You are viewing your 1 free article this month. Login to read more articles.
Wimbledon BookFest announces 2024 line-up
Wimbledon BookFest has announced its star-studded line-up, as it prepares to return for its 17th year this autumn. The inclusive celebration of books and culture takes place from Thursday 17th to Sunday 27th October, "bringing readers and writers together for 10 days of unmissable events to inform, inspire, entertain and connect communities".
This year, the line-up includes Richard E Grant, Clare Balding, Celia Imrie, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Rick Stein, Mary Berry, William Boyd, Tom Parker Bowles, Tim Spector and Sir Geoff Hurst as well as other literary stars, broadcasters, actors, historians, scientists, sportspeople and academics.
Exploring the power of storytelling to connect communities, acclaimed novelists Elif Shafak, Kate Mosse, Tracy Chevalier, Jacqueline Crooks, Alex Wheatle, Ingrid Persaud, Abi Daré, Andrew O’Hagan, Hisham Matar, Robert Harris and Dawn O’Porter will discuss their latest work while Trinny Woodall, Vanessa Feltz, Nina Stibbe and Zandra Rhodes will share their inspiring personal stories.
Big ideas and bold thinking on global affairs, technology and AI, and rebuilding Britain under a new government are a focus of this year’s programme, with speakers including Torsten Bell MP, Will Hutton, Zeinab Badawi, Marianna Spring and John Sweeney.
There will also be a series of events focused on nature, water and creative responses to the climate crisis featuring Caroline Lucas, Kate Humble, Rachel de Thame and Chloe Dalton.
Connecting communities with stories, Wimbledon BookFest’s partnership with the Lahore Literary Festival brings a strand of events spotlighting South Asia, with speakers including Baroness Warsi and crime writer Saima Mir. Merton Arts Space will host a raft of events designed to take audiences on a journey of discovery, including a celebration of Korea’s vibrant food culture with Su Scott and Seji Hong.
The festival’s schools programme will feature appearances from Tim Peake, Joseph Coelho, Jeffrey Boakye and Louie Stowell, and the launch of the 5 O’Clock Sessions, a new initiative for sixth formers focused on building skills for the creative industries with talks and workshops on journalism, social media, event production and photography.
Fiona Razvi, the festival’s co-founder and director, said: “We are incredibly proud to be announcing the line-up for our 2024 edition. In a challenging year, it feels more important than ever to bring communities together to hear from expert speakers, exchange ideas and explore different perspectives. Whatever your age or background and whether your interest is in fiction from around the world, global affairs, politics, history, food or nature and the environment, we have focused on programming a festival to inspire everyone at this year’s BookFest.”
Wimbledon BookFest 2024 will take place in venues across central Wimbledon including Merton Arts Space at Wimbledon Library, Wimbledon High School and New Wimbledon Theatre.
