room £11

From the Bennets to the Marches, sisters are some of the most beloved and enduring characters in literature. Julia Wheeler talks to authors Kate Sawyer (This Family) and Georgina Moore, (The Garnett Girls), two authors who paint a vibrant picture of sisterhood that explores complex sibling bonds, family schisms and how secrets trickle through different generations.

From the Bennets to the Marches, sisters are some of the most beloved and enduring characters in literature

You can filter events on our website by theme or search for your favourite author

4–5.30pm LDF13

Teatime at 44 Scotland Street

The Daffodil

£32

Ticket includes afternoon tea with a selection of finger sandwiches and cakes.

The residents of 44 Scotland Street in Edinburgh come to life in Alexander McCall Smith ’s gently satirical, wonderfully perceptive serial novels. Anna Marshall has ransacked their pages (and cupboards) for her cookbook, so you can eat like your favourite characters. Join them for afternoon tea with a twist as they tell Frankie Burr about the latest instalment, The Stellar Debut of Galactica MacFee

4.30–5.30pm LQ14

The Conspiracy

Theorists

The Hive £11

Conspiracy theories are more rampant than ever, increasingly shaping politics and the media –and threatening democracy. From QAnon to Roswell to the Flat Earth theory, comedian Dom Joly and professor of social psychology

Karen Douglas explore where these ideas come from – and the people who create and believe them. Are they crazed loonies, or are we sheeple?

5.45–6.45pm LQ01

Navigating Tough Times

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £13 £16

Ruby Wax tells her unflinchingly honest story of time in a mental health clinic in I’m Not as Well as I Thought I Was. In Handbook for Hard Times, Buddhist Monk Gelong Thubten shares his wisdom for tapping into our inner strength and resilience in difficult times. They reveal their top tips for navigating life’s toughest moments in an increasingly chaotic world.

Chaired by Julia Wheeler

6–7pm LQ03

Good Grief

The Garden Theatre

£13

Michael Rosen has grieved the loss of a child, lived with debilitating chronic illness, and nearly died during the pandemic. Comedian Cariad Lloyd has spoken to hundreds of bereaved people for her award-winning podcast Griefcast. They explore how we can find it within ourselves to live well again after – or even during – the darkest times of our lives.

Chaired by Chitra Ramaswamy.

6–7pm LR52

I Know What You Did That Summer…

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

More than a decade has passed since the teenage murders at the heart of Penance and Kala when new information thrusts each town’s darkest chapter back into the spotlight. Author of Boy Parts and Granta Best Young British Novelist Eliza Clark and New Irish Writer of the Year Colin Walsh join Georgina Godwin to discuss their propulsive literary thrillers.

Image: Marksteen Adamson

Image: Charlie Clift

6.15–7.15pm LC26

Alastair Campbell and Ian Dunt

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

British politics is broken. We need to change things, but how?

Join two of our most outspoken Westminster watchers, Ian Dunt and Alastair Campbell, as they expose the system in which our deep-seated national problems seem to go permanently unresolved.

Chaired by Hannah MacInnes

6.30–7.30pm LA03

Rebel Rebel:

Soheila Sokhanvari

The Hive £13

Iranian-born artist Soheila Sokhanvari’s powerful and intricate work weaves layers of political histories with mysterious narratives. Her latest show, Rebel Rebel, focused on pioneering women from pre-revolutionary Iran who pursued careers in a culture enamoured with Western style, but not its freedoms. As protests around women’s rights continue to shake contemporary Iran, Soheila talks to writer Ben Platts-Mills about her work.

7.45–8.45pm LR26

Mick Herron

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£13 £16

Mick Herron is ‘at the summit of a new golden age of spy fiction’ (The Sunday Times), with his bestselling Slough House series now a major adaptation starring Gary Oldman. Whether you’re a committed Herron fan, or just joining the tribe, join Mick and Julia Wheeler as he talks about The Secret Hours, a novel Lee Child described as ‘pitch-perfect’.

8–9pm LQ02

Scatter Brain

The Garden Theatre

£13

After a lifetime of stumbling around in a fog, being shut away in a world of daydreams and lost keys, comedian Shaparak Khorsandi looks back on her life through the lens of ADHD and finally makes sense of the chaos. Join her for a delicious mixture of stand-up and excerpts from her new book as she shares her heartbreaking and hilarious journey.

Image: Natalie Dawkins

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Image: M Buck

Image: Heathcliff O’Malley

Alastair Campbell and Ian Dunt

8–10pm LP12

James Walton’s Big Book Quiz

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£15

Tables can seat teams of up to four people. The bar will be open with prizes awarded to the winners. With questions on anything from Dan Brown to Graham Greene, Normal People to Animal Farm, Gangsta Granny to Uncle Vanya, come and pit your literary wits against each other in a fun night of bookish brainteasers, suitable for light and heavy readers alike. Hosted by James Walton of BBC Radio 4’s The Write Stuff, this is a quiz created exclusively for Cheltenham book-lovers.

8.30–9.30pm LR51

Cults: Mystery, Mindgames and Murder

The Hive £13

From The Manson Family to Jonestown, cults have long been a source of grim fascination. Daniel Hahn talks to the authors of two cult-inspired novels. In Carole Hailey’s The Silence Project a mother’s radical behaviour leads to the deaths of thousands. In Gerda Blees’ We Are Light a mysterious collective believe they can live on light alone, with dark consequences.

Supported by the Dutch Foundation for Literature and The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Want early access to your Festival favourites?

Become a Member and receive priority booking

See page 36

With thanks to our event sponsors

Make a Difference

Once you’ve looked after those closest to you, please consider leaving a gift in your will to Cheltenham Festivals – even a small amount, like a 1% share of your estate, can make a big difference.

Help us to realise our vision of a world in which everyone can explore and create culture by remembering Cheltenham Festivals in your will.

A legacy gift will help to ensure future generations are as inspired by the Festivals as you are today.

All you need to include us in your will is our charity name: Cheltenham Festivals, and our registered charity number: 251765, or talk in confidence about gifts in wills by contacting by contacting our Development team at patrons@cheltenhamfestivals.com

11.30am–12.30pm LH03

The Iraq War: 20 Years On

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£11

£14

Iraqi journalist Ghaith Abdul-Ahad joins us to discuss A Stranger in Your Own City, his searing insider account of the unravelling of Iraq. Brought up in Baghdad but reporting for the foreign press, he charts two decades of conflict and loss through the experience of ordinary civilians: shifting allegiances, generational change and the irredeemable personal injustices of war.

12–1pm LH07

Wartime Women

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£11

Women took on an extraordinary range of roles in British intelligence during WWI and WWII. From spies in the Belgian network – knitting coded messages into jumpers and parachuting behind enemy lines – to the WAAFs supplying vital intelligence to the RAF, historians Sarah-Louise Miller and Helen Fry celebrate these remarkable women who defied conventions of their time, with broadcaster Paddy O’Connell.

11am–12pm LM10

Homelands

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

£11

Born in Britain to Indian immigrant parents, journalist Chitra Ramaswamy reflects on her powerful friendship with a Holocaust survivor who arrived in Britain on the Kindertransport in 1939. She chats to Sam Baker about her award-winning and unique meditation on human connection and belonging.

1.30–2.30pm LA08

Picasso: A Life

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £11 £14

Picasso’s influence is felt all over the world. 50 years since his death, art historian Ruth Millington and Picasso specialist Gijs van Hensbergen examine one of the most significant artists of the 20th century. Exploring the man, the myth, and the more uncomfortable truths about the artist’s legacy, our expert panel discuss this undisputed master of modernism. Chaired by Jo Baring

Sponsored by Instituto Cervantes and the Embassy of Spain

2–3pm LR16

New Blood:

Crime and Thriller

Writers to Watch

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£11

Love a thrilling page-turner? Then don’t miss Sam Baker talking to three crime and thriller writers we think are ones to watch: Joanna Wallace (You’d Look Better as a Ghost); Jenny Lund Madsen (Thirty Days of Darkness) and Paul David Gould (Last Dance at the Discotheque for Deviants).

2–3pm LH14

Mozart in Italy

The Garden Theatre

£11

Acclaimed conductor Jane Glover documents Mozart’s formative trips to Italy as a teenager. From the concert salons of Milan to the church-filled streets of Rome, poverty-stricken Naples to Venice –the carnivalesque birthplace of public opera – Mozart was absorbing Italian culture, language, style and art. What he experienced during these journeys changed him and his music for ever. Chaired by Gavin Plumley

With thanks to our event sponsors

Image: Rena Effendi

Image: Paul Wilkinson

2–3pm LC38

The Power of the Outsider

The Hive £11

During his time as the most senior Black adviser in Boris Johnson’s government, Samuel Kasumu became increasingly aware he was an outsider; his experiences, assumptions and language were so different to others in Downing Street. In conversation with Georgina Godwin, Samuel reflects on his experiences and explores how our differences can be a force for good – in politics and beyond.

3.30–4.30pm LL13

Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£11 £14

Coco Chanel is known as a supreme innovator, vendor of all things elegant and beautiful, and creator of the most successful fashion brand of all time. But what lies beneath is far more complex. Acclaimed biographer Justine Picardie and V&A curator Oriole Cullen shed light on the myths and mysteries that surround this fashion icon.

Sponsored by Cunard

3.30–4.30pm

A Dead End for Russia?

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£12

£15

LC45

3.30–5pm LDF16

Dark Rye and Honey Cake

The Daffodil

£32

With reports of escalating Russian casualties in Ukraine and an attempted coup on home soil, are the cracks in Putin’s regime starting to show? War studies researcher Jade McGlynn, dissident journalist Mikhail Zygar and writer and historian Owen Matthews join Andrew Monaghan to explore how effective the Moscow propaganda machine is and ask whether the Russian strongman’s grip remains firm.

3.30–4.30pm LR45

The Hutchinson Heinemann

Proof Party

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

£20

Ticket includes a goody bag of limitededition proofs.

Hutchinson Heinemann presents its 2024 debut fiction: Jennie Godfrey’s The List of Suspicious Things is set in 1970s Yorkshire as women are being terrorised; Flora Carr’s The Tower is a fiery feminist retelling of Mary, Queen of Scots; Suzie Miller’s psychological thriller Prima Facie is about a young barrister turned victim; and Vanessa Walters’ Lagos Wife is a murder mystery set in Nigeria.

Chaired by Daniel Hahn

Ticket includes afternoon tea with a selection of finger sandwiches and cakes.

Belgium has long forged a distinctive baking culture through its seasonal feasts and festivals. Through recipes and stunning photography, Regula Ysewijn guides us in the traditions of this unique region and explores the history, art and culinary ties that bind the Low Countries. Join Regula for a delicious afternoon tea inspired by recipes from her new book.

4–5pm LD01

The Wife of Bath

The Garden Theatre

£11

Chaucer’s bawdy, boundary-pushing Wife of Bath has long captivated readers and writers.

Chaucer scholar and biographer Marion Turner explores Chaucer’s favourite character’s origins, how she related to real medieval women, and where her many travels have taken her since her 14th century debut, from Falstaff and Molly Bloom to #MeToo and Black Lives Matter.

With thanks to our event sponsor

4–5pm LL02

Secret Gardens:

A Private Tour

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£11

Step inside some of the finest gardens and horticultural destinations in the country. Through sumptuous photography, fascinating stories and interviews, Tim Hubbard and Victoria Summerly have explored the secret gardens of the Cotswolds and Cornwall. They share a captivating portrait of Britain’s best kept secrets and the lords, ladies and gardeners who own and manage them.

4–5pm LT03

The Globemakers:

The Curious Story of an Ancient

Craft

Image: Mark Turner

6–7pm LN04

The Chief Shepherdess

The Hive £13

Zoë Colville left her life as a London hairdresser for life on a Kent farm, where the only use for a hairdryer is warming new-born lambs and nature is a strict teacher and source of ultimate satisfaction. She discusses her transformation and why it’s always the right time to take a bold step and try something new.

The Hive £11

Google Maps might inform, but a globe inspires. Peter Bellerby, founder of the world’s only bespoke globe-makers, Bellerby and Co. discusses the evolution of globe-making through the centuries and shares how his team of expert cartographers and artists keep this ancient craft alive. Chaired by Julia Wheeler.

With thanks to our event sponsors

6–7pm LC30

What if AI Doesn’t Change the World?

The Garden Theatre

£13

AI is both feared as apocalyptic and touted as world changing. With global leaders in the field sounding the alarm, should we be worried or excited? In conversation with The Times technology business editor, Katie Prescott, Professor of Politics David Runciman, AI systems expert Michael Wooldridge and AI ethicist Kanta Dihal explore the promise and peril of AI and ask: are our future fears misplaced?

Sponsored by CyNam

6.15–7.15pm LX04

Chris van Tulleken

and Michael Mosely

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

If time is tight, what’s the one thing you can do to improve your health and wellbeing? Join doctors Chris van Tulleken and Michael Mosely for an eye-opening investigation into the science, economics, history and production of the food we eat. They discuss simple changes that you can make to your diet to transform your life.

Sponsored by Willans

It’s always the right time to take a bold step and try something new.

The Chief Shepherdess

6–7pm LQ13

Why Women Kill

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£12

When Women Kill by Alia Trabucco Zerán* recounts four murders committed by Chilean women; in My Men, Victoria Kielland takes us into the inner life of America’s first female serial killer. They talk to Fatima Manji about what drove the women to commit these acts, and how society, the media and those in power respond to female killers. Supported by The British Academy, the Norwegian Embassy and NORLA *This participant will appear digitally.

7.30–10pm LDF24

Winter Nights

The Daffodil

£65

Ticket includes a three-course dinner and a drink on arrival.

Winter is a time to rest, retreat and reflect. Settle in for a night of wintering with food to soothe the soul from chef Rachel de Thample, along with a treasure trove of poems and tales from Nancy Campbell and reflections and advice from Lia Leendhertz

8–9pm LR34

Bright Snow; Dark Deeds

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

8–9pm LM08

My Family and Other Radicals

The Garden Theatre

£13

Journalist Polly Toynbee’s family tree includes everyone from the Glenconners to Jessica Mitford and features ancestral home Castle Howard. Generations have grown up on the privileged side of the class divide while being committed left-wing, rabble-rousers fighting injustice. She talks to former Labour politician and novelist Alan Johnson about the guilt of privilege and exploding the myth of class mobility in Britain.

6.30–7.30pm LG01

David Baddiel:

The God Desire

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£13 £16

David Baddiel has spent lots of time fantasising about how much better life would be if there was actually a superhero dad who chased off death. Unfortunately for him, there isn’t. In his usual hilarious yet thoughtful manner, he discusses his divine yearnings and offers a new perspective on this ancient debate.

With thanks to our event sponsors

On a snowy Reykjavík morning, the bodies of five women are found in Lilja Sigurdardóttir’s White as Snow. In Eva Björg Ægisdóttir’s You Can’t See Me, a family’s dark secrets are exposed when a body is unearthed. Ragnar Jónasson’s Reykjavík – co-written with Iceland’s Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir – interrogates the country’s greatest unsolved missing person case. They talk to Karen Sullivan about their dark Iceland-set thrillers.

