THE CHELTENHAM LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2019
The line-up for the 70th Cheltenham Literature Festival was announced on Friday.
More than 900 writers including comedians, politicians, sports stars and TV personalities will appear at the festival from 4th - 13th October.
We pick our day to day highlights at the festival.
FRIDAY 4TH OCTOBER
Walking With Levison Wood
5pm - 6pm
Cheltenham Town Hall
Levison Wood burst onto our screens in 2014 with his series Walking the Nile. Since then he has walked the Himalayas, large chunks of South America and most of the Arabian Peninsula specialising in post- conflict zones and some of the world’s most hard-to-reach places. He talks about his adventures with Julia Wheeler.
Sam Warburton Open Side
6.30pm - 7.30pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
In Open Side, the titan of Welsh rugby reflects on a career that pushed him to the edge of his physiological and mental limits. He discusses successful leadership, the torment of injury and the pain of retirement.
Richard Ayoade On Top
8.30pm - 9.30 pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
Best known for his BAFTA-winning role in The IT Crowd, the comedian, actor, writer, director and television presenter Richard Ayoade takes Hugo Rifkind on a hilarious journey, attempting to rewrite cinematic history. He makes a case for perhaps the best cabin crew dramedy ever filmed – View From the Top starring Gwyneth Paltrow – and reflects on his own stellar career.
5pm - 6pm
Cheltenham Town Hall
Levison Wood burst onto our screens in 2014 with his series Walking the Nile. Since then he has walked the Himalayas, large chunks of South America and most of the Arabian Peninsula specialising in post- conflict zones and some of the world’s most hard-to-reach places. He talks about his adventures with Julia Wheeler.
Sam Warburton Open Side
6.30pm - 7.30pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
In Open Side, the titan of Welsh rugby reflects on a career that pushed him to the edge of his physiological and mental limits. He discusses successful leadership, the torment of injury and the pain of retirement.
Richard Ayoade On Top
8.30pm - 9.30 pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
Best known for his BAFTA-winning role in The IT Crowd, the comedian, actor, writer, director and television presenter Richard Ayoade takes Hugo Rifkind on a hilarious journey, attempting to rewrite cinematic history. He makes a case for perhaps the best cabin crew dramedy ever filmed – View From the Top starring Gwyneth Paltrow – and reflects on his own stellar career.
SATURDAY 5TH OCTOBER
Surgery On The FrontLine
11am - 12pm
Cheltenham Town Hall
For more than twenty-five years, David Nott (War Doctor) has taken unpaid leave from his job as an NHS surgeon to volunteer on the frontline in the world’s most dangerous war zones. He discusses his remarkable memoir with Julia Wheeler.
David Cameron
4pm - 5.15 pm
The Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse
The former Prime Minister joins us in conversation with the BBC’s Sophie Raworth, to discuss his extraordinary memoir For the Record. Revealing the battles and achievements of his life and career in intimate and frank detail, he will also provide, for the first time, his perspective on the EU referendum and his views on the future of Britain’s place in the world in the light of Brexit.
Lit Crawl
5pm - 1am
Various Venues
Lit Crawl is back to take over the streets of Cheltenham for a fast-paced evening of pop-up events and quirky literary happenings. For one night only and all completely FREE
Emma Freud Meets... Helena Bonham Carter
9pm - 10pm
Cheltenham Town Hall
Known for her roles in quirky independent films, as much as in the blockbuster movies, Helena Bonham Carter has rarely been far from our screens for close to thirty years. Elegantly eccentric, Helena has a connection with her audiences in a way not many actors do. Emma Freud talks to her about her life and her incredibly varied career.
11am - 12pm
Cheltenham Town Hall
For more than twenty-five years, David Nott (War Doctor) has taken unpaid leave from his job as an NHS surgeon to volunteer on the frontline in the world’s most dangerous war zones. He discusses his remarkable memoir with Julia Wheeler.
David Cameron
4pm - 5.15 pm
The Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse
The former Prime Minister joins us in conversation with the BBC’s Sophie Raworth, to discuss his extraordinary memoir For the Record. Revealing the battles and achievements of his life and career in intimate and frank detail, he will also provide, for the first time, his perspective on the EU referendum and his views on the future of Britain’s place in the world in the light of Brexit.
Lit Crawl
5pm - 1am
Various Venues
Lit Crawl is back to take over the streets of Cheltenham for a fast-paced evening of pop-up events and quirky literary happenings. For one night only and all completely FREE
Emma Freud Meets... Helena Bonham Carter
9pm - 10pm
Cheltenham Town Hall
Known for her roles in quirky independent films, as much as in the blockbuster movies, Helena Bonham Carter has rarely been far from our screens for close to thirty years. Elegantly eccentric, Helena has a connection with her audiences in a way not many actors do. Emma Freud talks to her about her life and her incredibly varied career.
