Jung Chang, (above c.Zhang Xiaohong) Mary Portas, Alan Davies, Jay Rayner, Hugh Bonneville, Nick Clegg, Ruby Tandoh, Simon Armitage, Michael Palin, Lady Hale, Rachel Joyce, Irvine Welsh, and more set to appear.
A host of household names including politicians, national treasures, journalists, novelists, historians, comedians, and academics head to the spa town across 17 packed days from Friday 3 to Sunday 19 October. Tickets go on general sale on Tuesday 26 August, with priority bookings open for Friends of the Festival a week before, from Wednesday 20 August.
Nick Clegg, the former Deputy Prime Minister and President, Global Affairs, at Meta, opens the festival with an urgent look at the state of the internet, taking us behind the scenes of Meta and exploring where Big Tech has gone wrong – and right – with his book, How to Save the Internet.
A star of the global literary scene, Wild Swans author Jung Chang brings the follow-up to her epic personal history that defined a generation. Half a century on, she brings the story of her family, and of China, up to date in what promises to be a moving and unforgettable evening.
Audiences can spend an evening with the Poet laureate, Simon Armitage, as he reads from his two new poetry books, Dwell and New Cemetery. National treasures, the ever-intrepid Michael Palin transports audiences to South America, with an account of his travels in Venezuela, and festival favourite Gyles Brandreth discusses his book Somewhere, A Boy and A Bear marking the centenary of the publication of Winnie-the-Pooh.
Hot topics also include a fascinating insight into the Post Office scandal with sub-postmaster, Jo Hamilton, whose story was immortalised in the ITV drama, Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
Comedian Alan Davies shares his journey into the world of stand-up comedy, with his latest memoir, White Male Stand-Up. Queen of retail Mary Portas takes us behind the shop window, with I Shop, Therefore I Am and audiences are invited to an evening with the Paddington and Downton Abbey star and bestselling memoirist, Hugh Bonneville. Bonneville will also be appearing at a second event, introducing families to his debut children’s book, Rory Sparkes and the Elephant in the Room.
Other well-known faces include Sir Tony Robinson (above c Paul Marc Mitchell) introducing his fiction debut, one of the best-known names in British broadcasting Edward Stourton, and BBC radio presenters Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie.
Erica Morris, director of Ilkley Literature Festival, said: “We’re looking forward welcoming big names and exploring big ideas in Ilkley’s annual celebration of books, reading and writing. There’s a huge range of fascinating subjects this year: from folklore to fermentation, geology to globalisation, and cavapoos to comedy. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to our beautiful spa town for what promises to be entertaining and enlightening festival.”
Famed for its strong connections to poetry, the festival’s strand In Verse: The Rising of the North highlights the northern poetry scene and features a panel reimagining Tony Harrison’s ‘V.’ Written during the Miner’s Strike and deemed controversial at the time of its release, the poem explores class, anger, and alienation; 40 years on contemporary poets including Andrew McMillan and Malika Booker discuss the impact of Harrison’s poem and read their re-imaginings of this seminal piece. There will also be a series of poetry showcases, including one from rising northern poets, and a free networking event for poets to meet and mingle.
The festival will explore a series of themes for 2025 and… but no, go along and see. It is a cornucopia of writing treats.
To view the full programme and book tickets https://www.ilkleylitfest.org.uk
Follow @ilkleylitfest Box Office: 01943 816714.