Sponsored by the Icelandic Literature Center and the Embassy of Iceland

8.30–9.30pm LE40

The British Bloke Decoded

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

The eccentricities and complexities of the regular British male, from his love of beer, football, sheds and banter comes under scrutiny in comedian Geoff Norcott’s book The British Bloke Decoded Here he talks to Sally-Anne Hayward about the research he undertook for the book and why he feels now is the time to forget the toxic male and celebrate the virtues of the simple British bloke.

Image: Ella Foote

Thursday 12 October

8.30–9.45am LC02

Breakfast with The Times:

Behind the Headlines

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

£20

Ticket includes tea or coffee and a pastry. Make an informed start to your day. Grab a coffee and a pastry and join The Times Brussels correspondent Bruno Waterfield and The Sunday Times Associate Editor Emily Kent Smith as they look at the news stories of the day.

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

Buy books by your favourite Festival authors from our online Waterstones bookshop

12–2pm LDF10

Tessa Kiros:

A Life in Food

The Daffodil

£42

Ticket includes a two-course lunch and a glass of wine.

Renowned for her exquisite food and travel books, Tessa Kiros joins us from her home in Tuscany. Over a delicious lunch, she celebrates the cultures and cuisines that connect the threads of her life. From her childhood in South Africa, widespread travels and visits to family in Thailand and Greece, her influences are wonderfully diverse.

With thanks to our event sponsor

11am–12pm LC24

Understanding

Afghanistan

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £11 £14

The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 has had a devastating impact, particularly on the country’s women who face increasing restrictions on basic freedoms. Afghan filmmaker Tamana Ayazi, Afghan journalist and BBC World Service broadcaster Sana Safi and Afghan scholar and think tank leader Orzala Nemat speak to The Guardian’s International Affairs Correspondent Emma Graham-Harrison about what happens next in the region.

Does Keir Starmer’s governmentin-waiting have what it takes?

Labour: On Track for No. 10?

12.30–1.30pm LR15

Celebrate with...

Rachel Joyce

Hotel du Vin £35

Ticket includes a glass of fizz and nibbles.

Enjoy a rare encounter and intimate audience with a major writer as they revisit a career-defining book. Rachel Joyce revisits The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry in the year it has moved to cinema screens in a major adaptation starring Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton. She talks to Tim Hubbard and answers your questions about the book.

1.15–2.15pm LC39

Labour: On Track for No. 10? The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£12 £15

Does Keir Starmer’s governmentin-waiting have what it takes to win next year’s general election?

Shadow Health Secretary

Wes Streeting, CEO of Ipsos Kelly Beaver and The Guardian‘s parliamentary sketch writer John Crace scrutinise policy approaches, discuss how the party intends to address key strategic challenges and examine whether a lead in the polls can translate into a change in government.

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

Image: Ellie Kealey

Image: Pal Hansen

Shakespeare’s Folio at 400

10.30–11.30am LD11

Shakespeare: The Book

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£11

Marking the anniversary of the first printed edition of Shakespeare’s collected works, scholars Emma Smith and Farah KarimCooper tell the story of the First Folio. Together with Charlotte Scott they explore how people have interacted with the text of this iconic book over 400 years, and how we might continue to read Shakespeare as a playwright relevant to the 21st century.

2–3pm LD09

Wordsmith Women

The Garden Theatre

£11

Queen of Countdown’s Dictionary

Corner Susie Dent and medievalist

Jenni Nuttall delve into their literary treasure-troves to unearth a plethora of curious words and interesting stories. Looking back at a millennium of English parlance, they reveal the history behind our everyday words and phrases – and show how the study of language can often challenge our assumptions about the past. Chaired by Alex Clark

12–1pm LD12

Shakespeare: The Man

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£11

The mysteries of how Shakespeare lived, whom and how he loved and how he worked, have long fascinated readers. Yet for almost two centuries after his death, Shakespeare had no biography. Stanley Wells and Margreta de Grazia explore how our knowledge of Shakespeare’s life and personality has shaped the way we interact with his work, in conversation with Paul Edmondson

1.30–2.30pm LD18

Greg Doran:

Directing the First Folio

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £11 £14

During his illustrious career, Greg Doran has directed or produced every play within Shakespeare’s First Folio, collaborating with our finest actors – from Judi Dench, David Tennant and Harriet Walter to Patrick Stewart, Simon Russell Beale and the late Antony Sher. He shares the excitement, joys and agonies of working on these greatest of plays with BBC Arts Correspondent Rebecca Jones

Receive 10% off when you book all three Shakespeare events

With thanks to our event sponsor

2–3pm LN03

Sacred Landscapes

The Hive £11

For thousands of years our ancestors imbued the landscapes they lived in with meaning, from stone monuments to sacred groves and places of pilgrimage. But today we seem to have lost that enchantment and intimate knowledge of place. James Canton and Katherine May explore how to rekindle our spiritual connection to landscape in Britain.

Sponsored by Leaf Creative

2.30–3.30pm LR58

The Sunday Times

Must Reads: Tom

Crewe

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£11

The Sunday Times Literary Editor Johanna Thomas-Corr talks to Tom Crewe about The New Life, which she described as ‘one of the most beautifully crafted novels of 2023’. Following two young men fighting to change the law and social mores of Victorian England against the backdrop of the Oscar Wilde trial, it’s already won the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction.

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

Want early access to your Festival favourites?

Become a Member and receive priority booking

See page 36

4–5pm LD04

The Uncanny

The Hive

£11

In The Uncanny, Freud explored why certain things fill us with a unique sense of dread and unease. Whether it’s glimpsing your doppelgänger, sensing another’s presence, or feeling like something’s ‘not quite right’, the uncanny is central to some of our most unsettling stories.

Psychologist Ben Alderson-Day and horror writer and anthologist Richard Hirst talk to Alex Clark

Brexit 2026

3.15–4.15pm LC50

Brexit 2026

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£11 £14

The Director of UK in a Changing Europe Anand Menon, the Public Policy Editor of the Financial Times Peter Foster, and The Times Brussels Correspondent Bruno Waterfield look at the prospects for a more productive and positive relationship with the EU. As the political landscape changes across Europe and the effects of Brexit become clearer, what might change and how might it affect us?

With thanks to our event sponsor

4–5pm LA14

Burma and Myanmar: People, Art, Empire

The Garden Theatre

£11

Although known internationally for its two names and long-running civil wars, Burma/Myanmar is a compelling and complex country. Through an array of art and objects, from ceramic tablets to stunning textiles, curator Alexandra Green and historian Mandy Sadan invite us to reconsider how we think about this fascinating country and give a preview of a major British Museum exhibition opening November 2023.

4–5pm LR14

Sarah Winman

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £13 £16

Sarah Winman’s Still Life – a bighearted story of people brought together by love, war, art and the ghost of E.M. Forster – was an instant Sunday Times bestseller, a BBC Two Between the Covers pick and received The InWords Literary Award. She joins Daniel Hahn to discuss the novel Graham Norton described as ‘sheer joy’ and her wider career.

As the effects of Brexit become clearer, what might change and how might it affect us?

4–5.30pm

LDF15

Dancing on Eggshells with

John Whaite

The Daffodil

£32

Ticket includes afternoon tea with a selection of finger sandwiches and cakes.

Celebrity chef, Bake Off champion and Strictly star John Whaite has become a household name across the UK. He shares his personal story – a complicated narrative of highs and lows, told with tenderness, wit and unflinching honesty – and talks to Uli Lenart about the sometimes painful pilgrimage we make as we gain wisdom from our experiences.

Sponsored by Cunard

6–7pm LE21

Timothy West: Pru and Me

The Garden Theatre

£13

Actors and married couple

Timothy West and Prunella Scales have touched the heart of the nation with their performances and amazing 60-year marriage. Timothy talks to his co-author, James Hogg, about their book Pru and Me which charts the couple’s careers and their relationship, including talking candidly about Prunella’s battle with dementia.

6.30–7.30pm LP01

Anthony Joseph

The Hive

£13

The acclaimed poet performs from his autobiographical collection Sonnets for Albert, which was awarded the prestigious T.S. Eliot Prize. Weighing the impact of growing up with a largely absent father, its calypsonian spin on the sonnet form combines musicality, energetic lyricism and emotional depth.

Supported by T. S. Eliot Prize shortlisted poet Victoria Adukwei Bulley (Quiet) and the T. S. Eliot Foundation

6.30–7.30pm LT07

4.30–5.30pm LC31

Wes Streeting

and Alan Johnson

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£11

Raised on a council estate, Shadow Secretary for Health and Social Care

Wes Streeting saw his teenage parents struggle to provide for him. Talking to former Labour politician and predecessor Alan Johnson, Wes pays tribute to the love and support that set him on his way out of poverty and informs everything about his mission in politics.

With thanks to our event sponsors

6.15–7.15pm LR24

Jojo Moyes and Mike Gayle

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£12 £15

Few writers get to readers’ hearts like Jojo Moyes ( Me Before You; The Giver of Stars) and Mike Gayle (The Man I Think I Know; All The Lonely People). With multi-million sales, acclaimed adaptations and book clubs following their every word, they discuss their writing journeys and new novels Someone Else’s Shoes and A Song of Me and You with Sam Baker

Sponsored by Cunard

Finding Hildasay: Walking in Search of Hope

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£13

Facing financial ruin and in the grip of severe depression, exparatrooper Christian Lewis set out on a six-year, 11,000-mile trek around the UK’s entire coastline with only his dog Jet for company. He talks to Liv Bolton, host of The Outdoors Fix podcast about his remarkable journey that changed his life in more ways than he imagined.

Image: Pete Rosenbaum

Image: Claudia Janke

Image: Simon Weller

Image: Naomi Woddis

7–8pm LA11

Queer Love in the Ancient World

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

Queer love in the ancient world was ignored or suppressed for centuries. But there’s a rich literary tradition of Greek and Roman love beyond the stories we know about. Accompanied by readings and live painting, poet Seán Hewitt and painter Luke Edward Hall share exhilarating queer tales from the classical canon in a riotous celebration of desire in all its forms.

Chaired by Uli Lenart

7.30–10pm LDF25

Wine Times

The Daffodil

£80

Ticket includes a three-course dinner with matched wines. Bar open until late.

Sunday Times Wine Columnist

Will Lyons hosts a special Festival episode of his award-winning podcast, sharing his love of wine, lively conversation and vinous culture. Discussing and decanting with him is former Labour politician and novelist Alan Johnson

Join them for a delicious threecourse dinner with Will’s choice of matched wines.

In partnership with The Sunday Times Wine Club

8.30–9.30pm LU03

Danny Cipriani

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

Arguably one of the most gifted players to have worn the red rose, Danny Cipriani made history as the youngest ever player in Premiership Rugby, making his England debut aged 20. Off the pitch, he was seeking a path through pressure and fame. He shares his story, from mental health to media scandals and playing with England’s greatest stars.

8–9pm LR03

The Sunday Times Must Reads:

Eleanor Catton

The Garden Theatre

£13

New Zealander Eleanor Catton made Booker Prize history by becoming its youngest ever winner at 28 with The Luminaries. She joins The Sunday Times Literary Editor

Johanna Thomas-Corr to talk about Birnam Wood, a gripping, propulsive literary thriller of human ambition and survival which has roots in Macbeth and a contemporary eye on the forces at play in our climate crisis-affected times.

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

8.30–9.30pm LT02

Helen Skelton:

In My Stride

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£13 £16

Whether it’s kayaking the Amazon or cycling to the South Pole, Helen Skelton is made of tough stuff. With Julia Wheeler she discusses her top life lessons and adventures and shows us how putting one foot in front of the other – on Strictly or in the great outdoors – can help us to journey back to ourselves.

Sponsored by Close Brothers Asset Management

9–10pm LP03

Harry Baker: Unashamed

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

Rediscover what makes you come alive with former World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker. Following a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, don’t miss him on our Festival stage as he covers everything from falafel-based Chris Evans diss tracks, online toilet seat reviews, and a cracking poem about wellies...

With thanks to our event sponsors

Chris Evans

I don’t understand WhatsOnStage

Spectacularly witty

Image: Murdo Macleod

Image: Andrew Brown

8.30–9.45am LC04

Breakfast with The Times: Behind the Headlines

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

£20

Ticket includes tea or coffee and a pastry.

Make an informed start to your day. Grab a coffee and pastry and join the Literary Editor of The Times Robbie Millen, think tank director Anand Menon and author

Tomiwa Owolade as they look at the news stories of the day.

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

11.30am–12.30pm

One Last Thing

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£11 £14

Retired brain surgeon Henry Marsh was unprepared for the impact of his diagnosis of advanced cancer. But in contemplating death, he celebrates life. Wendy Mitchell has written about living with dementia and in her final book she addresses our culture of death denial. With Julia Wheeler they discuss facing mortality and how to live with the end in mind.

12–1pm

The Times Radio

Debate: What Election Year Is It?

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£12 £15

Broadcasting live, Matt Chorley asks his panel of election experts what they think will happen at the next General Election. From Times Radio, Ayesha Hazarika and Kate McCann are joined by Times columnist Patrick Maguire to look to the past for answers, while polling-guru John Curtice crunches the numbers. Matt rounds things off with his quiz, Can You Get To No.10?

Sponsored by Oldham Foundation In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

10–11am LP11

Lemn Sissay: Let the Light Pour In Town Hall, Pillar Room

£11

For the past decade, Lemn Sissay has composed a short poem as dawn breaks each morning. Lifeaffirming, witty and full of wonder, these poems chronicle his own battle with the dark and are fuelled by resilience and defiant joy. Start your day right with an uplifting hour in the company of one of our most treasured poets.

12–1pm

Design the World Around Us

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£11

What can architecture and engineering teach us about our world? Engineer Roma Agrawal, and design student Aiysha Kukoyi discuss what we can learn from the design of structures that surround us and what they reveal about the people that made them and the communities that live beside them.

Chaired by Anne-Marie Imafidon

Sponsored by Baillie Gifford

12–2pm LDF09

Destination Fabulous: Finding the Best You

The Daffodil £42

Ticket includes a two-course lunch and a glass of wine.

Celebrate the wisdom and inner beauty that comes with growing older with The Times Fashion Director, Anna Murphy. At 50, Anna feels more visible than ever and she’s here to help you embrace your age. Talking to Julia Wheeler she shares her toolkit to finding the best version of yourself.

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

With thanks to our event sponsors

Image: Steve Ullathorne

12–1pm LD03

Summer Daze

The Hive £11

From the French Riviera to New York’s Fire Island, discover the dazzling, dark depths of infamous locations that attracted the world’s talented, rich and famous artists for wild and free summers. Biographers Jonathon Miles and Jack Parlett discuss what these iconic settings meant to the likes of Picasso, Coco Chanel, James Baldwin, The Rolling Stones and more.

Chaired by Erica Wagner

1.30–2.30pm

How Much Does Britain Cost?

LC09

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£11 £14

Institute for Fiscal Studies director

Paul Johnson examines the way the state raises and spends £1 trillion of our money every year. Government spending affects every aspect of our lives, but from the 2008 crash to present day, this account of political short-termism and public policy failure exposes the sobering truth about Britain’s finances. Chaired by Hashi Mohamed

Sponsored by Baillie Gifford

1.45–2.45pm LR46

The John Murray Press Proof Party

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

£20

12.30–1.30pm LR68

Celebrate with…

Eleanor Catton

Hotel du Vin £35

Ticket includes a glass of fizz and nibbles.