SUNDAY 6TH OCTOBER
Alastair Cook
4.45pm - 5.45pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
Alastair Cook is the greatest batsman to ever play for England. As the team reel from his dramatic retirement, Alastair tells the whole story behind an exceptional life and career for the first time.
Bryony Frost
8pm - 9pm
The Garden Theatre
At just 23, jockey Bryony Frost is taking her sport by storm, having recently made history by becoming the first woman to win a Grade One race at the Cheltenham Festival. She talks to Rachel Johnson about the joy of riding horses and her phenomenal career so far.
4.45pm - 5.45pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
Alastair Cook is the greatest batsman to ever play for England. As the team reel from his dramatic retirement, Alastair tells the whole story behind an exceptional life and career for the first time.
Bryony Frost
8pm - 9pm
The Garden Theatre
At just 23, jockey Bryony Frost is taking her sport by storm, having recently made history by becoming the first woman to win a Grade One race at the Cheltenham Festival. She talks to Rachel Johnson about the joy of riding horses and her phenomenal career so far.
MONDAY 7TH OCTOBER
Life On The NHS Frontline
6.30pm - 7.30pm
Cheltenham Town Hall
What is it like working for a struggling NHS? Join nurse Molly Case (How To Help People: A Nurse At Work), midwife Leah Hazard (Hard Pushed: A Midwife’s Story) and doctor Joanna Cannon (Breaking and Mending) as they share hilarious, heartbreaking and sometimes horrifying stories from the frontline of healthcare. Chaired by Julia Wheeler.
Dom Joly: The Hezbollah Hiking Club
8.15pm - 9.15pm
The Inkpot
Three men. 470 kilometres. 21 days. Dom Joly joins Caroline Sanderson to delve into The Hezbollah Hiking Club, a comedic travelogue in which he and his two best friends hike across Lebanon. Armed with copious amounts of Vaseline and no walking experience, bar taking the dog for the occasional stroll, they set out on their journey of a lifetime meeting a variety of characters along the way.
6.30pm - 7.30pm
Cheltenham Town Hall
What is it like working for a struggling NHS? Join nurse Molly Case (How To Help People: A Nurse At Work), midwife Leah Hazard (Hard Pushed: A Midwife’s Story) and doctor Joanna Cannon (Breaking and Mending) as they share hilarious, heartbreaking and sometimes horrifying stories from the frontline of healthcare. Chaired by Julia Wheeler.
Dom Joly: The Hezbollah Hiking Club
8.15pm - 9.15pm
The Inkpot
Three men. 470 kilometres. 21 days. Dom Joly joins Caroline Sanderson to delve into The Hezbollah Hiking Club, a comedic travelogue in which he and his two best friends hike across Lebanon. Armed with copious amounts of Vaseline and no walking experience, bar taking the dog for the occasional stroll, they set out on their journey of a lifetime meeting a variety of characters along the way.
TUESDAY 8TH OCTOBER
This Country
6.30pm - 7.30pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
Daisy May and Charlie Cooper, AKA Kerry and Kurtan Mucklowe from BBC’s This Country, join Alice Jones to talk about their BAFTA-winning show, new book and the brilliantly observed residents of their claustrophobic Cotswold village.
Madness
8.30pm - 9.30pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
Welcome to the House of Fun. One of the most successful pop groups of all time, Madness join us to talk about their astonishing music career, and how it all started in 1970s Camden Town, with six of the original seven still in the line-up forty years later.
6.30pm - 7.30pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
Daisy May and Charlie Cooper, AKA Kerry and Kurtan Mucklowe from BBC’s This Country, join Alice Jones to talk about their BAFTA-winning show, new book and the brilliantly observed residents of their claustrophobic Cotswold village.
Madness
8.30pm - 9.30pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
Welcome to the House of Fun. One of the most successful pop groups of all time, Madness join us to talk about their astonishing music career, and how it all started in 1970s Camden Town, with six of the original seven still in the line-up forty years later.
WEDNESDAY 9TH OCTOBER
Marie Colvin: In Extremis
1pm - 2pm
Cheltenham Town Hall
Marie Colvin reported from the most dangerous places in the world, bearing witness to the horrifying truths of war and covering the major conflicts of our time. Famous for the extreme lengths to which she went to tell her stories, she was smuggled into Syria where she was killed in 2012. Fellow foreign correspondent Lindsey Hilsum (In Extremis) and war photographer Paul Conroy (Under the Wire) reflect upon the extraordinary life and tragic death of a daring war reporter who defied convention.
