The brand new Torbay Literary Festival is being held at The Palace Theatre, Paignton between 10th-16th August 2026, and a whole raft of famous writers will be appearing including: Georgia Toffolo, Oscar Wilde’s grandson Merlin Holland; superstar DJ Mike Pickering, and Christopher Biggins. The line up also includes biographer Roger Lewis, satirist Craig Brown, Princess Margaret’s former lady-in waiting Lady Anne Glenconner and novelist Kathy Lette.

MONDAY 10 AUGUST

Sarah Pearse: Opening Author Event.
Local author Sarah Pearse has taken the literary world by storm.
More here and to book.

 

Kathy Lette: Unleashed on Torbay. Kathy Lette is a force of nature.
The Australian and British author came to prominence in 1979 with her novel ‘Puberty Blues’; she has since written a further 17 novels, the latest being ‘The Sisterhood Rules’ which Nicole Kidman has described as ‘Deliciously rude’.
More here and to book.

 

Local Poetry Showcase:
Brixham-based poets John and Susie Miles will entertain you with a selection of their work.
More here and to book. 

 

Su Pollard: More than just a Yellowcoat.
Su Pollard is probably best known for her role in the sitcom, playing Peggy in Hi-di-Hi! However, she has also enjoyed a career, as actress, singer and author which has now spanned over fifty years.
More here and to book. 

 

Paul Burrell – Life with the Queen, the King and Princess Diana:
For over two decades Paul Burrell was the silent witness to history – first as footman to Queen Elizabeth II, then as butler to King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) and, most famously, as a confidante of the late Princes Diana.
More here and to book. 

TUESDAY 11 AUGUST

Stephanie Austin: The Other Queen of Devon Murder Mysteries.
South Devon has a long history of strong female authors, from Agatha Christie to Mary Wesley. Stephanie Austin, in recent years, has emerged as one of the most popular and successful.
More here and to book. 

 

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.
More here and to book. 

 

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.
More here and to book. 

 

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.
More here and to book.

 

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.
More here and to book. 

 

WEDNESDAY 12 AUGUST

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.
More here and to book.

 

 

Open Mic. Hosted by Ella Hall.
Are you brave enough to read out your work to an audience.
More here and to book.

 

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 has appeared in over 50 films including ‘Summer Holiday’ and ‘The Young Ones’, with Cliff Richard.
More here and to book. 

Miranda Ramphul: 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.
More here and to book.

 

The Second Coming of David Bowie:
Alexander Larman will discuss his acclaimed book, ‘Lazarus’, which explores David Bowie’s final years, including commercial failures to 21st century critical acclaim. Plus Two 55-minute sets from the stunning David Bowie Tribute act ‘Bowie Experience’.
More here and to book.

 

THURSDAY 13 AUGUST

Georgina Moore
Gina 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.
More here and to book. 

 

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.
More here and to book. 

 

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.
More here and to book.

 

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.
More here and to book.

 

 

FRIDAY 14 AUGUST

Chris Manby and Simon Robinson speak about ‘War Babies’
The extraordinary stories of the forgotten children of World War Two.
More here and to book. 

 

Break your writers block
Creative Writing workshop with Chris Manby.
More here and to book. 

 

A. N. Wilson ‘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 Britain an unparalleled success story.
More here and to book. 

 

Roger McGough – Alive and Gigging.
Roger McGough is probably our greatest and certainly most popular living poet.
More here and to book. 

 

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.
More here and to book. 

 

Helen Lederer
‘The third funniest woman in the world’ – Dawn French. Helen Lederer is one of the most recognisable female comics on television.
More here and to book. 

 

SATURDAY 15 AUGUST

Iwan Carrington – Clean in 15. 
Iwan Carrington (a.k.a Mr Carrington) is a presenter and Youtuber, probably best known as the cleaning guru on award winning BBC series ‘Sort Your Life Out’, co-presented with Stacey Solomon.
More here and to book. 

 

Hunter Davies – The Beatles and Me.
Hunter Davies is not only one of our most accomplished journalists, and author of more than 100 books, but also the only person to have been approved, by Brain Epstein, to write a biography of the Beatles.
More here and to book. 

 

Hunter Davies’ Beatles Quiz:
Join the Beatles only authorised biographer for a unique quiz on the greatest ever band. With unique prizes and equally unique insider stories, come and have some fun, and see how much of a fan you really are.
More here and to book. 

 

Georgia Toffolo – The World According to Toff.
Georgia Toffolo is adored by millions. The British television personality, entrepreneur, Sunday Times bestselling author, and broadcaster is known for her personality and undeniable charisma. This is a free event.
More here and to book. 

 

Andrew Wilson – the enduring mystery of Marilyn Monroe. 
Andrew Wilson’s new book, ‘I Wanna Be Loved By You’ is a groundbreaking new biography of the enduring enigmatic star that is Marilyn Monroe.
More here and to book. 

 

Mike Pickering  Manchester Must Dance.
Mike Pickering is one of the greatest musical pioneers to emerge from Manchester. A superstar DJ – he introduced House music into the legendary Hacienda nightclub, and while working for Factory records signed bands likes James and Happy Mondays and worked with Kasabian, and Calvin Harris while at Sony.
More here and to book. 

 

SUNDAY 16 AUGUST

Craig Brown – Satirist, humourist and biographer
… also featuring A.N. Wilson and Dame Harriet Walter. Best known for his four decades of satirical writing, most regularly since 1989, in his parodic Private Eye Diaries, Craig Brown is also an award-winning biographer.
More here and to book. 

 

Dame Harriet Walter – in Conversation.
Dame Harriet Walter is one of our most acclaimed actresses, both on screen and stage. Perhaps best known, most recently, for roles in hit TV shows such as ‘Succession’, ‘Ted Lasso’, ‘The Crown’ and ‘Killing Eve’; she is even more celebrated for her stage roles including leading roles with the RSC in ‘Anthony and Cleopatra’ and ‘Macbeth’.
More here and to book. 

 

Click on the image to download a PDF programme