Keyes, Clare and Riddell headline London Book & Screen Week

Authors Cassandra Clare, Marian Keyes and Chris Riddell are among the names featuring in an "eclectic" array of events all over the capital for London Book & Screen Week, a seven-day celebration of books and the films, TV programmes and virtual worlds they inspire.

Keyes will join Good Housekeeping in conversation about her latest collection of essays, Making It Up As I Go Along (Michael Joseph), while children’s laureate, Chris Riddell, will headline a London Book & Screen Week Sketchbook Social event alongside Sarah McIntyre, Mike Medaglia, Vanna Vinci, Martial Toledano and other special guests at Café 1001 in Brick Lane.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) will continue its involvement in the programme, hosting a special event to discuss the importance of storytelling in gaming, led by a panel of author-gamers, including academic and children’s author Gabrielle Kent, games script writer and narrative designer Rhianna Pratchett, and journalist Leigh Alexander.

East London’s creative business hub, Second Home, is a new partner for 2016 and will host a series of events to coincide with the week, whilst YA author Cassandra Clare will kick off her Lady Midnight UK tour with an event with Waterstones at Leicester Square Theatre, screened live through Periscope by Maximum Pop! Books.

London’s LGBT literary salon, Polari, will return to its Soho roots, as new bar The Light Lounge hosts a special London Book & Screen Week edition of the event, featuring author Diana Souhami, playwright and actor Alexis Gregory, poet and spoken word performer Keith Jarrett and author and comedian VG Lee. Additionally, a new YA Salon will launch during the week with a special event in which Ann M Martin, author of The Babysitters Club series, will present her most recent novel, How to Look for a Lost Dog (Usbourne), alongside author fans Holly Bourne and Laura Dockrill hosted by journalist Anna James.

Meanwhile, London’s museum of immigration, 19 Princelet St, will host an evening to spotlight the city’s "breadth and depth of voice" called 'London’s voices – life in the global city', featuring a range of speakers including Sathnam Sanghera, Ben Judah, Nikesh Shukla, Ayisha Malik, and Amanda Paul.

Jacks Thomas, director of The London Book Fair and London Book & Screen Week, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing London Book & Screen Week back for 2016 with a raft of exciting additions; London is at the centre of the creative industries, inspiring and generating some of the greatest stories ever told. The week offers an opportunity for everyone to celebrate their favourite books, films, TV shows, games and entertainment platforms. In the 400th anniversary year of Shakespeare’s work, we look forward to working with partners across the city to create a London-wide celebration that showcases the fabulous array of writers and their work, old and new, in all its formats. Come and join in!”

The programme, which includes an open source strand of events that anyone can participate in and submit to, will continue to grow over the coming months.

London Book & Screen Week will take place from 11th to 17th April 2016. The event series is produced by, and coincides with, The London Book Fair (12-14 April). Sandy Mahal was named curator of London Book & Screen Week last month.