Pinnock, Mabuse and more confirmed for Black British Book Festival as event moves to London

Leanne Pinnock, Oti Mabuse and Fats Timbo are among a star-studded roster of writers confirmed for this year’s Black British Book Festival.

Taking place between 27th and 28th October at the Southbank Centre in London, having previously being held in Birmingham for its first two years, Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock will discuss her memoir Believe (Headline), while headline authors Clive Myrie, Fats Timbo, Oti Mabuse, Gary Younge and Candice Braithwaite are also scheduled to attend.

Myrie, Younge and Dawn Butler will discuss their careers in a panel entitled "Unmasking Brilliance: Black British Voices in Media", while social media star and author Timbo will host A #BlackBookTok Masterclass.

The festival’s headline sponsors are Pan Macmillan and Audible, alongside publishers Hachette, Simon & Schuster, Penguin and Sage. They are joined by a range of brands and media partners including The Booker Prize, The Bookseller, Pizza Express, National Express, Black Ballad, Hearst Group and Waterstones.

Selina Brown, founder of the festival, said: “The Black British Book Festival represents an innovative and inspiring movement within the publishing industry. We believe in fostering diversity and inclusivity, championing emerging talent, and reaching marginalised communities. Our partnership with the Southbank Centre in London and the incredible support from renowned publishers demonstrates the growing recognition of our mission. We are proud to make a lasting impact on the literary landscape, empowering voices and transforming lives."

Ted Hodgkinson, head of literature and spoken word at the Southbank Centre, said: "We’re excited to be partnering with the Black British Book Festival who for the first time will bring their vibrant annual day-long festival to the London Literature Festival, building on a successful first two years in Birmingham with their biggest and most ambitious programme so far.

“It’s a partnership rooted in shared values and a belief in the power of books and festivals to bring people of all ages together and continues our ongoing commitment at the Southbank Centre to platforming a diverse range of voices. The passion and purpose of Selina Brown and her team is simply inspiring; it has been a pleasure working with them on realising their vision for the festival and I can’t wait to see how it resonates with our audiences, from returning visitors to those coming through our doors for the first time.”

As well as the two-day festival, a group of 30 Black British authors including Joseph Coelho, Derek Owusu and Jackie Kay will also be embarking on a summer book tour from August to October, spanning the UK. These literary pop-up events will be held in unconventional spaces such as chicken shops, hairdressers, sportswear shops, and shopping centres, “venturing into communities historically underserved by the publishing industry”.

Joanna Prior, c.e.o. of Pan Macmillan, commented: "I am delighted that once again Pan Macmillan is the headline sponsor of the Black British Book Festival. We have established a successful partnership with Selina and the team, and our work is ambitious and collaborative. Pan Macmillan is determined to ensure publishing is an increasingly inclusive industry. I would like to thank Selina and the BBBF for their generous collaboration. We are hugely looking forward to the festival’s program of superb events and discussions over the next three months."

Tracey Markham, Audible head of UK and Canada, said: "We are delighted to be one of the headline sponsors of this year’s Black British Book Festival, which celebrates the many incredible Black British authors writing today, as well as helping authors of the future. Audible is committed to supporting underrepresented new talent in publishing."

Pinnock tickets go on sale to the general public 7th July 2023, and all other tickets go on sale Friday 30th June 2023 on the Southbank Centre website.