Eleanor Catton made Booker Prize history when she won with The Luminaries at just 28. Enjoy a rare encounter and intimate audience with Eleanor as she revisits this career-defining book with Anna James – a fiendishly clever ghost story, a gripping page-turner, and a thrilling novelistic achievement.

With thanks to our event sponsors

Ticket includes a goody bag of limited edition proofs.

Be the first to read three of 2024’s most anticipated debuts: Jiaming Tang’s Cinema Love follows gay men in rural China; Madeline Docherty’s Gender Theory is a searing tale about love, friendship and endometriosis: Scott Preston’s These Borrowed Hills is set on a sheep farm ravaged by foot and mouth disease.

2–3pm LC29

Why Black Lives in Britain Matter

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£11

In the rush to address racial injustice, Britain has followed the lead of the world’s dominant power: America. But what if we’re looking in the wrong place? In conversation with Trevor Phillips, writer Tomiwa Owolade explores whether conversations about race in Britain are viewed through an American lens, instead of reflecting the history, challenges and achievements of Britain’s increasingly diverse Black populations.

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

2–3pm LM07

Seán Hewitt and

Octavia

The Hive £11

Bright

All Down Darkness Wide is the luminous and haunting memoir from award-winning poet Seán Hewitt, a fearless examination of queer identity and trauma. In This Ragged Grace, Octavia Bright charts her journey through recovery from alcohol addiction and the parallel story of her father’s descent into Alzheimer’s. They share their remarkable explorations of love, sorrow and identity with Alex Clark

Image: Murdo Macleod

2–3pm

Tom Holland: War and Peace in Rome’s Golden Age

The Garden Theatre

£11

The Pax Romana were the glory days of the Roman Empire. Stretching from Scotland to Arabia it was the wealthiest and most formidable and vast state in the world. From the gilded capital to realms beyond the frontier, historian Tom Holland presents the dazzling history of the Roman Empire at the height of its power.

Sponsored by Cotswold Life

Trends are changing every day –learn what autumn trends work for you and your bank balance

4–5pm LR57

Meet the Literary Editors

The Garden Theatre

£11

What does a literary editor do?

Robbie Millen and Johanna Thomas-Corr (Literary Editors of The Times and The Sunday Times respectively) provide a behind the scenes insight into life on the books pages and share what we should all be reading this autumn. Chaired by Clare Clark

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

4–5pm LL11

Autumn Style with Anna Murphy

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

£20

Ticket includes a glass of fizz. Trends are changing every day and it can be overwhelming for your wallet and wardrobe. Looking at her top trends from the season’s catwalks, Fashion Director at The Times, Anna Murphy reveals how to make autumn trends work for you and your bank balance. Take away plenty of top styling tricks and easy ways to upgrade your wardrobe.

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

4–5pm

Truth to Power

The Hive

£11

Political cartoonists Peter Brookes and Morten Morland routinely send up our troubled era with their cartoons for The Times, dissecting contemporary political life with bite and wit. They share stand-out moments from the past year with Matt Chorley and draw for us, live from the stage.

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

4.30–5.30pm LN01

Hamza Yassin

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £11 £14

Wildlife cameraman and TV presenter Hamza Yassin won the hearts of the nation whilst on Strictly last year. Away from the limelight, his passion is birdwatching – and inspiring others to get out into nature. He shares stories from his varied career – from CBeebies and Countryfile to working on David Attenborough’s latest series, Wild Isles

Sponsored by Woodland Trust

With thanks to our event sponsors

Image: Charlie Hopkinson

Autumn Style with Anna Murphy

4.30–5.30pm LR66

Robert Peston and Cleo Watson

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£12 £15

Riotous and all too believable, Cleo Watson’s Whips is a timely satire on modern politics written from firsthand experience. Robert Peston’s Crash is a gripping thriller exposing the rotten heart of the financial system, set against the background of the 2007 banking crisis. Together they talk to Alex Clark about writing with the inside track.

4.30–5.30pm LM05

Careless

Town Hall, Pillar Room £11

Jenni Fagan was property of the state before birth. By the age of seven she had lived in multiple homes under multiple names. After a childhood spent in care, Norman Greenwood saw his birth certificate and learned that his real name was Lemn Sissay. They shine a light on the UK’s broken care system –and celebrate the redemptive power of creativity.

6.15–7.15pm LM02

The Secret Lives of Ian Fleming and John

le Carré

The Garden Theatre

£13

During his subject’s lifetime, biographer Adam Sisman withheld details of numerous clandestine love affairs that fed into John le Carré’s writing. Nicholas Shakespeare – a close friend of le Carré – was granted unprecedented access to Ian Fleming’s family papers and reveals a dramatic life that provided inspiration for Fleming’s most famous creation. They talk to Clare Clark about these complicated men.

6.30–7.30pm LR09

Val McDermid with Nicola Sturgeon

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £13 £16

Queen of Crime Val McDermid joins fan, friend and fellow Scot, former first minister Nicola Sturgeon in conversation about her lauded career which has seen her sell over 18 million books, be translated into over 40 languages and receive the Theakstons Old Peculier

Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award. She discusses her latest, fiendishly clever Karen Pirie novel, Past Lying

With thanks to our event sponsor

6.15–7.15pm

LP08

Caleb Azumah Nelson Presents...

The Hive £13

Festival Guest Curator Caleb Azumah Nelson (Open Water; Small Worlds) brings together a vibrant cast of writers whose roots lie in Ghana, but whose writing and sense of home stretches far beyond. Jessica George ( Maame), Peace Adzo Medie (Nightbloom), Nii Ayikwei Parkes ( Azúcar) and Sharon Dodua Otoo ( Ada’s Realm), join him for readings and lively discussion. One not to miss.

Supported by Goethe-Institut London

7–8pm LR10

Lauren Groff and C Pam Zhang

Town Hall, Pillar Room £13

The New York Times bestselling author of Fates and Furies and Matrix Lauren Groff introduces The Vaster Wilds. Lauren is joined by lauded next generation novelist and former student, C Pam Zhang – the Booker Prize-longlisted author of The Rest of These Hills is Gold and The Land of Milk and Honey. They discuss their new novels and creative relationship. Chaired by Erica Wagner.

Image: Alan Strutt

Image: Clayton Cubitt

Image: Rosa Ablah

Image: Suki Dhanda

Image: Ralf+Steinberger

Image: Benjamin Adu

Image: Eli Sinkus

Image: Charlotte Graham

7–8pm LC06

Theresa May

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£38 £42

Ticket includes a signed copy of The Abuse of Power RRP £25

As prime minister and home secretary, Theresa May confronted a series of issues in which the abuse of power led to devastating results for individuals and significantly damaged the reputation of, and trust in, public institutions and politicians. The former prime minister argues for a radical rethink in how we approach our politics and public life. Sponsored by Oldham Foundation

7–10pm LDF18

Andi Oliver’s Caribbean

The Daffodil £65

Ticket includes a three-course dinner and a drink on arrival.

Caribbean cooking is the cooking of 700 islands, each bringing their own flavour to the plate. TV chef Andi Oliver reveals the melting pot of cultural influences, history and heritage that has uniquely shaped its cuisine. Over a vibrant dinner inspired by The Pepperpot Diaries, she chats with daughter Miquita Oliver about their Caribbean travels and reconnecting with their Antiguan roots.

8.15–9.15pm LA04

DIVA:

Creating an Icon

The Garden Theatre £13

Billie Holliday and Maria Callas, Elton John and Grace Jones, Beyoncé and Harry Styles: from outfits and stage sets to dazzling personas, what creates a superstar?

Kate Bailey, curator of the V&A’s smash-hit show DIVA, talks to arts and culture journalist Charlotte Jansen about some of our most iconic performers from stage and screen.

8.30–9.30pm LR02

The Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence:

Zadie Smith

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £13 £16

Joining an elite list of winners that includes Martin Amis, Margaret Atwood and Kazuo

Ishiguro, Zadie Smith receives The Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence 2023. From acclaimed novels including White Teeth, On Beauty and NW to essays, short stories and the play, The Wife of Willesden, she discusses her illustrious writing career and new novel, The Fraud with Caleb Azumah Nelson

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

With thanks to our event sponsors

Caribbean cooking is the cooking of 700 islands, each bringing their own flavour to the plate

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Image: Alex Cameron

Andi Oliver’s Caribbean

8.30–10pm LP07

The Gothic Cabaret

The Hive £13

Calling all guys and ghouls…

Friday the 13th is upon us, and our gothic cabaret is the place to shake your bones. Featuring musicians Jo Carley and The Old Dry Skulls with their combination of blues-inspired voodoo sounds and old timey vaudeville cabaret, and spine-tingling stories from Moth Sanctuary – the dark side has never been so fun.

9–10pm

Matt Chorley: Planes Trains and Toilet Doors

Town Hall, Pillar Room £13

LC34

9–10pm

LE60

A History of Women in 101 Objects

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

Forget Downing Street and the so-called ‘corridors of power’, some of the biggest high and lows of British political history have taken place in car parks, village halls and seaside resorts. From chance meetings, untimely deaths, and snap (sometimes daft) decisions, join Matt Chorley for this hilarious journey through 50 places that really changed politics.

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

The way we remember the past remains dishearteningly patriarchal. Join Annabelle Hirsch, author of A History of Women in 101 Object s, and chair Anita Rani for a fun and witty treasure hunt through history, culture, politics, fashion and art. They will be joined by a very special guest.

With thanks to our event sponsor

BAFTA Young Presenters

We are delighted to be joined by winners of the BAFTA Young Presenters Competition, including 18 year old Precious Assah, to introduce some of our authors and family events on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 October.

Look out for them at the Festival.

Friday the 13th is upon us, and our gothic cabaret is the place to shake your bones

The Gothic Cabaret

10–11am

LE56

Yu Miri and Morgan Giles

9.30–11am

LDF01

The Shift LIVE with Trinny Woodall

The Daffodil

£28

Ticket includes brunch. In this special live episode of hit podcast The Shift, journalist Sam Baker chats to beauty entrepreneur Trinny Woodall about how to improve self-confidence and feel empowered at every stage of your life. Be inspired by Trinny’s practical fashion, beauty, health, and life advice – delivered in her signature frank and funny style – to make positive change in your life.

10–11am

Mary Beard:

Emperor of Rome

LB02

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£16 £20

Britain’s best-known classicist Mary Beard shines a spotlight on the emperors who ruled the Roman empire, from Julius Caesar to Alexander Severus. She tackles the questions we all want to know the answers to: what was it to be Roman? What power did emperors actually have? Was the Roman palace really so bloodstained?

In partnership with TLS

Noel Fitzpatrick: Supervet

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

One for animal lovers everywhere; TV’s Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick talks to Georgina Godwin about his first non-fiction book for children, The Superpets (and Me!) Amazing True Stories of Incredible Animals from the Nation’s Favourite Supervet and Keira and Me, the beautifully illustrated and uplifting story of Noel’s heartwarming relationship with his dog Keira.

10–11am

LC21

Are Women’s Rights in Danger?

The Garden Theatre

£13

While the Taliban ban women and girls from taking part in aspects of daily life, reproductive rights are under threat in the US and over 1,500 police have been accused of violent offences against women in the UK. Human rights lawyers

Jennifer Robinson and Keina Yoshida and politician Dawn Butler examine the changes needed to ensure women’s rights and freedoms are protected. Chaired by journalist Masuma Ahuja.

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

Yu Miri won Japan’s most prestigious literary prize, the Akutagawa, meanwhile her novel Tokyo Ueno Station was hailed as ‘a masterwork from one of Japan’s most brilliant outsider writers’. Together with her lauded translator Morgan Giles she discusses The End of August, a ground-breaking, multi-generational novel about a Korean family living under Japanese occupation with Daniel Hahn

Sponsored by the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation

12–1.30pm

How to be a Literary Explorer

Sinners Enclosure

£14

LR70

Ticket includes tea and coffee. Pack your curiosity and journey off the beaten track with our Literary Explorer in Residence Ann Morgan in this whistle-stop tour of translated texts rarely seen in English that will turn reading upside down. Playing with ideas of truth and identity, and chasing down assumptions and biases, it will test what embracing not knowing can teach us about our selves and our world.

With thanks to our event sponsors

10.30–11.30am LR49

Image: Dan Kennedy

Image: Ray Burmiston

12–1pm LC10

Taiwan: A State of Ambiguity?

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£13 £16

Frequently in the headlines, the tiny island of Taiwan lies close to mainland China and its disputed status has huge significance for global politics. Robin Niblett, Jonathan Sullivan and Isabelle Chang discuss the history, culture and economy of Taiwan and explain why its stability and security are critical to maintaining peace in the region.

1–3pm

LDF08

Recipes to Reconnect

The Daffodil £42

Ticket includes a two-course lunch and a glass of wine.

Anna Boglione, of Petersham Nurseries and wellness platform

THE GUT, explores the connection between nature, the food we eat and how we feel. In conversation with Isabella Tree, owner of Knepp’s pioneering rewilding project, they discuss ways we can actively support nature’s regeneration. Join them for lunch featuring recipes from Hugh FearnleyWhittingstall, inspired by Isabella and her family’s work at Knepp.

2–3pm

Audrey Magee

Hotel du Vin £11

Two outsiders visit a small island off the west coast of Ireland with unforeseen and haunting consequences in Audrey Magee’s lyrical, brooding fable The Colony Longlisted for The Booker Prize, the novel follows her Women’s Prize longlisted debut The Undertaking. She joins Alex Clark in conversation about her immensely powerful and affecting work.

12.15–1.15pm LR04

Desert Island Books: Nicola

Sturgeon

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

You’re stranded on a desert island with six of your favourite books. Which ones would you choose?

Following in the footsteps of previous Cheltenham castaways Ian Hislop, Sebastian Faulks, Ian Rankin and Maggie O’Farrell, we hear from the former first minister of Scotland and book-lover Nicola Sturgeon about the titles she would be happily marooned with. Chaired by Sam Baker

2–3pm LX06

Sadiq Khan: Breathe

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £13 £16

With increasing wildfires, extreme temperatures, flooding and people dying prematurely, there’s so much more to do to tackle London‘s polluted air. Mayor of London

Sadiq Khan speaks with Sathnam Sangera about the climate emergency and his call to action, demonstrating how anyone – whether voter, activist or politician – can take a stand.

Clive Myrie

The Times and Sunday Times Forum £14 £17

Clive Myrie dreamed of becoming a journalist as a Bolton teen with a paper round. 30 years on, the BBC journalist has reported on some of the biggest stories of our time. He reflects on his remarkable career, including reporting from the front line in Ukraine, and shares how his family history has influenced his view of the world. Chaired by Hannah MacInnes

Image: Scottish Politico

Image: Greater London Authority

4–5pm LH13

Writing Historical Fiction: How Not to Lose the Plot

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

£13

How do you ensure your fictional world is historically accurate? Sarah Dunant explores women’s lives through her Italian Renaissance novels. Allan Mallinson’s Matthew Hervey series chronicles the life of a British officer serving from the late Napoleonic Wars. With critic Erica Wagner they reveal the secret to plotting a series that weaves characters into a flawlessly researched historical setting.

