Balls, Evaristo and Rani to headline Ilkley Literature Festival

Ed Balls, Bernardine Evaristo and Anita Rani will headline the Ilkley Literature Festival this October.

This year's festival will offer a mix of in-person and digital events and will run from Friday 1st to Sunday 17th October. Live events will take place at the King’s Hall and All Saint’s Church.

The festival will focus on three strands of thought and discussion: unreliable narratives, belonging and pioneering women. Booker Prize winner Evaristo will discuss her latest book Manifesto (Hamish Hamilton), an inspirational account of her creative rebellion as a writer, teacher and activist. Former MP and "Strictly" star Balls features with his part memoir, part cookbook, Appetite (Gallery Books), while "Countryfile" presenter Rani will discuss her memoir, The Right Sort of Girl (Bonnier), exploring her upbringing in Yorkshire in the 1980s.

Erica Morris, Ilkley Literature Festival director, said: “It’s a joy to be returning to live events this autumn. We have listened to our audiences and understand that retaining Covid-secure precautions is important for them to feel comfortable and safe. As such, live events will have reduced capacity, one-way systems, and hand sanitiser available. At the same time, we are expanding our digital offering, providing more opportunities for audiences to access festival events. After the anxieties of the last 18 months or so, one thing the pandemic has highlighted is how culture and the arts enrich our lives, so we hope the festival offers a thought-provoking, entertaining and inspiring tonic.”

This year's lineup also includes journalist Sarfraz Manzoor sharing his memoir They (Wildfire), weaving history and reportage to tell the story of today’s divided Britain. In partnership with Keighley Arts and Film Festival and Keighley Film Club, there’ll also be a screening of "Blinded by the Light", co-written by Manzoor and inspired by his teenage years and love of Bruce Springsteen.

Other famous faces include Gyles Brandreth with his memoir Odd Boy Out (Penguin Michael Joseph); Countdown star Susie Dent with Word Perfect (John Murray Press); and Miles Jupp in conversation with novelist Lissa Evans.Scotland’s former National Poet Jackie Kay will explore the extraordinary life of the great blues singer Bessie Smith.

The festival will also showcase new commissions from its 2021 poet in residence, Ian Duhig, and apprentice poet in residence, Rheima Robinson.

Founded in 1973, Ilkley Literature Festival is the north’s longest-running literary event. Tickets will go on general sale from Tuesday 31st August. Friends of the Festival can book from 24th August. Friends’ memberships can be bought via the festival website at www.ilkleylitfest.org.uk.