With Henley Literary Festival marking its 20th edition this year, several of its most popular speakers are returning, alongside some exciting first timers from October 2
Historian Lucy Worsley has sold out each of her talks since first coming to the Festival in 2012, and in Queens and Kings she reflects on her two decades as royal palaces chief curator.
Award- winning novelist Elif Shafak set the record for longest adults book signing queue in 2024. She returns the week before her eagerly awaited In One Brief Moment All Eternity is published, meaning that Henley will be one of the first places it is available.
Sir Michael Morpurgo ’s first appearance in 2017 was the fastest sell- out in the Festival’s history. This autumn he will be joined by his wife, philanthropist Lady Clare Morpurgo, to reflect on their 50 years living on a working farm in Devon.
And from closer to home, Henley and national treasure Dame Mary Berry shares her passion outside the kitchen with My Gardening Life.
Appearing at the festival for the first time are Conclave actor Lucian Msamati, with his diaries of co-starring with Ben Whishaw in Waiting for Godot in the West End, and comedian Rachel Parris, with her Pride and Prejudice sequel Introducing Mrs Collins.
For younger readers there are events around two series that have sold in their millions; Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt with the latest You Choose book, and Liz Pichon with Tom Gates is Not Famous (Yet).
The world’s most popular rugby podcast will be coming to Henley as The Good, The Bad & The Rugby hosts Mike Tindall, James Haskell and Alex Payne share highs and lows on and off the pitch.
The ever-popular Crime & Wine returns, with three top thriller writers-Traitors star Harriet Tyce, Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall and British Book Awards winner Louise Candlish – alongside wine from Laithwaites.
Labour veteran, Baroness Margaret Hodge, will also look back on her career and the battles she has fought.
With some 140 conversations, performances, workshops and talks for adults and children, in-person and online, taking place from October 2- 11, many more speakers will be revealed in the coming months.
Speakers already announced include Nigella Lawson, Maggie O’Farrell, Meera Syal, Tony Adams, and Rob Biddulph.
Henley Literary Festival director Harriet Reed said: “With both authors and audiences it’s lovely to have a mix of old friends who want to come back and new ones joining us for the very first time.”
Tickets will go on sale to Gold and Platinum Friends on July 3, Friends on July 7 and general sale on July 13.