How do comingof-age narratives compare across cultures and continents?

4–5pm LR56

Coming-of-Age Around the World

The Garden Theatre

£13

Whether it’s David Copperfield or Catcher in the Rye, Norwegian Wood or Normal People, comingof-age novels are some of our most enduring reads. But with the markers of adulthood differing vastly across the globe, how do comingof-age narratives compare across cultures and continents? Jessica George, Marie Aubert and Santanu Bhattacharya join Literary Explorer in Residence Ann Morgan to discuss.

Sponsored by the Norwegian Embassy and NORLA

4–5pm LC18

Russia, China and the New Cold War

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£13 £16

The 21st century has seen a decline in relations between Russia and China and the US. The Ukraine war has brought Russia and China closer together, creating potential for disastrous confrontation between the superpowers. Journalist and broadcaster Isabel Hilton, International relations specialist Robin Niblett and Gilbert Achcar, author of The New Cold War, discuss the roots of this new tension.

4–5pm LW01

Future (Hi)Stories

Hotel du Vin

£13

Can creative writing help us dream of alternative worlds and imagine different futures for ourselves, technology and the planet? Author Kelechi Okafor, classicist Genevieve Liveley, and technology researcher Oishee Kundu discuss how we can combine the ancient and modern to expand our imagination and reimagine our futures.

4.30–5.30pm LL01

Giving Us Back Our Beauty Standards

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

We’re encouraged to obsess over our beauty while also being told to love ourselves the way we are. But what if there’s a way out of the beauty myth? Miquita Oliver speaks to Anita Bhagwandas about where beauty standards originated from and unpicks why they’ve been perpetuated and upheld today.

4.45–5.45pm LE03

Charlie Mackesy

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

Author, artist and illustrator

Charlie Mackesy won the Animated Short Film Academy award for the screen version of his bestselling book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse which he co-directed and co-wrote. He discusses the challenges and rewards of making the film with Julia Wheeler, including the process of bringing his heart-warming story to life.

6–7pm LN02

Walk Yourself Well

The Garden Theatre

£13

Spending time in nature can help us soothe anxiety, manage stress and sleep better. Countryfile presenter Julia Bradbury and Festival Guest Curator Alex George chat about their love of walking and the role it plays in their lives. Whether it’s climbing a mountain or strolling round the park, be inspired to take the first step to a healthier, happier you.

With thanks to our event sponsors

Image: Charlie Gray

Image: Venni

Image: Andrew Burton

6–7pm LP09

Max Porter:

Shy

Parabola Arts Centre

£13

In Shy, a troubled teenager spends nighttime listening to the voices in his head. Join bestselling author of Grief is the Thing with Feathers, Lanny, Max Porter, as he shares his major new work. Our former Festival Guest Curator returns with an innovative performance of the novel with Joe Guglani and the Tongue Fu Band, followed by a discussion of the novel with Alex Clark

6.30–7.30pm LC32

The NHS: A Culture of Cover Up?

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£13

£16

Caroline Wheeler has spent two decades covering the contaminated blood scandal which led to 2,800 deaths, while Hannah Barnes has published the inside story of the collapse of The Tavistock Clinic’s Gender Service for Children. They join Today presenter Justin Webb to ask whether a secretive culture of cover up in the NHS is inflicting long-term harm on patients.

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

Want early access to your Festival favourites? Become a Member and receive priority booking

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7–8pm LR40

Teacher’s Pet

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

‘Give me a girl at an impressionable age, and she is mine for life’ said Muriel Spark’s Jean Brodie. Sam Baker talks to two writers whose thrilling new books follow young women falling under the spell of charismatic leaders in the school halls: major New Zealand novelist Catherine Chidgey (Pet) and Granta Best Young British Novelist K Patrick (Mrs S).

Sponsored by Creative New Zealand

7.15–8.15pm LX03

7–8pm LE01

Emma Freud Meets... Richard E. Grant

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£16 £20

From growing up in Swaziland to navigating the highs and lows of Hollywood, Richard E. Grant’s wide-ranging career began with Withnail & I in 1986 and he was Oscar nominated for Can You Ever Forgive Me? in 2019. He talks to Emma Freud about his memoir A Pocketful of Happiness, the majority of which was written in the last year of his wife Joan Washington’s life. Sponsored by Cunard

A Guide to Sex, Evolution and the Female Body

The Hive

£13

Why do women live longer than men? Why are they more likely to get Alzheimer’s? Does the female brain really exist? With boundless curiosity and sharp wit, Lucy Cooke and Cat Bohannon answer the questions scientists should have addressed. Prepare to change the way you think about sex, sexual identity and the very forces that shape evolution.

With thanks to our event sponsors

Image: Francesca Jones

Image: Ebony Lamb

Image: Alice Zoo

7–10pm LDF26

Why We Go Out Out

The Daffodil

£65

Ticket includes a three-course dinner and a drink on arrival. Bar open until late.

Robert Elms was 13 years old when he saw Jackson Five play live. Since then, live music has formed a huge part of his life; from playing or listening to pub rock and jazz funk, to watching Tom Waits showboating with an umbrella or Grace Jones vogueing with a mannequin. He speaks with Alex Clark about why experiencing live music matters.

8–10pm LP15

Tongue Fu

Parabola Arts Centre

£15

They’ve rocked Glastonbury and sold out their last Cheltenham appearances. Tongue Fu are back by popular demand. Bringing together the sharpest poets, storytellers, comedians and rappers to perform with improvised soundtracks from the Tongue Fu band, this is a riotous evening of literature, live music and laughs that’s sure to shake up your Saturday night. Guest line up to be announced on cheltenhamfestivals.com.

8.30–9.30pm LE05

Gaby Roslin:

Spread the Joy

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£13 £16

TV presenter and broadcaster Gaby Roslin is on a mission to spread joy and help us discover the simple pleasures to be found in our everyday lives. Her guided journal Spread the Joy encourages readers to appreciate life and pass the joy onto others. Gaby offers tips and tricks as well as anecdotes and stories in conversation with Bryony Gordon

9–10pm

A Journey Through Türkiye’s First Century

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

Long distance cyclist and travel writer Julian Sayarer has cycled the country of his roots, while Maureen Freely translates classic Turkish literature, Orhan Pamuk and has written novels inspired by her childhood in Türkiye. They join Ann Morgan to talk about their home country’s past, present and future as it marks its 100th year as a Republic.

8.30–9.30pm LR23

Anne Enright

The Garden Theatre £13

‘One of our greatest living novelists’ (The Times), Booker Prize-winning Irish author of The Gathering, The Green Road and Actress

Anne Enright joins Claire Kilroy in conversation about her lauded new novel, The Wren, The Wren, a moving generational saga of daughterhood and motherhood.

9–10pm LE32

Ed Gamble: Glutton

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£30 £33

Ticket includes a signed copy of Glutton RRP £20.

Ed Gamble has loved food all his life. Before he could walk, Ed already knew that he preferred poached salmon to puree, that celery was a calorie-sapping waste of time, and that mashed potatoes should be made with lashings of butter. Join Ed and Great British Menu host Andi Oliver as he shares a delightful buffet of stories from a life lived through food.

Image: Hugh Chaloner

Image: Still Moving Media

9.30–11am LDF04

Brunch with Ravinder

Bhogal and Caleb

Azumah Nelson

The Daffodil

£28

Ticket includes brunch.

Celebrated chef Ravinder Bhogal invites you to a feast for the mind and senses as she delves into conversation with literary star and Festival Guest Curator Caleb Azumah Nelson. They discuss food, faith and friendship over an irresistible brunch with dishes from Ravinder’s ‘inventive, bewitching and mouthwatering’ cookbook Comfort and Joy.

10–11am LB01

10–11am LD05

Women in Orwell’s World Town Hall, Pillar Room £12

40 million copies of 1984 and Animal Farm sold, and his name synonymous with dystopia, George Orwell is a towering figure. But how did women fare in his life and work? Anna Funder*, whose biography Wifedom examines Orwell’s forgotten wife and Sandra Newman, author of Julia, a feminist retelling of 1984, discuss writing women back into the story with Alex Clark

*This participant will appear digitally.

10.30–11.30

LC11

Who Rules the Waves?

11am–12pm LR18

Chris Hadfield

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £13 £16

From crewing the US Space Shuttle and being the Operations Director for NASA, to playing David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’ in zero gravity and becoming a multiple New York Times bestselling author, astronaut Chris Hadfield has lived an extraordinary life. Don’t miss him in conversation with Robin Ince about his varied career and his new heart-stopping thriller, The Defector

1–3.30pm LDF11

Sunday Lunch with Jay Blades

The Daffodil

£42

Poem

How to Read a Latin

The Garden Theatre

£13

Back by popular demand, the Classics dons Mary Beard, Llewelyn Morgan and Peter Stothard get together to translate and unpick the meaning behind a latin poem. Translations are provided and only minimal knowledge of Latin is required. In partnership with TLS

With thanks to our event sponsors

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

From the first oar-powered warships to modern nuclear submarines, sea power has determined world power. International relations specialist Robin Niblett is joined by former Naval Commander Eleanor Stack and Russian studies expert Andrew Monaghan, author of The Sea in Russian Strategy, to examine the continuing significance of oceans in warfare, predicting possible sites of the next major naval conflicts.

Ticket includes a two-course lunch and a glass of wine.

Star of The Repair Shop

Jay Blades left school at 15 with no qualifications and has faced many challenges in life. Today he’s a household name with an MBE and chancellor of his former university. Join him for Sunday lunch as he shares the life lessons that have shaped his outlook and helped him to live life to the fullest.

Image: Cristobal Vivar

1.15–2.15pm LE02

Tim Peake

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£32 £35

Ticket includes a signed copy of Space: The Human Story RRP £22

Tim Peake is one of only 628 people to have explored Space, and was the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station. 50 years after the last astronaut walked on the moon, he talks to Julia Wheeler about the realities of space exploration as revealed in his book Space: The Human Story

2–3pm LH06

Beyond the Wall: Life in the GDR

The Garden Theatre

£13

Millions of Germans alive today were born in a country that no longer exists. The West remembers the German Democratic Republic as a grey socialist blur, but it has its own identity and over 41 years weaved a distinct strand into the national narrative. Historian Katja Hoyer and poet and novelist Lutz Seiler colour in East Germany’s vanished past and discuss its legacy with Daniel Hahn

Supported by Goethe-Institut London

3.30–4.30pm LC19

Red Memory: China’s Cultural Revolution

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £13 £16

The Cultural Revolution in China was a decade-long period of political and social turbulence. Nearly fifty years on, this brutal and tumultuous decade continues to shape China today. Former Guardian China correspondent Tania Branigan and Chinese foreign policy expert Yu Jie join journalist and broadcaster Isabel Hilton to examine how the cultural revolution has influenced contemporary policy and politics in China.

1.30–2.30pm LU02

Louise Minchin: Fearless

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage

£13 £16

Broadcaster Louise Minchin pushed herself to the extreme to bring endurance adventures with trailblazing women to the forefront: a journey that saw her swim the Antarctic Circle and cycle across Argentina. Louise is joined by special guests to explore what drives their resilience and determination, inviting us to find the bravery inside us all. Chaired by Hannah MacInnes

With thanks to our event sponsors

3.30–4.30pm LE34

Richard Curtis: The Sunday Times Culture Interview

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£16 £20

Screenwriter, producer and director Richard Curtis sits down with Scarlett Curtis for The Sunday Times Culture Interview. Choosing clips from some of the most iconic moments, he looks back at a prolific career including rom coms Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love

Actually and About Time as well as the loved TV shows Blackadder and The Vicar of Dibley and the creation of one of comedy’s greatest ever characters, Mr. Bean

4–5pm LR54

Shall I Be Mother?

Town Hall, Pillar Room £12

Today the decision to have or not have children is a complex and nuanced decision. Catalan author of Boulder Eva Baltasar* and Mexican author of Still Born Guadalupe

Nettel* join our Literary Explorer in Residence Ann Morgan to talk about how it’s influenced their new works.

Sponsored by Instituto Cervantes and the Embassy of Spain

*This participant will appear digitally.

Image: Rachel Joseph

Image: Alex Chamberlin

Image: Rich Hardcastle

4–5pm LQ07

Dr Alex George: The Mind Manual

Parabola Arts Centre

£13

Doctor, UK Ambassador for Mental Health and Festival Guest Curator

Alex George has been on the frontline of the mental health crisis, working to reduce stigma and raise awareness when it comes to the nation’s wellbeing. Alex talks to psychotherapist and writer Anna Mathur about how we can create the foundations for good mental fitness and shares his mental health toolkit.

Sponsored by Gloucestershire College

4–5pm LP06

Natalie Haynes:

Divine Might

The Garden Theatre

£13

Goddesses are as mighty, revered and destructive as their male counterparts. Natalie Haynes returns with her trademark passion, wit and fierce feminism for a show stopping tour of the divine might of goddesses. From Athene, who sprang fully formed from her father’s head, to Artemis, goddess of hunting and protector of young girls and Aphrodite, goddess of sex and desire.

5.15–6.15pm LP16

Robin Ince: Bibliomaniac

The Queen’s Hotel, Regency Suite

£13

Why play to 12,000 people when you can play to 12? Comedian and presenter Robin Ince’s stadium tour with Brian Cox was scuppered by the pandemic. Rather than doing nothing he decided he would instead go on a tour of over 100 bookshops. Join him for anecdotes and tall tales from between the stacks of the UK’s weird and wonderful bookshops.

5.30–7pm LDF17

The Art of Making Whisky

The Daffodil

£35

Ticket includes sharing board and whisky tastings.

Founder of Cotswolds Distillery

Dan Szor reveals the art of whisky distillation and maturation with sommelier Dave Broom. Share a dram with Dan as he swaps bustling New York for the rolling hills of the Cotswolds and chats about his journey into the world of whisky.

5.45–6.45pm LE06

Barry Cryer: A Celebration

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

From his days in music hall and revue to his collaborations with Morecambe and Wise, Kenny Everett, David Frost and the I’m Sorry, I Haven’t A Clue team, Barry Cryer was a legendary comedian. Celebrate his life with his son

Bob Cryer, author of Barry Cryer: Same Time Tomorrow?, as he joins comedians Jack Dee and Arthur Smith, actor Helen Atkinson-Wood and chair Alex Clark to discuss the man behind the one-liners.

6–7pm LL12

Elizabeth Day: Friendaholic

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage £13 £16

Growing up, Elizabeth Day wanted everyone to like her, to the detriment of her own boundaries and mental health. She speaks to her good friend Sathnam Sanghera about the significance and evolution of their friendship, her experience and those of others around the world, via ghosting, frenemies, social media and other communication styles. Together they leave no stone unturned.

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

With thanks to our event sponsors

Image: Rory Lewis

Image: Andrew Burton

Image: The Cosmic Shambles Network and Steve Best

6–7pm LT04

To the Ends of the Earth?

