Joseph Coelho to appear at inaugural Norwich Book Festival

Former Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho and Andrew Miller are set to appear at the inaugural Norwich Book Festival to "honour the unique literary heritage" of the UNESCO heritage city. 

Running from 24th–27th October, the event has been produced by The Forum alongside the University of East Anglia, the National Centre for Writing and Norwich booksellers.

"There’s such a thirst for debate, stories and conversation in our city, that we’re delighted to be launching Norwich Book Festival, a new city-wide festival which promises to further Norwich’s reputation as an unmissable literary destination, and invites readers from our city, county, and further afield to discover new stories and new writers," said Chris Gribble, chief executive of The Forum. 

The weekend will also feature a range of free interactive "hands-on" activities with novelists Alison Weir and Naomi Wood. Boxing commentator Steve Bunce is also scheduled to appear. 

The "Extra" programme will run alongside the main festival in venues across the city, beginning with an event with R F Kuang on 16th October. 

Peggy Hughes, chief executive of National Centre for Writing, says: "Norwich is the perfect city for a brand-new book festival: England’s first UNESCO City of Literature, a city bursting with writers and readers and book lovers, and a place of over 900 years of stories. The Forum, which is home to several other wonderful festivals, is perfectly positioned to drive it! We’re delighted to be alongside for the ride and can’t wait to enjoy all that October has to bring us."

The full programme will be published in August 2024.