Decca Records
8.30pm - 9.30pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
The Decca record label celebrates its 90th birthday this year. With both rock/pop and classical artists signed, they occupy a unique position in the world of music. To talk about the highs and lows and about how this iconic label has survived and thrived, we are joined by President of Decca Records Rebecca Allen, Gareth Malone, one of their star artists known to millions in the UK from the TV show The Choir, and Daryl Easlea (Decca: The Supreme Record Company).
1pm - 2pm
Cheltenham Town Hall
Marie Colvin reported from the most dangerous places in the world, bearing witness to the horrifying truths of war and covering the major conflicts of our time. Famous for the extreme lengths to which she went to tell her stories, she was smuggled into Syria where she was killed in 2012. Fellow foreign correspondent Lindsey Hilsum (In Extremis) and war photographer Paul Conroy (Under the Wire) reflect upon the extraordinary life and tragic death of a daring war reporter who defied convention.
Decca Records
8.30pm - 9.30pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
The Decca record label celebrates its 90th birthday this year. With both rock/pop and classical artists signed, they occupy a unique position in the world of music. To talk about the highs and lows and about how this iconic label has survived and thrived, we are joined by President of Decca Records Rebecca Allen, Gareth Malone, one of their star artists known to millions in the UK from the TV show The Choir, and Daryl Easlea (Decca: The Supreme Record Company).
THURSDAY 10TH OCTOBER
Louis Theroux
6.15 - 7.15
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
Louis Theroux is a documentary filmmaker best known for producing immersive documentaries that explore controversial and complex aspects of the human condition. Gotta Get Theroux This is a look back at his career, and he talks to Hannah MacInnes about his life and strange times in television.
Mark Radcliffe
8pm - 9pm
The Inkpot
Standing at the Mississippi crossroads where Robert Johnson and the devil had their infamous meeting, broadcaster, musician and writer Mark Radcliffe found himself facing his own personal crunch point: losing his dad and being diagnosed with cancer. He talks to Matthew Stadlen about the turning points in his own life, pivotal tracks that changed the course of music and how music itself can transform our lives.
Emily Dean And David Baddiel
8.30pm - 9,30pm
Cheltenham Town Hall
Emily Dean always wanted a dog, but life just didn’t work out that way. Then over the course of three devastating years Emily lost her beloved sister and both parents. In her funny, heart-warming memoir Everybody Died So I Got a Dog, Emily tells the tale of grief, recovery and how she finally got her dog, Raymond the Shih Tzu. She talks to comic, author and confirmed cat lover David Baddiel.
6.15 - 7.15
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
Louis Theroux is a documentary filmmaker best known for producing immersive documentaries that explore controversial and complex aspects of the human condition. Gotta Get Theroux This is a look back at his career, and he talks to Hannah MacInnes about his life and strange times in television.
Mark Radcliffe
8pm - 9pm
The Inkpot
Standing at the Mississippi crossroads where Robert Johnson and the devil had their infamous meeting, broadcaster, musician and writer Mark Radcliffe found himself facing his own personal crunch point: losing his dad and being diagnosed with cancer. He talks to Matthew Stadlen about the turning points in his own life, pivotal tracks that changed the course of music and how music itself can transform our lives.
Emily Dean And David Baddiel
8.30pm - 9,30pm
Cheltenham Town Hall
Emily Dean always wanted a dog, but life just didn’t work out that way. Then over the course of three devastating years Emily lost her beloved sister and both parents. In her funny, heart-warming memoir Everybody Died So I Got a Dog, Emily tells the tale of grief, recovery and how she finally got her dog, Raymond the Shih Tzu. She talks to comic, author and confirmed cat lover David Baddiel.
FRIDAY 11TH OCTOBER
Around World In 80 Trains
4pm - 5pm
The Garden Theatre
Broadcaster and travel writer Monisha Rajesh recounts her 45,000-mile adventure on the world’s most remarkable railways: from the cloud-skimming heights of Tibet’s Qinghai railway to silk-sheeted splendour on the Venice Simplon- Orient Express. Chaired by Tim Hubbard.
Be The Change
7.15pm - 8.15pm
The Inkpot
With no prior political experience or legal training, Gina Martin successfully campaigned to make upskirting a criminal offence. She talks about activism, empowering us all to challenge injustice and fight for change.
