Henley Literary Festival

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Vaccine-creators, multi-million-selling novelists, political leaders, Children’s Laureates and star of stage, screen and social media will be among the speakers at this year’s Henley Literary Festival, supported by Baillie Gifford, which is taking place from 2–10 October 2021.

One of the UK’s biggest book festivals returns next month with over 120 events for adults and children, both in-person at venues across the town and online wherever audiences are in the world.  A new venue for 2021 will be the biggest venue in the festival’s history with 400+ seater marquee at Phyllis Court Club.

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Steven Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen guitarist turned star of The Sopranos, are the latest additions to the illustrious line-up over the nine days, alongside Elizabeth Day, Jeffrey Archer, Lorraine style expert Candice Brathwaite, comedian Rob Beckett, Drs Rachel Clarke, and Alex George Kate Mosse, Hamilton star Giles Terera, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Joe Wicks and Oxford AstraZeneca Vaccine scientists Dame Sarah Gilbert and Dr Catherine Green.

As party conference season comes to a close former MPs Ed Miliband, Michael Heseltine, Vince Cable and Ed Balls will all be heading to Henley, as will bestselling novelists Jill Mansell, Alexander McCall Smith, Costa winner Monique Roffey, Jane Fallon and Nicci French. For younger readers there are interactive events for all ages and appearances from Clare Balding, illustrator Rob Biddulph, Tom Gates creator Liz Pichon and former Children’s Laureates Michael Morpurgo and Chris Riddell. From the world of entertainment speakers include Jack Dee, Oscar-winner Hayley Mills, Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio, Joanna Lumley, Robert Webb, Harry Potter star Evanna Lynch, Ruth Jones, Gyles Brandreth, Mel Giedroyc, Tom Allen and many more. Poets Brian Bilston and Salena Godden, will appear, alongside broadcasters John Simpson, Mariella Frostrup, Simon Mayo, Jon Sopel and Fortunately hosts Fi Glover & Jane Garvey.

Tickets are on sale now at: https://henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk/whats-on/