Wit, wine and song – the festival talks the talk

‘Lifestyle’ celebrities and personalities – plus a few theatrical gems - are under the spotlight in this week’s Festival Focus, highlighting the best of the Talks and theatre programme

Cooking up a storm: The Festival’s Talks series continues to attract a growing number of A-list celebrities all of which take place in the Cathedral Lodge unless otherwise stated.

This year chef and writer Tom Kerridge is in conversation with Telegraph food writer Xanthe Clay (Friday, October 27, 5.30pm) – touching on his meteoric rise to fame after his gastro pub, the Hand and Flowers, won its second Michelin star; an expanding waistline, and the tricky subject of dieting.

History men: Gardener, writer, wit and Royal Horticultural Society judge James Alexander-sinclair (November 1, 5.30pm) gives a whistle-stop tour of 30 years in gardening, and one of Britain’s best-loved historians Dan Cruickshank (October 23, 5.30pm) takes a break from TV presenting to bring his architectural expertise to bear in a talk about the Huguenots of Spitalfields.

More history from Antiques Roadshow presenter Paul Atterbury, (October 31, 5.30pm) who has been a poster enthusiast all his life.

He tells the story of posters – whether for advertising, propaganda, travel or entertainment – from the Victorian era to the creation of the modern multicoloured image.

Meanwhile history is rewritten by Adam Rutherford (October 31, 8pm) Radio 4’s top Inside Science presenter, using DNA as the new text. Expect a fearless talk, taking in kings, queens, inbreeding, war, plague, famine and diseases.

Heroes, heroines (and high hills): The witty and entertaining AN Wilson (October 26, 5.30pm) casts a waspish eye on The Queen; rambler extraordinaire Nicholas Crane (November 2, 5.30pm) examines the making of the British Landscape; two remarkable sisters Patricia Davies and Jean Argles (October 25, Canterbury Cathedral Lodge, 5pm) recall their father Colonel Owtram’s secret war diary – kept hidden while British Camp Commandant of a Japanese POW camp and former banker David Lough (October 24, 5.30pm) brings his banking expertise to Churchill’s precarious finances, and threatens to think the unthinkable in his talk, Churchill and Trump: Birds of a Feather?

And a first for Canterbury Festival, a panel discussion led by Andrew Thorns, medical director for Pilgrims Hospices, on ‘The Art of Dying Well’ (October 23, 8pm). Why is it we avoid talking about this important subject – with questions invited from the audience.

A history of britain in 21 women: The history of Britain has traditionally been defined by its conflicts, its conquests, its men and its monarchs. It’s high time that it was defined by its women.

In her latest book, Woman’s Hour presenter Jenni Murray tells of women who refused to succumb to the established laws of society. Famous queens, forgotten visionaries, great artists and trailblazing politicians – all pushed back boundaries and revolutionised our world – and have the power to inspire generations.

She selects the UK’S greatest heroines on October 30 at 5.30pm