4pm - 5pm
The Garden Theatre
Broadcaster and travel writer Monisha Rajesh recounts her 45,000-mile adventure on the world’s most remarkable railways: from the cloud-skimming heights of Tibet’s Qinghai railway to silk-sheeted splendour on the Venice Simplon- Orient Express. Chaired by Tim Hubbard.
Be The Change
7.15pm - 8.15pm
The Inkpot
With no prior political experience or legal training, Gina Martin successfully campaigned to make upskirting a criminal offence. She talks about activism, empowering us all to challenge injustice and fight for change.
SATURDAY 12TH OCTOBER
Dermot O’Leary And Nick East
3pm - 4pm
The Garden Theatre
Join one of the UK’s best-loved broadcasters, X Factor and BBC Radio 2 presenter Dermot O’Leary, to hear all about Toto the Ninja Cat and the Superstar Catastrophe, the third book in Dermot’s animal escapade series for animal-loving kids. Hear all about real-life cat Toto, who was rescued as a kitten along with her brother Silver by Dermot and his wife, and learn to draw her with Nick East.
David Mitchell
8.30pm - 9.30pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
In a sneak-preview launch event, the comedian, author, actor and presenter David Mitchell talks to Hannah MacInnes about his latest book, Dishonesty is the Second-Best Policy. Scampi, politics, the Olympics, terrorism, exercise, rude street names, inheritance tax, salad cream, proportional representation and farts are all touched upon by Mitchell’s unremitting laser of chit-chat, as he negotiates a path between the commercialisation of Christmas and the true spirit of Halloween. If you’re as bemused by life as we are, sit back, relax and enjoy the rather surreal conversation.
Tongue Fu
9pm -11pm
They’ve rocked Glastonbury and the Roundhouse, and after two sell-out performances at Cheltenham, Tongue Fu are back by popular demand! Bringing together the sharpest poets, storytellers, comedians and rappers to perform with improvised soundtracks from the genre-hopping Tongue Fu Band, this is a riotous experiment in live literature, music and improvisation that’s sure to shake up your Saturday night.
3pm - 4pm
The Garden Theatre
Join one of the UK’s best-loved broadcasters, X Factor and BBC Radio 2 presenter Dermot O’Leary, to hear all about Toto the Ninja Cat and the Superstar Catastrophe, the third book in Dermot’s animal escapade series for animal-loving kids. Hear all about real-life cat Toto, who was rescued as a kitten along with her brother Silver by Dermot and his wife, and learn to draw her with Nick East.
David Mitchell
8.30pm - 9.30pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
In a sneak-preview launch event, the comedian, author, actor and presenter David Mitchell talks to Hannah MacInnes about his latest book, Dishonesty is the Second-Best Policy. Scampi, politics, the Olympics, terrorism, exercise, rude street names, inheritance tax, salad cream, proportional representation and farts are all touched upon by Mitchell’s unremitting laser of chit-chat, as he negotiates a path between the commercialisation of Christmas and the true spirit of Halloween. If you’re as bemused by life as we are, sit back, relax and enjoy the rather surreal conversation.
Tongue Fu
9pm -11pm
They’ve rocked Glastonbury and the Roundhouse, and after two sell-out performances at Cheltenham, Tongue Fu are back by popular demand! Bringing together the sharpest poets, storytellers, comedians and rappers to perform with improvised soundtracks from the genre-hopping Tongue Fu Band, this is a riotous experiment in live literature, music and improvisation that’s sure to shake up your Saturday night.
SUNDAY 13TH OCTOBER
Emily Eavis: Glastonbury Tales
6pm - 7pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
Emily Eavis, daughter of Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis, now co-ordinates one of the biggest music festivals in the world. As it approaches its 50th birthday, Emily reveals the stories behind the headlines to Hugo Rifkind.
Debbie Harry: Face It
8pm - 9pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
Blondie’s Debbie Harry and co-founder Chris Stein created some of the most successful and beloved pop songs of all time. Here, they will be talking with artist and director Rob Roth about their incredible story and Debbie’s long-awaited memoir, Face It.
Visit www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature for the full line-up
6pm - 7pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
Emily Eavis, daughter of Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis, now co-ordinates one of the biggest music festivals in the world. As it approaches its 50th birthday, Emily reveals the stories behind the headlines to Hugo Rifkind.
Debbie Harry: Face It
8pm - 9pm
The Times and The Sunday Times Forum
Blondie’s Debbie Harry and co-founder Chris Stein created some of the most successful and beloved pop songs of all time. Here, they will be talking with artist and director Rob Roth about their incredible story and Debbie’s long-awaited memoir, Face It.
Visit www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature for the full line-up