The Garden Theatre £13

Julia Wheeler talks to two adventurers about their remarkable journeys to the planet’s most at-risk areas. Leon McCarron travelled 1,600km of the Tigris River – once the lifeblood of ancient Mesopotamia and modern Iraq, rendered almost uninhabitable by climate change and geopolitics – by boat. Kate Rawles rode a self-built bamboo bike 8,000 miles through South America to highlight biodiversity loss.

6.30–7.30pm LR59

The Sunday Times Must Reads: Claire Kilroy

Town Hall, Pillar Room £13

7.15–8.15pm LR64

Liv Little and Yomi Adegoke

The Hive £13

Cormac McCarthy: An American Great

6–7pm LD16

Cormac McCarthy: An American Great Parabola Arts Centre £13

From Blood Meridian to The Border Trilogy, No Country for Old Men to The Road, Cormac McCarthy’s bleakly violent, apocalyptic visions of the American south earned him literary legend status in his own lifetime. In the year of his passing, Erica Wagner and Travis Elborough join Daniel Hahn to reflect on a remarkable body of work.

When Soldier Sailor – Irish author Claire Kilroy’s first novel in over a decade – was published, The Sunday Times described it as ‘a novel that immediately feels like the definitive work on modern motherhood’. She joins Literary Editor of The Sunday Times Johanna Thomas-Corr to discuss the novel that many are calling one of the best of the year.

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

Two debut novelists share their highly-anticipated reads: Slay in Your Lane author Yomi Adegoke’s The List explores the fall-out of a media power couple after a very public allegation. Gal-dem founder Liv Little’s Rosewater is a queer black love story that celebrates chosen family and staying true to yourself.

Chaired by Clarissa Pabi

8–9pm LC44

James O’Brien

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

£14 £17

We are living in a country almost unrecognisable from the one that existed a decade ago. Who broke Britain and how did they do it?

James O’Brien reveals the shady network of influence that has created a broken Britain of strikes, shortages and scandals, revealing how a select few have conspired to bring Britain to its knees. Chaired by Hannah MacInnes.

With thanks to our event sponsors

Start creating your wishlist on our website before tickets go on sale

Image: Ula Soltys

Image: Magda Christie

Cormac McCarthy’s bleakly violent, apocalytpic visions of the American south earned him literary status in his own lifetime

60 years later, Hill House is occupied again... Discover the enduring power of the haunted house on the page and screen

The Haunted House

8–9pm LD06

The Haunted House

The Garden Theatre

£13

In a special visit from the US, author Elizabeth Hand presents the landmark first novel to return to the world of Shirley Jackson’s Hill House. Joined by horror expert Roger Luckhurst they discuss the enduring power of the haunted house on the page and screen with Alex Clark

8.30–9.30pm LC20

Section 28, Pride and Protest

Town Hall, Pillar Room

£13

While Section 28 prohibited the ‘promotion of homosexuality’, bringing loneliness and abuse on those growing up gay under it, it inspired protest and the formation of LGBTQ+ rights groups. 20 years after the act was repealed, author and psychotherapist Emmett de Monterey, journalist and historian Paula Akpan and writer and filmmaker Juliet Jacques consider its legacy. Chaired by Laurie Belgrave.

Reading For Pleasure

Cheltenham Festivals is on a mission to inspire the next generation of readers

If you’re a KS2 or KS3 teacher looking to boost reading for pleasure in your school, then look no further than Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils. With an annual conference (this year on Tuesday 10 October), a national network of teachers’ book groups, and a course exclusively for Gloucestershire teachers, there’s something for everyone to learn and enjoy.

Check out our champion books for the upcoming academic year and find out more about how to get involved at cheltenhamfestivals.com/rtrp

All our family events are Relaxed. Find out more on page 108

Saturday 7 October

12–1pm LF61

Maddie Moate: A Very Curious Christmas

Parabola Arts Centre

Ages 6+ £8

10–10.50am

The Museum of Marvellous Things

Parabola Arts Centre

Ages 5+ £8

LF23

10–11am LF38

Mythological Mayhem with Maz Evans

The Hive Ages 9+ £8

Let the magic begin! Stars in jars, moons like balloons, dancing doo-dahs and singing noo-nahs, this is a museum like no other –it’s made from the magic of your imagination. With giant puppets, songs, interactive storytelling and music, join bestselling author and illustrator of Sir Charlie Stinky Socks Kristina Stephenson for a peek inside this marvellous museum.

Come and celebrate the next generation of hilarious adventures from Who Let The Gods Out? author Maz Evans as she takes you on a journey through the Maya Underworld in Oh Maya Gods! Learn about the mysteries and the magic of Mesoamerica and get an introduction to the ancient sport of Pok-a-Tok, with the usual dose of Maz’s mythological mayhem.

10–11am

LF60

Blanksy the Street Cat

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

Ages 5+ £8

Blanksy the Cat uses his creative talents to help his friend Pete the Busker become rich. Join comedy writer Gavin Puckett and World Book Day illustrator Allen Fatimaharan for an art-tastic morning inspired by the book. Expect hilarious read-alouds, sing-alongs, interactive games and create your own Blanksy the Street Cat.

Ever wondered why crackers go bang? How fairy lights work? Can reindeer communicate? CBeebies presenter Maddie Moate is here to answer all these questions and more along with science demos and wacky Christmas facts. Get the chance to ask Maddie your own curious questions about wintery science and Christmas traditions around the world too.

12–12.45pm

Spyceratops

The Hive Ages 3+ £8

LF20

Are you ready to become a super spy? Go undercover with award-winning author-illustrator Alex Willmore to meet Spyceratops, the little dinosaur who is the greatest secret agent in the world. You’ll hear a hilarious reading of the story before working with Alex to create a new spy character and join in with the draw-along.

12–1pm LF15

Tom Gates

with Liz Pichon

The Garden Theatre

Ages 8+ £8

Get your pencils at the ready and doodle along with author and illustrator Liz Pichon as she draws Tom Gates and a host of other characters. Ask Liz questions about her books, doodling and more, and find out everything about the newest book in the Tom Gates series, Happy to Help (Eventually)!

Art Makes People Powerful

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

Ages 7+ £23

Ticket price includes one adult and child and book. Additional child tickets £10 each.

Unlock your creativity with celebrated British artist, author, educator and protect-the-arts activist, Bob and Roberta Smith

Find out how you can use art to feel more powerful, make speed art, and learn about the colour wheel and famous artists with interactive songs in this action-packed art workshop. Session times:

LF17: 12–1pm

LF18: 1.30–2.30pm

2–3pm LF12

The Worst Horrible Histories

Parabola Arts Centre

Ages 8+ £8

Expect savage stories, gruesome games, foul facts and deadly drawing with illustrator Martin Brown and celebrate 30 horrible years of the world’s bestselling children’s history series. Find out the best worst bits of history and pick up some wicked drawing tips.

1.30–2.15pm LF22

Shifty McGifty

The Hive Ages 4+ £8

Celebrate 10 paw-some years of everyone’s favourite baking doggy duo, Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam, the fur-bulous crime-fighting doggy detectives. Expect interactive storytelling, live illustration and drawing games as author and illustrator, Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton, bring the series to life.

2–3pm LF57

You Don’t Know

What War Is

The Garden Theatre

Ages 11+ £8

12-year-old Yeva Skalietska’s life was changed forever when Russia invaded Ukraine. Sheltering in a damp basement, Yeva started to write a diary which was eventually published. Hear Yeva’s story as she talks with Times arts editor Alex O’Connell about her journey from Kharkiv to Dublin as a refugee, in a powerful account of war.

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

With thanks to our event sponsor

Image: Ger Holland

2.30–3.30pm LF40

If the World Were 100 People

Town Hall, Pillar Room Ages 6+ £8

There are almost 8 billion humans on Earth, but it’s tricky to picture so many people at once. Instead, let’s imagine the whole planet is a village where 100 people live with author Jackie McCann and illustrator Aaron Cushley, and find out how numbers and data can reveal stories about our world.

3.15–4.15pm

LF45

Fantastic Adventures

The Hive Ages 8+ £8

Wizards, witches, knights and dragons. Four sensational storytellers Anna James, Skye McKenna, Lee Newbery and E.L. Norry talk about how they power up their imaginations to write their extraordinary adventures, recommend other brilliant books and share tips and tricks for writing your own stories.

Free Family Fun

Don’t forget to check out The Wild Wood

THEWOODWILD

Storytelling, mystery trails, arts and crafts and more...

See pages 10 and 11 for more information

3.30–4.30pm LF54

Go Wild with Huw Lewis-Jones

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

Ages 7+ £8

Follow your expert field guide Huw Lewis-Jones deep into the woods to learn about bears and to Antarctica and beyond to discover the secret life of penguins. Find out what it takes to be an explorer with stories about Huw’s real-life adventures and lots of amazing animal facts.

3.45–4.45pm LF09 Twitchers Mysteries with M.G.Leonard

Parabola Arts Centre

Ages 8+ £8

Perfect for young nature enthusiasts, birdwatchers and detectives in the making, author M. G. Leonard presents The Twitchers Club series, full of adventure, friendship and the magnificent wonder of birds. Pack your backpack and head on over to discover how to write a whodunnit along with some fun bird facts.

Sunday

10–11am

LF26

The Marvellous Myth Hunter

Parabola Arts Centre

Ages 5+ £10

10–10.45am

LF05

Speak Up with Rocket!

The Hive

Ages 4+ £8

Go on a mission with World Book Day author and illustrator

Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola as they bring young activist Rocket’s adventures to life. Hear about her latest plan to save the local library by organising a peaceful protest, take part in the draw along and learn top tips for writing stories and speaking up about things that matter.

Love myths, weird creatures and interactive games? Dust off your maps and strap on your jetpacks for a journey to ancient, far-off lands! Bring your best adventure outfit and join us as we travel to ancient Congo, lands of Norse legend and first nation’s Canada to uncover how the world began.

11.30am–12.15pm

LF03

Mog the Forgetful Cat

The Hive Ages 3+ £8

Join professional storyteller, Liz Fost to celebrate 100 years of the incomparable author and illustrator Judith Kerr with a special event based on everyone’s favourite family feline, Mog. We’ll be celebrating with a reading of Mog the Forgetful Cat, some cat themed activities, and maybe even Mog herself will drop by.

2–3pm

LF02

10–11am

Everyday Action, Everyday Change

LF64

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

Ages 10+ £8

Want to make the world a fairer and more equal place but find those complex problems overwhelming? You’re not alone. Everyday Racism founders Natalie and Naomi Evans empower you to deal with the big issues, from racism and sexism to homophobia and ableism, and show that with small, achievable steps you can make a big difference in the world.

Impossible Creatures with Katherine Rundell

Parabola Arts Centre

Ages 9+ £8

Prepare to be swept away to a land beyond your wildest imagination with master storyteller Katherine Rundell as she presents her epic fantasy series Impossible Creatures Embark on an urgent quest to a place where all the creatures of myth live and uncover the secret of the islands that threatens the creatures’ survival and the world itself.

Image: Tim Lane, Penguin Books

12.15–1.15pm

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

Ages 7+ £8

A meet and greet will follow the show. Signed copies of David’s book will be available.

Prepare for a supercharged, one-hour spectacular with one of Britain’s favourite storytellers including hilarious performative readings and a chance to get your questions answered live on stage. Fun for all the family – laughter guaranteed. Come dressed to impress to be in with a chance to win a star prize.

12.15–1pm

I’m Sticking with You

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

Ages 3+ £8

Bear and Squirrel are back and ready to party! Get moving and shaking with games, readings and live drawings as picture book creators Smriti Halls and Steve Small present the third in their hugely popular, funny, rhyming series about the joy of friendship.

1–2pm

Once Upon a Witch’s Broom

The Hive

Ages 5+ £8

Embark on a magical journey packed with witches, dragons, unicorns and mermaids from the Once Upon A… series with author and illustrator Beatrice Blue Explore incredible photos from Beatrice’s latest adventures, take part in a magical creatures’ quiz, help create a new magical creature and join in the draw-along.

The Garden Theatre

Ages 4+ £8

Come along for a fun-packed picture-book session with awardwinning author and illustrator Rob Biddulph. With live drawing and storytelling, Rob brings his stories and characters to life including The Blue-Footed Booby and his new character Gigantic, a small whale with a big heart. Have your pencils and paper ready and Draw with Rob.

LF06

LF27  David Walliams

LF16

2–3pm LF04 Gigantic Fun with Rob Biddulph

Image: Charlie Clift

Knight Sir Louis Comic Workshop

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

Ages 6+

£18

Ticket price includes one adult and child and book. Additional child tickets £10 each.

The Brothers McLeod are writer and voice actor Myles, and illustrator and animator Greg. Join them for an interactive Create Your Own Knight workshop inspired by their hilarious Knight Sir Louis series. Together you’ll create a brand-new knight or wizard character and come up with your own adventure in six comicinspired storyboard panels. Session times:

LF50: 2–3pm

LF51: 4–5pm

3–4pm LF19

The Funniest Boy in the World

The Hive Ages 8+ £8

Do you have what it takes to be a comedian? In this creative session, Best Laugh Out Loud Book award winner Helen Rutter introduces her follow up to The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh featuring a young, aspiring comedian navigating the world of comedy and school with a stammer. Find out where story ideas come from and how to make them funny.

Cheltenham Literature Festival for Schools

We can’t wait to welcome over 10,000 pupils from schools and home education settings to the Festival Village for inspirational explorations of the written and spoken word.

This year’s writers, illustrators and industry professionals include Manjeet Mann, Benjamin Dean, Pamela Butchart and Jamie Littler.

Find books by our Festival authors on our online Waterstones bookshop

Why couldn’t Black Beauty’s foal make a speech at the festival?

She was a little horse.

For more information about our work with schools, visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature-for-schools

Saturday 14 October

10–11am

LF08

Bookmaker Like You

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

Ages 9+ £8

10–11am

Storm Whale

The Hive

Ages 4+ £8

LF14

What would you do if you found a little whale washed up on the beach? Find out what happens in a lively morning of story readings and live drawing with author and illustrator Benji Davies as he celebrates 10 years of his classic picture book, The Storm Whale and presents his new book The Great Storm Whale.

What

Anyone can be a bookmaker, whether you’re a writer, illustrator, bookseller or editor. Authors

Jasbinder Bilan and Nadine Aisha Jassat talk with Waterstones

Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho, about the big team of people behind turning their ideas into books and what inspired them to create stories.

Nursery Rhyme Time

The Hive

Ages 2+ £6

Join in with a performance of classic and contemporary rhymes, songs, riddles and tongue twisters as poet powerhouse Allie Esiri and special guest perform a selection from A Nursery Rhyme for Every Night of the Year, each introduced with a quirky fact or historical reference.

Session times:

LF36: 11.45am–12.15pm

LF68: 12.45–1.15pm

12–1pm

LF42

Storm Whale

With thanks to our event sponsor

10–11am

LF55

Greeks, Gods and War with Tom Holland

Parabola Arts Centre

Ages 9+ £8

Go on a wolf-back ride through ancient Greece with historian and The Rest is History presenter Tom Holland. Inspired by family holidays in Greece, Tom talks with Times journalist Lucy Bannerman about his thrilling illustrated novel for young people that interweaves myth and history, to tell the story of the Persian invasion of Greece.

