Open Mic: Hosted by Ella Hall An opportunity for any published or unpublished authors to read from their work. These will be chosen at random by our host, Ella Hall, on each day, and we hope it will encourage active discussion after this event amongst those participating or just listening. The aim is to build […]
John Hegley: New and Selected Potatoes New and Selected Potatoes is the spud-in-cheek title of the compilation of 10 volumes of work by poet, comic, singer, songwriter and glasses-wearer, John Hegley. John will perform poems and songs from across his back-catalogue, alongside new pieces, focussing on his educational work and storytelling. Perrier comedy nominated and […]
Crime at the Sharp End. Join Professor Richard Handy FRSB, a pathologist and leading expert on chemical poisons, and an expert witness. He is author of a series of historical spy thrillers. He appears alongside Tina Orr Munro who has worked as a police and crime journalist and as a civilian Scenes of Crime officer […]
Roger Lewis Our greatest and funniest living biographer? Roger Lewis has redefined the art of biography. He has written books about Laurence Olivier, Anthony Burgess, and Charles Hawtrey. His biography ‘The Life and Death of Peter Sellers’, was made into a hugely successful film starring Geoffrey Rush. His latest book ‘Erotic Vagrancy: Everything about Richard […]
Christopher Biggins There is nothing like a Dame. Some people need no introduction. We are thrilled to have ‘Biggins’ join us in a unique event in which we will explore his life through the selection of favourite books. Six titles that have influenced his approach to a life which has been extraordinary. One of show-businesses […]
Louis Barfe presents an insightful and hilarious insight in the world of light entertainment. Louis Barfe is probably the leading expert in the country on British television, radio and music in the second half of the twentieth century. His book on the record business: ‘Where Have All the Good Times Gone?’ was described as ‘Indispensable […]
Open Mic. Hosted by Ella Hall Are you brave enough to read out your work to an audience. Guests are invited to this free event to share their poetry, or prose, and each person will be allowed a six-minute slot to explain what they will be reading and to share it with an audience. Free […]
Ann Widdecombe will talk both about her life and her writing. Few politicians are as well known or well liked as Ann Widdecombe. Known for her forthright no-nonsense approach to both politics and life, she also exudes a sense or fun which might explain her popularity. A former Conservative party Minister and MP, she now […]
Open Mic. Hosted by Ella Hall Are you brave enough to read out your work to an audience. Guests are invited to this free event to share their poetry, or prose, and each person will be allowed a six-minute slot to explain what they will be reading and to share it with an audience. Free […]
Keeping the Reader Guessing Thriller writer Miranda Ramphul discusses with crime writers Caroline Serpall , Helena Dixon and Abi Yardimci how they create tension and suspense in their novels and plot the perfect murder. In association with the Crime on the Coast Festival. (Books will be on sale from all those involved). Limited to 120 […]
Melvyn Hayes – Still with us and making us laugh Few people can be genuinely called a ‘Living Comedy Legend’ but Melvyn Hayes certainly warrants that title. He has spent an incredible 75 years in showbusiness, though is probably best known, to TV audiences as Gunner ‘Gloria’ Beaumont in ‘It Ain’t Half Hot Mum’. He […]
The Second Coming of David Bowie 19:00-20:00 Alexander Larman will discuss his acclaimed book, ‘Lazarus’, which explores David Bowie’s final years, including commercial failures to 21st century critical acclaim. This is a ‘must’ for any Bowie fan and will offer unique insights and is the first major biography to tell the full and candid story […]
Georgina Moore will discuss her hugely popular novels ‘The Garnett Girls’ and ‘River of Stars’ The Sunday Times bestselling novelist will explore her beautifully written and captivating novels. Full of romance and deep family secrets, her latest book ‘River of Stars’ is a story for every generation. As well as being one of the rising […]
Open Mic. Hosted by Ella Hall Are you brave enough to read out your work to an audience. Guests are invited to this free event to share their poetry, or prose, and each person will be allowed a six-minute slot to explain what they will be reading and to share it with an audience. Free […]
Lady Ann Glenconner Manners and Mischief Lady Ann Glenconner, Princess Margaret’s Lady-in-Waiting and a Maid of Honour at Queen Elizabeth IIs Coronation, offers rich, sparkling memories from a remarkable life that has been both extremely conventional and unconventional. Her autobiography ‘Lady In Waiting’ was a sensational bestseller, in both senses of the word - with […]
CRUEL AND UNUSUAL - Are Writers Worse than the Characters they Create? Morgen Witzel and Helena Dixon lead a discussion with fellow crime writers David Sharp, Miranda Ramphul, Jenny Kane and SM Hardy about what it takes to create a fictional villain, their motivations and methods, including a discussion of cruel and unusual ways of […]
Merlin Holland – Oscar Wilde’s only grandson offers his insight into his grandfather’s life, and most uniquely after-life. Fans of Oscar Wilde will never have a greater opportunity to learn, first hand, about what has been described as one of the most important books about him for fifty years. ‘After Oscar’ exposes the decades of […]
Mr B (The Gentleman Rhymer) Following the ‘Bowie Party’ of Wednesday night we invite you to dance and laugh with the incredible ‘Top Chap’ - Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer. There are no words justifiable to describe this ‘act’ – we simply suggest you look up his ‘Chap-Hop History’ on Youtube for a tiny flavour […]
Chris Manby and Simon Robinson speak about ‘War Babies’ – the extraordinary stories of the forgotten children of World War Two. Each November we remember the sacrifice of the servicemen and women who fought, in both world wars. But there’s another group of men and women who struggled alongside them. They may not have borne […]
BREAK YOUR WRITERS BLOCK – Creative Writing workshop with Chris Manby Whether you're an aspiring or experienced writer, you've doubtless had days when the words just won't come. Do you struggle with motivation or finding fresh ideas? Wonder how to organize your time more effectively? This practical session addresses common challenges that affect writers of […]
The Wise and Their Works celebrates the 175th anniversary of the Great Exhibition in 2026. The men who inspired the Great Exhibition of 1851 - Henry Cole, Sir Robert Peel and above all Prince Albert himself - were at the centre of an extraordinary combination of manufacturing, commercial skill and political vision which made Victorian […]
Roger McGough – Alive and Gigging Roger McGough is probably our greatest and certainly most popular living poet. A true original, he first came to prominence in the 1960s, as one of the leading members of the ‘Liverpool poets’ (he was a contemporary of the Beatles). He subsequently developed into one of the countries most […]
Lesley Pearse A life lived to the full Lesley Pearse lives in Torquay and is a British novelist with global sales of over 10 million copies. She is easily, after Agatha Christie, the most successful writer to have lived in Torbay in the past two centuries. However, Lesley did not start her writing career until […]
Helen Lederer ‘ The third funniest woman in the world’ – Dawn French Helen Lederer is one of the most recognisable female comics on television. From ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ to ‘Bottom’ she has can offer insights into the world of comedy like almost no-one else. Her autobiography ‘Not That I’m Bitter’ tells the story of Helen’s […]
