Tag: Ilkey

2025 Ilkley Literature Festival Programme Unveiled: A Star-Studded Line-Up

Posted: 18/08/2025

The Ilkley Literature Festival, the north’s longest-running literary celebration, has announced its highly anticipated 2025 programme. From Friday, October 3, to Sunday, October 19, the picturesque spa town of Ilkley will host an extraordinary array of household names, including politicians, authors, historians, comedians, and academics, across 17 days of thought-provoking events. This year’s line-up is a literary feast, featuring global icons such as Wild Swans author Jung Chang, former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, comedian Alan Davies, food critic Jay Rayner, actor Hugh Bonneville, and Poet Laureate Simon Armitage. Tickets go on general sale on Tuesday, August 26, with priority booking for Friends of the Festival starting Wednesday, August 20. Festival Highlights The festival opens with Nick Clegg, who will delve into the state of the internet and Big Tech’s impact, drawing from his book How to Save the Internet. Jung Chang follows with a moving evening recounting her family’s story and China’s history, bringing her epic personal narrative up to date. Simon Armitage will captivate poetry lovers with readings from his latest collections, Dwell and New Cemetery. Meanwhile, national treasure Michael Palin will transport audiences to South America with tales from his Venezuelan travels, and Gyles Brandreth will celebrate the centenary of Winnie-the-Pooh with his book Somewhere, A Boy and A Bear. Lady Hale, former President of the Supreme Court, will provide an eye-opening exploration of the British justice system, while Jo Hamilton, a sub-postmaster caught in the Post Office scandal, will share her harrowing story, immortalized in the ITV drama Mr Bates vs… Read More

Category: BOOKS, LIFESTYLE

Tags: Ilkey, Ilkey literature festival

Ilkley Literature Festival is back for 51 years of literary excellence

by James Banham

Posted: 05/10/2024

As the leaves turn and autumn settles over the picturesque spa town of Ilkley, the longest-running literature festival in the north of England opens its doors once again. Now in its 51st year, the Ilkley Literature Festival, which began on Friday, 4 October, promises a rich tapestry of events and discussions that will captivate and inspire literature lovers from across the UK. Spanning 17 days and featuring around 90 events, the festival will take place at the historic King’s Hall and various venues throughout Ilkley, offering attendees an opportunity to engage with a diverse array of voices and ideas. From novelists and poets to journalists and historians, this year’s festival lineup is as eclectic as it is impressive. Among the highlights of the opening weekend is an appearance by Caroline Lucas, the former leader of the Green Party. Lucas will delve into the complex themes of national identity and reclaiming Englishness from the clutches of aggressive nationalism in her thought-provoking talk, “Another England.” The King’s Hall will also host Adrian Chiles, the former presenter of The One Show, who will share his unique insights and humorous takes on British life. Drawing from his popular Guardian columns, Chiles is sure to entertain and provoke thought in equal measure. Adding to the dynamic lineup is Vanessa Kisuule, an award-winning slam poet and dedicated Michael Jackson fan, who will explore the highs and lows of fandom in an engaging conversation about hero worship. Meanwhile, journalist Paul Caruana Galizia will offer a poignant account of his family’s ongoing quest… Read More

Category: BOOKS, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

Tags: Book festival, Ilkey, Ilkey Festival