In partnership with The Times, The Sunday Times and Times Radio

A Sleepover with Jacqueline Wilson

The Garden Theatre

Ages 7+ £8

This event will be interpreted in Makaton.

Famous for writing characters Tracy Beaker and Hetty Feather, Jacqueline Wilson is one of Britain’s best-loved children’s authors Jacqueline talks to Bex Lindsay from Fun Kids Radio about her writing career and where she finds her story ideas. Find out about her long-awaited sequel to Sleepovers when Daisy sets out to create The Best Sleepover in the World for her non-verbal sister.

Image: David Bebber

Image: Charlie Hopkinson

would you do if you found a little whale washed up on the beach?

You can filter events on our website by theme or search for your favourite author

12–1pm LF28

Adventuremice

Parabola Arts Centre

Ages 5+ £8

Looking for adventure? Co-author legends Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre introduce a tiny mouse named Pedro who sets off to see the world and meets the brave and daring Adventuremice. Does he have what it takes to join their team to protect the Mouse Islands? Learn how to draw Pedro, hear more about his adventures and explore the Islands.

12.30–1.30pm LF07

Master Storyteller

S F Said

Town Hall, Pillar Room

Ages 9+ £8

In a strange, alternate world where the British Empire never ended, a boy uncovers a mythical, magical animal – a Tyger. Blue Peter award-winning author S F Said tells his own story from avid young reader and Star Wars fan, to prizewinning author. Discover how he creates exciting, action-packed stories and unforgettable worlds in this energetic and inspiring event.

2–3pm LF52

Creating Creatures

Writing Workshop

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

Ages 9+ £18

Ticket price includes one adult and child and book. Additional child tickets £10 each.

Harness your superpowers with fantasy author Janelle McCurdy and learn how to write stories inspired by video games, films and more. Find out about the latest novel in the Umbra Tales series Mia and the Traitor of Nubis and hone your umbra-taming abilities by creating your own umbra.

2–3pm

LF13

Adam Rutherford: Where Are You From?

The Garden Theatre

Ages 9+ £8

Ever wondered who you might be related to? In fact, everyone’s related to vicious Vikings, Roman emperors and kings and queens, and geneticist Adam Rutherford ’s here to tell you how. Prepare for a mind-boggling insight into four billion years of human evolution and find out who you really are. Hosted by author Rashmi Sirdeshpandi.

Feeling brave? Create a story so repulsive and terrifying it wouldn’t be published

2–2.45pm LF56

Esme Higgs

Horses and Me

Parabola Arts Centre

Ages 7+ £8

Meet Esme Higgs (AKA ThisEsme) writer, presenter, and horse-mad ordinary girl as she presents her mystery series, The Starlight Stables Gang, inspired by her real four-legged friends. Hear about Esme’s life as an equestrian, country lifestyle content creator and how she runs her stables. Ask Esme your questions too.

2.30–3.30pm LF10

Read, Scream, Repeat

The Hive

Ages 9+ £8

Feeling brave? Comedy horror writer Jennifer Killick along with Joseph Coelho, Sharna Jackson and Elle McNicoll talk about the inspiration behind their chilling stories in Read, Scream, Repeat and share what weird and wonderful fears keep them awake at night. Help them create the fourteenth story – a tale so repulsive and terrifying it wouldn’t be published.

3.45–4.45pm LF62

In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen

Parabola Arts Centre

Ages 9+ £8

In the lakes, the wolf queen sharpens her spear. In the mountains, an ancient girl opens an eye. In the forest, an orphan is summoned by the trees. Delve into a magical world with Kiran Millwood Hargrave as she introduces the first book in her epic Geomancer trilogy and shares the inspirations behind creating her fantasy world.

Other events families might like at the Festival

Read, Scream, Repeat

Sunday 15 October

10–11am LF65

Lemony Snicket

Parabola Arts Centre

Ages 9+

£8

A Series of Unfortunate Events author Lemony Snicket talks about his cautionary tale, Poison for Breakfast, involving a bewildering note and a winding set of clues to solve the mystery of his own demise. Enjoy this thoughtprovoking discussion for curious children and adults with Lemony Snicket, the pen name of American novelist Daniel Handler. Hosted by Daniel Hahn

12–1pm LF01

Matt Lucas and The Boy Who Slept Through

Christmas

The Garden Theatre

Ages 8+ £8

Laugh your socks off with comedian, writer and actor Matt Lucas as he talks with Bex Lindsay from Fun Kids

10–10.45am LF53

Bugs and Bagoos

The Hive

Ages 4+ £8

Join author Karl Newson for a fun-filled, interactive event to meet a detective on the case of a mysterious blue creature and a bug on his daring dash back home. With songs to sing, clues to solve, a draw-along, and a pair of yellow slippers... a splendid time is guaranteed for all!

10–11am LF67

The Power of the Pack

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

Ages 5+ £8

With boundless energy and an impulsive nature, werewolf Rudy is always ready to follow the scent of adventure. And with his loyal pack of friends by his side there’s nothing he can’t achieve.

Join author Paul Westmoreland for a spooky interactive story-building session and decorate and colour your own skateboard bookmark.

11.30am–12.15pm LF44

Sophie Dahl’s Madame Badobedah

The Hive

Ages 5+ £8

Set off on an imaginary journey with performance artist Ellie Westbrook as Sophie Dahl ’s glamourous, adventurous and mysterious hotel guest Madame Badobedah. Join her as she reminisces with tall tales about her life as a jewel thief, time traveller and explorer, and bring your questions along for Sophie.

Radio about his hilarious and heartwarming children’s book about a boy who wishes Christmas away, then sets out on a mission to bring it back. With 20 original songs written by Matt there may be a singalong in this early festive treat!

12–1pm LF59

Dr Ranj:

A Superfamily Like Ours

Parabola Arts Centre

Ages 4+ £8

Celebrate families of all shapes and sizes, with author Dr Ranj , the nation’s favourite doctor. Rohan is excited and ready for the superfamily summer festival, but will Rohan and his daddy really be a superfamily without mummy? Discover the superpowers of love that are always part of us, whether our family is near or far.

12–1pm LF37

Sathnam Sanghera: What is an Empire?

Town Hall, Pillar Room

Ages 9+

£8

When you hear the word ‘empire’ you might think of Ancient Roman times or Star Wars. But what about the British Empire? What is it and why don’t we learn much about it? Journalist Sathnam Sanghera introduces you to the British Empire and how it’s shaped our lives today. Put your questions to Sathnam in the audience Q and A.

Mouse’s Wood Card Workshop

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

Ages 5+

£18

Ticket price includes one adult and child and book. Additional child tickets £10 each.

Go on a journey through the seasons with some woodland creatures in Mouse’s Wood: A Year in Nature and make a pop-up card with illustrator and maker Alice Melvin

Session times:

LF30: 12–1pm

LF31: 2–3pm

3.15-4.15pm LF69

The Taming of the Cat

The Hive Ages 7+ £8

Join award-winning author and illustrator Helen Cooper as she introduces her enchanting modern fairytale The Taming of the Cat featuring dangerous escapades, a plucky mouse called Brie, a lethal cat called Gorgonzola and lots of cheese! Plus, Helen will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of her bestloved picture book, Pumpkin Soup

1–2pm

If I Were Prime Minister

The Hive Ages 4+

£8

LF63

Norwegian songwriter, vocalist and poet Trygve Skaug and illustrator Ella Okstad introduce their extraordinary picture book in which a child gives their perspective on several things the grown-ups running the country could do differently. With stories, songs and a drawing workshop, this is ideal for children who dare to dream big and adults who want to look on the world with fresh eyes.

Sponsored by the Norwegian Embassy and NORLA

2–3pm LF66

Robert Muchamore’s Robin Hood

Parabola Arts Centre

Ages 10+ £8

Bestselling author Robert Muchamore has reinvented legendary folklore hero Robin Hood for today’s readers; teen rebel, social media star and vigilante, forced to flee corrupt officials to become a figurehead for modern-day rebels in Sherwood Forest. Robert talks about the latest instalments in his action-packed series and what he loves about being a writer. Ask Robert your questions too.

If I Were Prime Minister

With thanks to our event sponsors

If I were prime minister I’d wear my favourite shoes every day and the streets would be paved with trampolines.

YOUNG ADULTS YOUNG ADULTS

Saturday 7 October

Sunday 8 October

12.30–1.30pm LF47

Looks, Lies and Love

Town Hall, Pillar Room

Ages 14+

£10

Beauty and fame come at a price. YA authors Holly Bourne and Amara Sage’s compelling novels convey powerful messages about the pressures social media and society put on us to look and behave in certain ways. They discuss these themes along with feminism and the body positivity movement with author Tamsin Winter

5–6pm LF25

Queer Love, Actually

The Hive

Ages 14+ £10

YA author William Hussey is joined by acclaimed author Tanya Byrne and new writer Daniel Tawse to talk about their latest books, the growing publishing trend for queer romance, the influence of Tik Tok, favourite tropes and writing believable characters, crushes and kisses. Join in the book chat with your questions too.

Don’t miss the best and brightest young talent at this year’s Look out for the full line-up of free events from mid-September and pick up the VOICEBOX Zine.

12–1pm LF11

Skulduggery Pleasant Graphic Novel

Parabola Arts Centre

£8

Ages 12+

Bad Magic book suitable for ages 15+

Plunge into the magical and macabre world of Bad Magic with YA fiction superstar Derek Landy and comic artist P J Holden Meet a cast of unforgettable characters including the infamous skeleton detective and his whip-smart partner in this behind-the-scenes talk about the creative process involved in making a graphic novel set in the Skulduggery Pleasant universe.

12.30–1.30pm LF49

Holly Smale, Geek Girl

Town Hall, Pillar Room

Ages 16+ £10

Geek Girl author Holly Smale has an MA in Shakespeare and was a fashion model but never felt like she fitted in. Like many girls and women, she received a late autism diagnosis. With her first adult fiction title published, she talks with Hana Walker Brown about her differently wired brain, her writing, and the importance of featuring neuro-diverse characters in books.

Saturday 14 October

12–1pm LF29

You Are a Story: Writing Workshop

Regency Suite, Queens Hotel

Ages 12+

£18

Ticket includes a copy of You Are a Story RRP £7.99

Find your voice and become a creative writing superstar with YA author and Brit School Performing Arts graduate Laura Dockrill . The best writing comes when you tap into your imagination and express yourself honestly. Get to know yourself through writing and celebrate the exciting, creative, unique person you are.

Sunday 15 October

2.30–3.30pm LF24

Debuts and Mocktails

Town Hall, Pillar Room

Ages 14+

£11

Ticket includes a mocktail. Writer and poet Laura Dockrill presents three debut novelists writing across popular YA genres: TikTok star Bea Fitzgerald ’s Greek myth re-imagining, Ravena Guron’s murder mystery, and Josh Silver’s dystopian novel. They talk about finding their voice, their creative processes and different paths to being published. Followed by a Q&A.

5–6pm LF21

Killer Reads

The Hive Ages 14+ £10

Secrets, suspense, mystery, murder – everything you love about a killer read is found in the latest books by fabulous YA writers Benjamin Dean and Holly Jackson Talking with fellow thriller writer Kathryn Foxfield, they reveal their writing process as they plot the perfect murder, build tension and drop in red herrings and subtle clues. Plus, interrogate the panellists in our Q&A.

2–3pm LF32

Living Your Best Life

Town Hall, Pillar Room

Ages 13+

£10

Staying safe online, consent, respect and how to say ‘no’ are some of the biggest social issues facing young people today. Author and life coach, Michelle Elman, is joined by mental health campaigner and broadcaster Natasha Devon and Don’t Be that Guy scriptwriter and author Alan Bissett to discuss how to live your best life online, address toxic masculinity, and share ideas for how to create positive change and be the best version of yourself.

Other events Young Adults might like at the Festival

The Success Myth 25

Max La Manna 34

Harry Baker: 55

Unashamed

Caleb Azumah Nelson 59 Presents...

Coming-of-Age 64

A Global Guide

Giving Us Back Our 64 Beauty Standards

Elizabeth Day: 69

Friendaholic

Liv Little and 70 Yomi Adegoke

Cheltenham Festivals are committed to local and national targets in sustainability

We’ve signed up to Cheltenham Zero and Festival Vision 2025. See our three-year sustainability strategy at cheltenhamfestivals.com/green-cheltenham-festivals

Cheltenham Zero are excited to be supporting Cheltenham Festivals with their Net Zero journey. We applaud their aspiration to become industry leaders, setting ambitious goals for Net Zero ahead of national targets.

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage Town Hall, Pillar Room

LH10 Rethinking the World with Peter Frankopan LE63 The Year in Books

LR62 Kate Mosse and Emma Donoghue: Defiant Women

LC52 Fighting Fake News

LR06 Debuts and Cocktails

LP17 WritersMosaic Live

LE57 Shirley Ballas Live on Air with Cathy Newman

LE04 Bernie Taupin

LR08 Sebastian Barry

LE39 Rachel Parris

LH15 Between Two Islands

LL04 Busy Being Free

LDF19 Dinner with Michael Roux

LT12 From Africa to the Arctic Circle

LN05 Rural Idyll: Myth and Reality LL14 The Write Place?

LC14 The Election Generals LL07 Finding Home LR13 Andrew Kurkov

LDF05 Lunch with Sabrina Ghayour

LA17 Now You See Me: 100 Years of Black Design

Becki Sillence, Cheltenham Zero Communications Manager

LX05 Chris Packham

9.30am 10am 11am 12pm 1pm 2pm 3pm 4pm 5pm 6pm 7pm 8pm 9pm

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage Town Hall, Pillar Room The Times and Sunday Times Forum The Garden Theatre The Hive The Daffodil Regency Suite, Queens Hotel Parabola Arts Centre

LC16 The Sunday Papers with Marcus Brigstocke

LH01 Michael Palin LL16 Threads of Life

LF05 Speak Up with Rocket!

LDF02 Here Comes the Fun

LD02 Write Second Time?

LC15 The Times Live

LF03 Mog the Forgetful Cat

LF49 Holly Smale, Geek Girl

LF27 David Walliams

LF06 Once Upon a Witch’s Broom

LC49 The Sunday Times Debate: Is Journalism Doomed?

LT01 Steve Backshall’s Ocean Joruneys

LF04 Gigantic Fun with Rob Biddulph

LR31 Samantha Shannon and Elizabeth Acevedo

LE61 Hilary Mantel: A Celebration

LF19 The Funniest Boy in the World

LR35 Books from Japan LX01 Foreign Bodies: The Health of Nations

LA02 Will Gompertz: See What You’re Missing

LR39 Sebastian Faulks

LD13 Inside the Baillie Gifford Prize LE37 Brian Cox

LL08 Max La Manna

LR22 Writing for Laughs

LM09 Family Ties

LR65 The Talk of the Town LE13 Nick Frost

LC28 Let’s Talk About Sex

LDF12 Sunday Lunch with Mike Brearley

LF64 Everyday Action, Everyday Change

LF16 I’m Sticking with You

LF11 Skulduggery Pleasant Graphic Novel

LF50 Knight Sir Louis Comic Workshop

LF02 Impossible Creatures with Katherine Rundell

LF51 Knight Sir Louis Comic Workshop LR12 Katherine Heiny

LE59 Tommy Jessop: A Life Worth Living LP05 You’re Bard

LDF21 Dinner with Skye McAlpine LK01 Glos Writers Network

LF26 The Marvellous Myth Hunter Adult event Family event Young Adult event

LH04 A Personal History of Europe

LH05 Spain: A Different History

LC23 No Offence, But...

