2024 Autumn Festival
Last year, we welcomed record audiences to our Autumn Festival and enjoyed a packed line-up of spectacular authors including Elif Shafak, Richard E. Grant, Mary Berry, Mishal Husain and more. In addition to our year round education programme that engages over 11,000 children, we also welcomed beloved children’s authors including Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Jeffrey Boakye, Louie Stowell and Joseph Coelho.
Take a look back at some of our highlights!
VIEW 2024 LINE-UPSunday 27 October
The final day hosts a cracking line-up, ending the best Festival yet!-
We've loved it…and it looks like you have, too!
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Elif Shafak closes our 2024 Autumn Festival
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Elif Shafak in conversation with Samira Ahmed
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Rachel Wang talks to Daisy Dunn
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Daisy Dunn in search of the Missing Thread
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Kate Humble in conversation with Jennifer Cox
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Kate Humble is Home Made
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Dr Sue Tate talks with Samira Ahmed
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Dr Sue Tate talks about the Wimbledon Bardot – Pauline Boty
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Zandra Rhodes chats with Ella Alexander in the Auditorium
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Zandra Rhodes forgot to get dressed up for her event…
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Ed Conway is living in a Material World
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Stefan Stern chats with Ed Conway
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(L-R) Jane Thynne, Damien Lewis and Tim Spicer
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Tim Spicer looks as though he has a Suspicion of Spies
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Damien Lewis has Daggers Drawn at BookFest
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Tim Spector talks about his Food for Life Cookbook
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Saturday 26 October
It’s super Saturday at Wimbledon BookFest as we welcome a range of speakers from investigative journalists to Hollywood superstars….-
Richard E. Grant in conversation with Suzi Feay
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Richard E. Grant tells a packed Auditorium how to achieve a Pocketful of Happiness
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(L-R) Philippa Thomas, Stefan Stern and Viv Groskop
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Stefan Stern…Fair or Foul?
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William Boyd in conversation with Suzi Feay
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William Boyd is on Gabriel's Moon
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Dame Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock PhD tells the story of the Solar System
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Mishal Husain in conversation with Alexandra Pringle
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Broadcaster and journalist Mishal Husain
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Patrick Grant in conversation with Bianca Foley
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Patrick Grant tells us how to Stop Buying So Much Rubbish
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BookFest stewards helping us find our seats…
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Mary Berry in conversation with Emma Freud
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Dame Mary Berry is cooking…
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David Wood OBE introduces his old friend Gyles Brandreth
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Gyles Brandreth in one of his more modest jumpers
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Time for a quick read…
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Ian Williams and Sarah Rainsford discuss the Vampire State
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(L-R) Ian Williams, Sarah Rainsford and Jeevan Vasagar
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Special moments at the book signings
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Enjoying a coffee between events
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The Woodland Trust at the Festival Hub
Friday 25 October
A quieter day at BookFest before the weekend madness begins, with a screening of acclaimed nature documentary Wilding to facilitate the calm before the storm…
Thursday 24 October
A busy Thursday at BookFest…Sue Prideaux, Max Hastings and Sir Geoff Hurst!-
(L-R) Sir Geoff Hurst and Brian Moore
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Geoff Hurst – the Last Boy of '66
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Sue Prideaux in conversation with Rachel Wang
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Sue Prideaux talks about Gauguin in the Rutherford Theatre
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Max Hastings chatting to BookFest stalwart Stefan Stern
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Prolific writer Max Hastings on Operation Biting
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Jeffrey Boakye schools event…
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Enjoying a coffee between events
Wednesday 23 October
Midweek madness at BookFest with four fantastic events!-
Bernhard Schlink in the Auditorium
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Bernhard Schlink talks about The Granddaughter with Robert Lustig
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(L-R) Stig Abell, Saima Mir and S.J. Parris
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Saima Mir talks about Vengeance
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Stig Abell discusses Death In a Lonely Place
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(L-R) Sam Carlisle, Tom Baldwin and Anthony Seldon
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Anthony Seldon on How Not to Be Prime Minister
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Tom Baldwin chats about Kier Starmer to a packed Auditorium
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Kay Barron tells us How to Wear Everything
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Fashion Editor for The Times, Anna Murphy, talks to Kay Barron
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The Rutherford audience enjoy a Prosecco…
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'Hands up if you smell.' Louie Stowell schools event
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Louie Stowell schools event…
Tuesday 22 October
Tuesday at BookFest brings a whole new set of events!-
Abi Daré in conversation with Sofia Akel
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Abi Daré Roars into Merton Arts Space
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Jeffrey Archer and Stefan Stern
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Jeffrey Archer in the Rutherford Theatre
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Andrew O'Hagan discusses Caledonian Road with Marina Hyde
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Susie Alegre and Maria Farrell discuss AI
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Susie Alegre on her book Human Rights, Robot Wrongs
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(L-R) Dawn O'Porter, Caroline O'Donoghue and Bryony Gordon backstage at BookFest
Monday 21 October
It’s a new week, and a whole new set of events at BookFest!-
Marianna Spring gets Among the Trolls
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Marianna Spring in conversation with Justin Webb
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Justin Webb looking mildly amused…
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(L-R) Andrew Roberts, Lawrence Freedman and Stefan Stern
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Andrew Roberts discusses Conflict
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Lawrence Freedman in Command
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Jacqueline Crooks in conversation with Alex Wheatle in Merton Arts Space
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Jacqueline Crooks talks about Fire Rush
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Alex Wheatle in Merton Arts Space
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Simon Parker Rides Across America with Chris Blackhurst
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Simon Parker in the Rutherford Theatre
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Simon Raymonde in conversation with John Kennedy in Merton Arts Space
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Simon Raymonde recalls his days as a Cocteau Twin
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Caroline Lucas finds Another England in the Auditorium
Sunday 20 October
Sunday is a busy day at BookFest!-
Oliver Burkeman kicks off Sunday in the Auditorium
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Oliver Burkeman book signing
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The sun has come out at last!
