From dancing to stardust and the Queen
Saturday October 18 to Sunday October 9
Henley Literary Festival
Baillie Gifford Marquee, Kenton Theatre and Henley Town Hall
Famous Henley residents Mary Berry, Irvine Welsh and Olivia Harrison are among the lineup at this year’s festival of the written word. They will be joined by Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke – from nearby Brubham as well as broadcaster Floella Benjami, astronaut Tim Peake, ACDC frontman Brian Johnson, Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell, comedy icon Lenny Henry, Spice Girl Mel C and novelist Robert Harris.
In the year which has seen Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee and her sad passing, the first event of the festival will see Robert Hardman speak about her extraordinary life. One of Britain’s most respected royal authorities, his book Queen of our Times: The Life of Elizabeth II traces her story, exploring the full, astonishing 96 years of our longest reigning monarch in this authoritative yet intimate biography. As a mark of respect, this opening event of our 2022 Festival at the Kenton Theatre, there will begin with a minute’s silence.
Featuring more than 120 events for adults and children, the 16th annual festival takes place in venues across Henley and online from October 1-9. Tickets go on sale to Friends of the Festival.
Tim Peake, one of only seven Britons ever to go to space, visits with a special all-ages event around his first non-fiction book for children The Cosmic Diary of Our Incredible Universe. Closer to home, Olivia Harrison, who has lived in the town’s iconic Friar
Park for more than 45 years, will make a rare public appearance marking 20 years since the passing of her husband, Beatle George Harrison. His first wife Pattie Boyd will also reflect on her life as a model and muse for songs including Something and Layla.
Music plays a major part in this year’s line-up, with
ACDC frontman Brian Johnson, Spice Girl Mel C,
First Cut is the Deepest singer PP Arnold and
Deacon Blue star Ricky Ross all discussing their memoirs.
International bestsellers Robert Harris, Sarah Winman, Mike Gayle, Nina Stibbe and Jeffrey Archer appear alongside debut novelists Salma El-Wardany, Bonnie Garmus, Jessie Cave and Abigail Bergstrom.
Comedy legends Lenny Henry and Julian Clary will be in Henley for fun-filled family events, Floella Benjamin, David Dimbleby and Justin Webb join with their autobiographies, while Gavin & Stacey cocreator Ruth Jones, wildlife expert Ray Mears, Countdown expert Susie Dent and Peep Show star Paterson Joseph all discuss their latest books.
Anton Du Beke appears for the first time, as does his former Strictly partner, fashion guru Susannah Constantine.
The Salt Path writer Raynor Winn, whose online event in 2020 was the festival’s most popular adult event ever, joins in-person for the first time with Landlines and Roasting Tin chef Rukmini Iyer takes us on a culinary journey through India.
Events for children of all ages include a talk from Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell, a draw-along with Rob Biddulph and award-winning authors Manjeet Mann and Katherine Rundell. History and politics will be covered by Lucy Worsley, Jonathan Freedland, Andrea Leadsom, Marina Hyde and Norman Scott, recently portrayed by Ben Whishaw in A Very English Scandal.
Several writers who first made their mark on social media will be speaking, including the UK’s mostfollowed poet Nikita Gill, Unmumsy Mum blogger Sarah Turner, Tik Tok star Dr Julie Smith, ‘Twitter
Poet Laureate’ Brian Bilston and Instagram influencer Florence Given.
W Almost all events will available to live stream, visit henleyliterar yfestival.co.uk