The Liverpool Literary Festival returns this autumn (Friday 6 to Sunday 8 October) featuring BBC Radio 6 Music’s Stuart Maconie and former TV presenter Melanie Sykes.
Now in its eighth year, this well-established festival will include talks from broadcasting legends, Stuart and Melanie, as part of a weekend of inspirational discussions with an exceptional line up of authors.
This year we’re also welcoming new Festival Director Professor Greg Lynall, Head of English at the University of Liverpool. Greg said:
“I’m delighted to be joining the Liverpool Literary Festival team this year and can’t wait to welcome everyone to the beautiful surroundings of the University’s Victoria Gallery and Museum.
“It’s fantastic that household names Stuart Maconie and Melanie Sykes will be joining us in Liverpool to discuss their latest books and literary journeys.
“Over the coming weeks we’ll be announcing more fantastic authors who’ll be at the festival in October, so make sure you keep an eye out for more information and get your tickets booked!”
Writer, broadcaster and journalist Stuart Maconie hosts shows on 6 Music, and is on the North of England team on Round Britain Quiz on Radio 4. He is a very familiar face on TV, recently hosting The Northern Soul Prom on BBC2 (and Radio 3) and climbing up Blencathra in the Lake District for BBC4.
On Saturday 7 October at 5.30pm the Literary Festival will see Stuart discuss his latest Sunday Times best-selling book The Full English, following in the footsteps of novelist, playwright and social commentator J. B. Priestley’s English Journey. Join us to hear Stuart discuss the timeliness of his travelogue with Dr Matthew Bradley from the Department of English.
Former TV presenter on The Big Breakfast and I’m a Celebrity, writer and speaker, Melanie Sykes was diagnosed as autistic at the age of 52. In her memoir Illuminated: Autism and all the Things I’ve Left Unsaid she tells her story in full for the first time, discussing how her autism diagnosis has shed new light on her life, and how she believes society needs to completely change its understanding of neurodivergent minds.
Melanie is editor-in-chief of The Frank magazine, a magazine for women of all ages across the world, an Autism advocate and a campaigner for women’s rights.
On Sunday 8 October at 4pm Melanie will talk about Illuminated and her diagnosis of Autism and ADHD with broadcaster and renowned book vlogger Simon Savidge.
Melanie said:
“I have always loved Liverpool and its people and I am very excited to come and share my story at the Literary Festival this autumn.
“I’ll be joined by my friend and co-host on the Frank Book club, where we’ll be discussing my memoir, Illuminated: Autism & All the Things I’ve Left Unsaid on Sunday 8 October at 4pm. I am so looking forward to being there and I hope you can be there too.”
Building on the success of last year’s festival, festival-goers can buy VIP passes for the whole weekend or just for one day, to make the most of everything the festival has to offer.
Blackwell’s bookshop will also be facilitating book signings after each event in the Waterhouse Café.
Festival Director, Professor Greg Lynall added:
“This brilliant festival is now an established feature of Liverpool’s cultural calendar, and I’m greatly looking forward to seeing you there!”
Liverpool Literary Festival takes place 6-8 October at the Victoria Gallery & Museum on Brownlow Hill. To find out more, view the full line-up and reserve your tickets, please visit here.
You can buy tickets for individual events at the festival, day passes and weekend passes. All festival passes will include reserved seating in the lecture theatre, a free drink at the Waterhouse Café, plus a host of other exclusive VIP benefits. Click here to book a festival pass.
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