LC43 Growing Up Between Two Continents

LQ04 Embracing Solitude

LA12 Rediscovering Black British Portraiture

LL06 The Age Rage

LQ10 The Anxiety Project

LR47

LT11

LU08 QI Elves: Everything to Play For

LK04

LDF28

LA16 The Power of Art

LE42 Judy Murray

LE08 Jane Garvey and Fi Glover: Live on Air

LDF14 Feathers and Flowers: Arthur Parkinson and Sarah Raven

LC01 Breakfast with The Times: Behind the Headlines

The Penguin Michael Joseph Proof Party

Roast Figs, Sugar Snow

The Man Who Loved Siberia

The Wisdom of Myth and Folklore

LR07 Heather Morris

LR41 The Missing

LR17 Ian McEwan Revisits Atonement

Big

On

LT03

LL02

LQ13 Why Women Kill

LC30

LDF24 Winter Nights

LM10 Homelands

LH03 The Iraq War: 20 Years

LH07 Wartime Women

LC45 A Dead End for Russia?

LX04 Chirs Van Tulleken and Michael Mosely

LE40 The British Bloke Decoded

LR16 New Blood: Crime and Thriller Writers to Watch

LH14 Mozart in Italy

LC38 The Power of the Oustsier

The Globemakers: The Curious Story of an Ancient Craft

LN04 The Chief Shepherdess

LD01 The Wife of Bath

What if AI Doesn’t Change the World

LM08 My Family and Other Radicals

Secret Gardens: A Private Tour

LR34 Bright Snow, Dark Deeds

LL13 Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life

LR45 The Hutchinson Heinemann Proof Party LDF16 Dark Rye and Honey Cake

LG01 David Baddiel: The God Desire

LA08 Picasso: A Life

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage Town Hall, Pillar Room The Times and Sunday Times Forum

The Daffodil Regency Suite, Queens Hotel Hotel du Vin

LC02 Behind the Morning Headlines with The Times

LC24 Understanding Afghanistan

LD11

Shakespeare: The Book LD12

Shakespeare: The Man

LD18 Greg Doran: Directing the First Folio

LC39 Labour: On Track for No.10?

LD09 Wordsmith Women LN03 Sacred Landscapes

LDF10 Tessa Kiros: A Life in Food

LR15 Celebrate with Rachel Joyce

LR14 Sarah Winman

LT07 Finding Hildasay: Walking in Search of Hope

LR58 The Sunday Times Must Reads: Tom Crewe

LC50 Brexit 2026

LA14 Myanmar and Burma: People, Art, Empire

LC31 Wes Streeting and Alan Johnson

LA11 Queer Love in the Ancient World

LR24 Jojo Moyes and Mike Gayle

LE21 Timothy West: Pru and Me

LD04 The Uncanny

LP01 Anthony Joseph

LDF15 Dancing on Eggshells with John Whaite

LT02 Helen Skelton: In My Stride

LU03 Danny Cipriani

LR03 The Sunday Times Must Reads: Eleanor Catton

LDF25 Wine Times

LP03 Harry Baker: Unashamed

8.30am 9am 10am 11am

Town Hall, Baillie Gifford Stage Town Hall, Pillar Room The Times and Sunday Times Forum The Garden Theatre The Hive The Daffodil Regency Suite, Queens Hotel Hotel du Vin

LC04 Behind the Morning Headlines with The Times

LP11 Lemn Sissay: Let the Light Pour In

LM06 One Last Thing

LX02 Design the World Around Us

LC13 The Times Radio Debate: What Election Year Is It?

LD03 Summer Daze

LDF09 Destination Fabulous: Lunch with Anna Murphy

LR68 Celebrate with Eleanor Catton

LC09 How Much Does Britain Cost?

LC29 Why Black Lives in Britain Matter

LB03 Tom Holland: War and Peace in Rome’s Golden Age

LM07 Seán Hewitt and Octavia Bright

LR46 The John Murray Press Proof Party

LN01 Hamza Yassin

LM05 Careless

LR66 Robert Peston and Cleo Watson

LR57 Meet the Literary Editors LH08 Truth to Power

LL11 Autumn Style with Anna Murphy

LR09 Val McDermid with Nicola Sturgeon

LR10 Lauren Groff and C Pam Zhang

LC06 Theresa May

LR02 The Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence: Zadie Smith

LC34 Matt Chorley: Planes Trains and Toilet Doors

LE60 A History of Women in 101 Objects

LM02 The Secret Lives of Ian Fleming and John le Carré

LP08 Caleb Azumah Nelson Presents...

LA04 DIVA: Creating an Icon

LP07 The Gothic Cabaret

LDF18 Andi Oliver’s Caribbean

Patrons

Life Patrons

Dr Lynda Albertyn and Pat Gallasch

Mark and Sue Blanchfield

Peter and Anne Bond

Dominic and Jannene Collier

Michael and Felicia Crystal

Colin and Suzanne Doak

Miles and Monica Dunkley

The Eaton Family

Fingerhuth Leung Family

Charles Fisher

Sarah and Darren Gates

Lucy Freeman and Peter Hulett

David and John Hall

Margaret Headen

Diane and Mark Hill

Jeremy and Germaine Hitchins Family

Jonathan and Cassinha

Hitchins Family

Stephen and Tania Hitchins Family

Jeff and Keren Iliffe

Elizabeth and Michael Jones and Family

David Jones and Amanda Payne

Rick and Lisa Jones

Steven and Linda Jones

Hugh and Sue Koch

Robert and Moira Leechman

Hazel and Jeremy Lewis

Eileen Lockwood

The McKelvie Family

Fiona McLeod

The McWilliam Family in loving memory of Ruth McWilliam

Keith Norton and Piers Norton

Mark and Elizabeth Philip-Sorensen

Shelley Bence and Felix Robson in memory of Jason Robson

Karen Salters and Marcus Freer

John and Susan Singer

Simon Skinner and Jean Gouldsmith Skinner

Andrew Smith

Phil and Jennifer Stapleton

Liz and Neil Stewart

Sharon Studer and Graham Beckett

Chris and Bridgette Sunman

Fiona and David Symondson

Michelle Thorley

Luanne and Hodson Thornber

The Walker Family

Jaqueline Woof

Director’s Circle

Heather Barrett

Sue Bennett

Jack Black

Torie Blythe-Richards

Richard Claridge

Sarah Cook and Gemma Irvine

Michael and Angela Cronk

Arlene Davies

Sally Dimmer

Carol and Adrian Farnell

Ricardo Fearon

Marc and Melanie Gillespie

Jeremy and Alison Halliday

Mark and Moira Hamlin

Stephen Harper and Megan Broadley

Jennifer Hayward and Richard Waite

Stephen Hodge

Andrew and Caroline Hope

Graham and Jenny Hopkins

Simon and Emma Keswick

Emma Logan & KB Beaton

Helen and Iain Lovatt

Andrew and Susanne Malim

Hayden and Tracy McKinnes

Spencer McPherson and Emily Poole

The Miskin Family

Chris Morgan

P. J. Moore

Joanna Morrison

Oldham Foundation

In Memory Of Edward and Gladys Parker

John Phillips

Andrew Pitt and Pamela Odih

Anthony and Rowenna Poeton

Jan and Gill Rowe

Andy and Ali Stalsberg

Peter Stormonth Darling

Charitable Trust

Amanda and Paul Toner

Michael and Rosie Warner

Stephen Wood

Gold Patrons

Sigrid and Ben Atkinson

Nicholas and Alixandra Avery

Geraldine and Jim Beaty

Christopher Bence

Sam Berwick

Stephen Bond

Charlie Chan

Ian Culverhouse

Wallace and Morag Dobbin

Peter and Sue Elliott

Colin and Susan Enticknap

Louise Hewett DL

Mike and Judie Hill

Elizabeth Jacobs

Sir Michael and Lady McWilliam

Paul and Kathy Mottershead

Kim Moore

Stuart Palmer

Dr Julia Pearson and Dr Keith England

Adrian and Cassandra Phillips

Martin and Susan Pickard

Joanna and Stuart Richards

Zoe and Khal Rudin

Brenda Salters and Harold Longmate

Candy Shaw and William Barff

Mat and Patsy Shilling

Esther and Peter Smedvig

Silver Patrons

We would also like to thank all our anonymous Patrons and Silver Patrons who are listed on the website: cheltenhamfestivals.com/ our-patrons

Acknowledgements

The Times and Sunday Times

Cheltenham Literature Festival is presented by Cheltenham Festivals, a Charity and a company limited by guarantee.

Cheltenham Festivals

Board of Trustees

Mark Philip-Sorensen (Chair)

Lucy Carlton-Walker

Deborah Cogan Thacker

Adrian Farnell

Beverley Grimster

Peter Howarth

Caroline Hutton

Shamil Makhecha

Jonathan White

Andy Williams

Company Secretary

Matthew Clayton

Co-CEOs

Ian George

Ali Mawle

Senior Management Team

Helena Bibby

Suzanne Ross

Head of Programming

Nicola Tuxworth

Deputy Head of Programming

Lyndsey Fineran

Programming and Strategic Engagement Lead

Emma Whittle

Family and Schools

Programme Manager

Loraine Evans

Learning and Participation Manager (Literature)

Rebecca Smith

Programme Managers

Sophie Hoult, Jo James, Ellie Petrie

Festival Administrator

Emily Davis

Marketing and Box Office

Jade Beard, Phil Brook, Leah Dunderdale-Smith, Hannah Franklin, Dan Hartland, Hannah McNally, Laura Nettings, Martin Perks, Madelaine Richards, Louise Sinclair, Liz Wheatley

Learning and Participation

Sarah Cooksley, Philippa Claridge, Khazana McLaughlin, Kelly Turner, Rose Wood

Development

Katherine Cox, Claire Crawford, Alice Gilder, Becky Harte, Holly Haynes, Evan Holt, Helen Knowles, Jenna Marks, Rosie Massey, Teddy Mladenova

Tara Patterson, Samantha Sandford, Connor Teague, Eleri Thomas

Finance

Ben Bates, Russ Poole

Get close to the Festivals with Patronage

From £90 per month, your Patronage covers all four Festivals and will support our artistic programmes and learning and participation activity.

Operations and Production

Ollie Bradstock, Clive Bremner, Louise Carles, Rob Challis, Adrian Hensley, Melissa King, James Kitto, Andrew Lansley, Sophia McCrea, Tarren Productions, Mo Soper

Festival Advisory Group

Sam Baker, Abigail Bergstrom, Clare Clark, Inua Ellams, Will Gompertz, Daniel Hahn, Andrew Holgate, Caroline Hutton, Sharna Jackson, Clarissa Pabi

Contact

If you have specific comments about any aspect of the Festival, please email boxoffice@ cheltenhamfestivals.com

Main Switchboard No. 01242 511211

Artwork Credits

Programme artwork @ 2023 Ruth Brown, 10:AM

Production

Printed by Orchard Press Cheltenham Ltd

Company No. 456573

Charity No. 251765

VAT Registration No. 100114013

This brochure is correct at time of going to print – find programme updates online at cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature

You’ll also benefit from;  Advanced booking and early programme announcements

 Access to hospitality areas at our Festivals

 Invitation to special events and parties

To find our more please email patrons@cheltenhamfestivals.com or visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/patrons

