Osman to open Guildford Book Festival

Guildford Book Festival is going ahead with a physical event this year, featuring appearances from Richard Osman and Gyles Brandreth.

The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre will host the event, now in its 31st year, from 4th October to 10th October.

Osman will open the festival, discussing his lifelong love of crime fiction and his debut novel The Thursday Murder Club (Viking). Closing the festival this year is writer and broadcaster Brandreth, who will present an entertaining evening of theatrical anecdotes.

Elsewhere on the bill, there are appearances from Susie Dent, historian Charles Spencer, Adele Parks and Sabine Durrant. Investigative journalist Catherine Belton will delve deep into the workings of Putin's Kremlin and broadcaster James Naughtie will offer his own unique insights into what it means to be American in an ever-changing world.

Jane Beaton, festival co-director, said:  “We are delighted to be going ahead with this year’s festival and know this wouldn’t have been possible without the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre. We are very grateful to [Yvonne Arnaud Theatre c.e.o.] Joanna Read and her team for all their help.  We have a great line-up of writers and top name stars from the worlds of entertainment and we look forward to welcoming them to Guildford in October.”   

Social distancing measures will be in place throughout the theatre while there will also be several virtual events and appearances at other venues.

Fellow director Alex Andrews said: “It’s been a challenging year but we have been encouraged by the support we have received throughout the town, and from the publishers and writers themselves.  We are excited that the festival is happening, and hope that as many people as possible will come out and join us.”

Full details can be found on the festival website.