Aarathi Prasad 31

Aaron Cushley 75

Aasmah Mir 37

Abigail Bergstrom 22 24 25

Adam Rutherford 27 80

Adam Sisman 59

Adele Parks 40

Adrian Edmondson 30

Adrian Furnham 42

Aiysha Kukoyi 56

Alan Bissett 85

Alan Johnson 50 54 55

Alastair Campbell 45

Alex Clark 52 53 57 59 64 66 67 68 70 72

Alex Clarke 34

Alex George 8 14 64 69

Alex O’Connell 74

Alex Willmore 73

Alexander McCall Smith 44

Alexandra Green 53

Alice Melvin 83

Alice Thomson 31

Allan Mallinson 65

Allen Fatimaharan 73

Allie Esiri 80

Amara Sage 84

Amy Key 24

Ana Carbajosa 37

Anand Menon 53 56

Andi Oliver 60

Andi Osho 32 35

Andrew Cohen 43

Andrew Monaghan 48 68

Andrew Roberts 25

Anita Bhagwandas 65

Anita Rani 61

Ann Morgan 29 42 63 65 67 69

Anna Boglione 64

Anna Funder 68

Anna James 57 75

Anna Marshall 44

Anna Murphy 56 58

Anna Ptaszynski 39

Annabel Sowemimo 36

Annabelle Hirsch 61

Anne Enright 67

Anneliese Pitz 39

Anne-Marie Imafidon 56

Annie Macmanus 26

Anthony Nanson 40

Arianne Shahvisi 40

Arthur Parkinson 38

Audrey Magee 64

Ava Glass 42

Ayelet GundarGoshen 36

Ayesha Hazarika 56

Bea Fitzgerald 85

Beatrice Blue 77

Ben Aitken 31

Ben Alderson-Day 53

Ben Platts-Mills 45

Ben Taylor 32 37

Benjamin Dean 85

Benji Davies 79

Bernie Taupin 24

Bex Lindsay 79 82

Bob and Roberta Smith 74

Bob Cryer 70

Brian Cox 35

Bruno Waterfield 53

Bryony Gordon 67

C Pam Zhang 59

Caleb Azumah Nelson 59 60 68

Carmela Ciuraru 30

Carol Jacobi 41

Carole Hailey 46

Caroline Campbell 37

Caroline Hutton 30 32

Caroline O’Donoghue 23 26

Caroline Wheeler 66

Cat Bohannon 66

Catherine Ashton 43

Catherine Chidgey 66

Cathy Newman 23

Catrina Davies 22

Catriona McAra 42

Cecile Pin 23 29

Charlene Prempeh 21 47

Charlie Mackesy 65

Charlotte Jansen 60

Charlotte Scott 52

Chitra Ramaswamy 40 41

Chris Packham 43

Chris van Tulleken 49

Christian Lewis 54

Claire Dederer 30

Claire Irvin 41

Claire Kilroy 67 71

Clare Clark 33

Clare Hunter 31

Cleo Watson 59

Clive Myrie 64

Colin Grant 22

Colin Walsh 44

Daan Heerma van Voss 38

Dan Szor 70

Daniel Finkelstein 28 31

Daniel Hahn

69 71 82

Daniel Handler 83

Daniel Mason 42

Daniel Tawse 84

Danny Cipriani 55

Dapo Adeola 76

Dave Broom 70

David Baddiel 50

David Mitchell 29

David Omand 26

David Petraeus 25

David Runciman 49

David Walliams 77

Dawn Butler 63

Daze Aghaji 23

Derek Landy 32 84

Dom Joly 44

Dr Ranj 82

E.L. Norry 75

Ed Gamble 67

Eleanor Catton 55 57

Eleanor Stack 68

Eliza Clark 44

Elizabeth Acevedo 32 33

Elizabeth Day 70

Elizabeth Uviebinene 25

Ella Okstad 84

Elle McNicoll 82

Ellie Westbrook 82

Emi Yagi 33

Emma Dabiri 27

Emma Donoghue 21

Emma Forrest 24

Emma Freud 66

Emma Gannon 25

Emma Graham-Harrison 51

Emma Smith 52

Emma Tucker 32

Emma-Louise Boynton 36

Emmett de Monterey 72

Erica Wagner 57 59 65 71

Esme Higgs 81

Eva Baltasar 69

Eva Björg Ægisdóttir 50

Faiza Shaheen 26

Farah Karim-Cooper 52

Farrah Storr 22

Fi Glover 38

Flora Carr 48

Frankie Burr 44

Frederick Studemann 35

Gabriel Gbadamosi 24

Gaby Roslin 67

Gavin Plumley 25 37 47

Gavin Puckett 73

Gelong Thubten 43 44

Genevieve Lively 65

Geoff Norcott 25 50

Georgina Godwin 29 42 44 48 63

Georgina Moore 43

Gerda Blees 46

Ghaith Abdul-Ahad 47

Gijs van Hensbergen 47

Gilbert Achcar 65

Gina Martin 40

Grace Banks 31 42

Greg Doran 52

Guadalupe Nettel 69

Hamza Yassin 58

Hana Walker Brown 84

Hannah Barnes 66

Hannah MacInnes 29 32 45 64 69

Hannah McInnes 71

Harry Baker 55

Hashi Mohamed 57

Heather Morris 40

Helen Atkinson-Wood 70

Helen Fry 47

Helen Rutter 78

Helen Skelton 55

Henry Marsh 56

Holly Bourne 84

Holly Jackson 85

Holly Smale 32 84

Hugo Rifkind 25 31

Huw Lewis-Jones 75

Ian Dunt 45

Ian McEwan 37 39

Inua Ellams 21 27 31

Isabel Hilton 65 69

Isabella Tree 64

Isabelle Chang 64

Ishi Robinson 38

Jack Dee 70

Jack Parlett 57

Jackie McCann 75

Jacqueline Crook 22

Jacqueline Wilson 80

Jade Angeles Fitton 38

Jade McGlynn 48

James Canton 52

James Finch 41

James Harkin 39

James Hogg 54

James Marriott 32

James O’Brien 71

James Walton 26 46

Jane Bailey 35

Jane Garvey 38

Jane Glover 47

Janelle McCurdy 80

Jasbinder Bilan 79

Jay Blades 68

Jenni Fagan 59

Jenni Nuttall 52

Jennie Godfrey 48

Jennifer Higgie 42

Jennifer Killick 81

Jennifer Robinson 63

Jenny Coad 41

Jenny Lund Madsen 47

Jess Phillips 25

Jessica Bull 38

Jessica George 59 65

Jiaming Tang 57

Jo Baring 41 47

Jo Carley 61

Joanna Wallace 47

Joe Guglani 66

Johanna Thomas-Corr 53 55 58 71

John Crace 51

John Curtice 56

John Pienaar 26

John Sergeant 20

John Taylor 42

John Whaite 54

Jojo Moyes 54

Jonathan Sullivan 64

Jonathon Miles 57

Joseph Coelho 79 81

Josh Glancy 37

Josh Silver 85

Joshi Hermann 22

Josie Long 30

Judy Murray 37

Julia Bradbury 65

Julia Leonard 35 38 42

Julia Wheeler 28 33 35 39 40 43 44 45 49 55 56 65 69 71

Julian Sayarer 67

Juliet Jacques 72

Julius Roberts 26

Justin Webb 66

Justine Picardie 48

K Patrick 66

Kanta Dihal 49

Karen Douglas 44

Karen Sullivan 50

Karl Newson 82

Karl Ove Knausgaard 29

Kate Atkinson 26

Kate Bailey 60

Kate Humble 21

Kate McCann 56

Kate Mosse 21

Kate Rawles 71

Kate Sawyer 43

Katherine Heiny 32 33

Katherine May 52

Katherine Rundell 35 76

Kathryn Foxfield 85

Katie Prescott 49

Katja Hoyer 69

Katrín Jakobsdóttir 50

Keina Yoshida 63

Kelechi Okafor 65

Kelly Beaver 51

Kenya Hunt 48

Keyu Jin 20

Kiran Millwood Hargrave 81

Kirsty Hartsiotis 40

Kristina Stephenson 73

Laura Bates 36

Laura Cumming 25

Laura Dockrill 85

Laura Hackett 23

Laura Jackson 41

Lauren Elkin 27

Lauren Groff 59

Laurie Belgrave 72

Lee Newbery 75

Lemn Sissay 56 59

Lemony Snicket 82

Leon McCarron 71

Lia Leendhertz 50

Lilja Sigurdardóttir 50

Linton Kwesi Johnson 28

Liv Bolton 54

Liv Little 71

Liz Fost 76

Liz Pichon 74

Llewelyn Morgan 68

Lorraine Candy 39

Louise Doughty 40

Louise Minchin 69

Lucy Bannerman 79

Lucy Cooke 66

Lucy Perrin 41

Luke Edward Hall 55

Lutz Seiler 69

M. G. Leonard 76

Maddie Moate 75

Madeline Docherty 57

Mandy Sadan 53

Marchelle Farrel 21

Marcus Brigstocke 30 31

Margreta de Grazia 52

Marie Aubert 65

Marion Turner 48

Martin Brown 74

Mary Beard 63 68

Masuma Ahuja 63

Matt Chorley 24 56 58 61

Matt Lucas 83

Maud Ventura 23

Maureen Freely 67

Max La Manna 34

Max Porter 66

Maz Evans 73

Megan Nolan 36

Michael Binyon 31 34

Michael Mosely 49

Michael Palin 31

Michael Reid 37

Michael Wooldridge 26 49

Michel Roux 23

Michelle Elman 85

Michelle Gallen 35

Mick Herron 42 45

Mike Brearley 32

Mike Gayle 54

Mikhail Zygar 48

Miquita Oliver 60 65

Monica Heisey 35

Morgan Giles 63

Morten Morland 58

Moth Sanctuary 61

Musa Okwonga 27 30

Nadine Aisha Jassat 79

Nadiya Hussain 41

Nancy Campbell 50

Nandini Das 20

Naomi Evans 76

Natalie Evans 76

Natalie Haynes 70

Natasha Carthew 22

Natasha Devon 85

Nathan Bryon 76

Nguyễn Phan Quễ Mai 29

Nicholas Shakespeare 59

Nick Bradley 33

Nick Frost 36

Nicky Morgan 20 26

Nicola Sturgeon 59 64

Nicole Flattery 30

Nigel Townson 37

Nii Ayikwei Parkes 59

Nikesh Shukla 27

Nish Kumar 27

Noel Fitzpatrick 62

Octavia Bright 57

Olivia Ford 38

Oriole Cullen 48

Orzala Nemat 51

Owen Matthews 48

P J Holden 32 84

Paddy O’Connell 20 47

Patrick Maguire 56

Paul David Gould 47

Paul Edmondson 52

Paul Gilroy 28

Paul Johnson 57

Paul Westmoreland 82

Peace Adzo Medie 59

Peter Bellerby 49

Peter Brathwaite 39

Peter Brookes 58

Peter Foster 53

Peter Frankopan 20 26 27 34

Peter Stothard 68

Philip Reeve 81

Philip Rush 35

Polly Morland 42

Polly Toynbee 50

Rachel de Thample 50

Rachel Joyce 51

Rachel Parris 23

Rafael Behr 40

Ragnar Jónasson 50

Rashmi Sirdeshpand 81

Ravena Guron 85

Ravinder Bhogal 68

Raynor Winn 22

Rebecca Jones 52

Regula Ysewijn 48

Richard Curtis 69

Richard E. Grant 66

Richard Fisher 28

Richard Hirst 53

Richard Osman 26

Rob Biddulph 77

Robbie Millen 56 58

Robert Colvile 26

Robert Elms 67

Robert Muchamore 83

Robert Peston 59

Robin Niblett 64 65 68

Roger Luckhurst 72

Roma Agrawal 56

Romy Gill 23

Rosalie Kim 31

Rose Tremain 42

Rosie Goldsmith 21

Roy Jacobsen 39

Ruth Millington 47

S F Said 81

Sabrina Ghayour 20

Sadiq Khan 64

Sally Pomme Clayton 40

Sally-Anne Hayward 50

Sam Baker 30 35 37 40 42 47 54 63 64 66

Samantha Shannon 33

Samuel Kasumu 48

Sana Safi 51

Sandra Newman 68

Santanu Bhattacharya 65

Sarah Dunant 65

Sarah McIntyre 81

Sarah Raven 38

Sarah Shaffi 21 26 30 33

Sarah Winman 53

Sarah-Louise Miller 47

Sathnam Sanghera 64 70 83

Scarlett Curtis 69

Scott Preston 57

Seán Hewitt 55 57

Sebastian Faulks 34

Shaparak Khorsandi 45

Sharmaine Lovegrove 22

Sharna Jackson 81

Sharon Dodua Otoo 59

Shirley Ballas 23

Simon Mason 40

Simon McDonald 43

Simon Schama 34

Skye McAlpine 35

Skye McKenna 75

Smriti Halls 77

Soheila Sokhanvari 45

Soma Sara 36

Sophia Smith Galer 32

Sophie Dahl 82

Stanley Wells 52

Steve Backshall 33

Steve Small 77

Steven Lenton 74

Susan Michie 26

Susie Dent 52

Sussanah Wise 39

Suzanne Heywood 30 31

Suzie Miller 48

Taffy Thomas 40

Tamana Ayazi 51

Tamsin Winter 84

Tania Branigan 69

Tanya Byrne 85

Tessa Kiros 51

Tété-Michel Kpomassie 21

The Brothers McLeod 78

The Old Dry Skulls 61

Theresa May 60

Thomas Heatherwick 56

Tim Hubbard 37 49 51

Tim Peake 69

Timothy Garton Ash 37

Timothy West 54

Tom Crewe 53

Tom Holland 58 79

Tom Phillips 40

Tomiwa Owolade 56 57

Tommy Jessop 34

Tongue Fu 67

Tongue Fu Band 66

Toshikazu Kawaguchi’ 33

Tracey Corderoy 74

Travis Elborough 71

Trevor Phillips 57

Trinny Woodall 63

Tristan Gooley 41 42

Trygve Skaug 83

Uli Lenart 54 55

Val McDermid 59

Vanessa Walters 48

Venetia La Manna 34

Victoria Hislop 30

Victoria Smith 39

Victoria Summerly 49

Vinay Patel 27

Wendy Mitchell 56

Wes Streeting 51 54

Will Forrester 28

Will Lyons 55

Will Millard 38

William Hague 26 28

William Hussey 85

William MacAskill 28

Yeva Skalietska 74

Yomi Adegoke 71

Yu Jie 69

Zadie Smith 60

Zoë Colville 49

Cheltenham Festivals is on a mission to inspire the next generation of readers. This collaboration between Joanie Clothing and the arts and culture charity is helping to make this possible.

£10 from the sale of every reading for pleasure jumper will be donated to the charity to help support this work.

Your Visit and Access

Entrance to the Festival Village is free; you simply buy tickets for the individual events you wish to see.

Getting to the Festival

Cheltenham is easily accessible from all over the UK, by road and rail. For more information on public transport and car parks go to cheltenhamfestivals.com/ your-visit.

Festival Venues

Most festival venues, including the Festival Box Office, are in the Festival village, in Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham.

All offsite venues are within walking distance. You can find the Festival Village map, along with address details for all our offsite venues on page 110.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing the best service possible for all customers with access requirements, including:

• access to complimentary personal assistant tickets

• bringing assistance dogs to the Festival site

• open captioned and British Sign Language-interpreted events Visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/ access-requirements for more information.

Digital Participants

As part of our ambition to bring you the widest possible range of speakers and topics, some participants may appear digitally

This will be identified in the event information.

Family Events

Children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket for all events. Everyone over 12 months needs a ticket and a seat, except babies in arms (12 months and under) unless specified.

Relaxed Events

This year, all of our family events are ‘Relaxed,’ meaning that events have a relaxed approach to noise and movement in the venue, and you are free to enter and exit throughout.

Please Note

Filming, audio recording and photography is not permitted during events. Visitors to the Festival may be filmed and/or photographed for future promotions.

For more information please visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/ your-visit

How to Book

To get the best out of the Festival we recommend you book in advance, however there will be availability for some events at the Box Office on site.

Online

cheltenhamfestivals.com/ literature

Create your Wish List in advance to buy tickets online on the first day of Members or General booking. For a step-by-step guide to creating a wish list, please visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/wishlists

By Telephone

Call 01242 850270

You can also contact the Box Office by emailing boxoffice@ cheltenhamfestivals.com For full details about Box Office opening hours, in person and telephone tickets sales, booking fees and terms and conditions, please visit cheltenhamfestivals.com/booking

Booking Dates (all booking opens at 10am)

Life Patrons

Director’s Circle Patrons

Gold Patrons

Silver Patrons

Members’ Priority booking

18-30 Members

General booking

Access Ticket

Bookings

Please book using our online form at cheltenhamfestivals.com/ access-requirements

Dining Event Booking

Our dining seating plans are pre-allocated by the venue and tables may be shared.

Please inform our Box Office about any dietary requirements or add these to the special requirements field when booking online.

Seating

Seating is allocated in most venues, only the Pillar Room in Cheltenham Town Hall is unallocated seating.

Members Discounts

Ticket discounts are not available for events which include catering, books or any other goods in the ticket price. This only applies to those still on the old membership scheme

Gift Certificates

Cheltenham Festivals Gift Certificates may be purchased at our Box Office or online and may

During the Festival

You can purchase tickets in person at our Festival Box Office. Opening hours will be listed on our website.

Booking Fees

Booking fees apply to all bookings and are charged per order. Fees are £3 online and over the phone, and £1.50 in person.

20 August

Wednesday 23 August

Saturday 26 August

Monday 28 August

Wednesday 30 August

Thursday 31 August

Wednesday 6 September

be redeemed against ticket or Membership purchases.

Refunds

Tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged, except in the case of a cancelled event. Sometimes alterations to the advertised details of an event or performance are made at short notice. If this happens there is no obligation to refund your money or exchange your seats.

For full ticketing terms and conditions please visit cheltenhamfestivals. com/terms-and-conditions

MONTPELLIER SPA ROAD

MONTPELLIER TERRACE

Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham, GL50 1UL

Site open from Friday 6 October, 10am

Free entry

The Bandstand

The Garden Gallery

VIP Lounge in Partnership with Cunard

The Times and Sunday Times Forum

Waterstones Bookshop

The Garden Theatre

Feast Cafe Festival Bar The Huddle

First Aid

The Da odil