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Stefan Stern introduces A. C .Grayling in the Rutherford Theatre
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A. C. Grayling asks: Who Owns the Moon?
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Samira Ahmed in conversation with Zeinab Badawi
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Zeinab Badawi discusses an African History of Africa
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Book signings with Zeinab Badawi
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Bombay Delight serve up some yummy treats in our Festival Hub
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Baroness Sayeeda Warsi chats with Stefan Stern
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Baroness Warsi on her book Muslims Don't Matter
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Time for a coffee break…
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Hanging out in the Festival Hub at Wimbledon High School
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(L-R) Trixie Rawlinson, Rachel Wilson and Liz Jensen discuss loss and hope
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Liz Jensen in the Rutherford Theatre
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Rachel Wilson, author of Losing Young in the Rutherford Theatre
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(L-R) Stefan Stern, Torsten Bell MP and Will Hutton
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Vanessa Feltz chats with Clare Cohen in the Rutherford Theatre
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Vanessa Feltz Bares All…
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Signed books and a good chat!
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Snapping a photo!
Saturday 19 October
A fabulous day at BookFest – 16 events in three venues, and the unveiling of our 2024 Festival Hub at Wimbledon High School…-
Liz Fost – Dragons Love Underpants at Merton Arts Space
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Liz Fost frightens some children
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Liz Fost tries on a pair of dragon's underpants
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Chie Kutsuwada shows us how to draw a manga face
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Chie Kutsuwada in Merton Arts Space
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Two young bookworms…
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Tom Parker Bowles holds court over the Rutherford Theatre
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Clare Balding takes over the Auditorium at Wimbledon High School
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Hisham Matar chats to Jake Kerridge
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Hisham Matar discusses My Friends in the Rutherford
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(L-R) Ingrid Persaud, Ferdia Lennon, Sinéad Gleeson and host Simon Savidge in Merton Arts Space
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The Waterstones bookshop in our Festival Hub
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Samira Ahmed chats to Robert Harris
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Robert Harris on the Precipice…
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A packed Auditorium for Robert Harris
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Harriet Constable in the Rutherford Theatre at Wimbledon High School
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Josephine Quinn and Christopher Harding delve deep in the Auditorium
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My Dear Kabul panel event
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Rick Stein shares his Food Stories of Modern Britain
Friday 18 October
Food with Su Scott and Seji Hong, drink with Oz Clarke and Hannah Crosbie in Merton Arts Space.-
Seji Hong, Su Scott and Joanna Lee
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Seji Hong and Su Scott serve up delicious Korean recipes
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BookFest customers sampling Korean food
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Oz Clarke and Hannah Crosbie
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Unwined event host Angela Clutton
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Is it ever too early for wine?
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Oz Clarke
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Hannah Crosbie
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First Friday finished…Cheers!
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Huge applause for Oz and Hannah!
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Deep in discussion…
Thursday 17 October
Autumn Festival 2024 kicks off with Kate Mosse and Kaliane Bradley in Merton Arts Space.
Tuesday 8 October
School event with astronaut Tim Peake…
Thursday 26 September
Autumn Festival launch event with Trinny Woodall!
Thursday 26 September
Senior Young Writers Prize-Giving with Author-in-Residence Samira Ahmed!
Wednesday 25 September
A busy day at New Wimbledon Theatre! Joseph Coelho presents the Young Writers Competition Prize-Giving in the morning and Pamela Butchart takes us on a journey through her new book in the afternoon…
Wimbledon BookFest at King’s Arts June 2024
Wimbledon Bookfest programmed three events for the King’s Arts Festival 2024: Venki Ramakrishnan, Rev Richard Coles and Rt Hon Theresa May MP.
Spring Festival 2024 at New Wimbledon Theatre
Fantastic line-up for our Spring season at the New Wimbledon Theatre: Clive Myrie, James O’Brien, Bettany Hughes and Jah Wobble.
World Book Day 2024 at New Wimbledon Theatre
We celebrated World Book Day in style with Kevin & Katie Tsang, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Tọlá Okogwu at the New Wimbledon Theatre.
Autumn Festival 2023
A fabulous series of events at Wimbledon High School, Merton Arts Space and New Wimbledon Theatre.-
The Marvellous Myth Hunter
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Philippa Gregory talks about Normal Women
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Tom Holland chats with Daisy Dunn
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Tom Holland
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L-R: Maya Thomas, Alice Vincent and Claire Ratinon
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David Baddiel
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David Baddiel in conversation with Samira Ahmed
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Janina Ramirez
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BookFest stewards find time to catch up on their reading
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James Read shows off some fermented food
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Sebastian Faulks
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George the Poet
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Timothy West in the Rutherford Theatre
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George the Poet meets the schools
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L-R: Festival manager Mandy Mallen, David Wood OBE, Festival director Fiona Razvi and Jacqueline Stanbury
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Katherine Rundell talks about Super-Infinite
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Wes Streeting
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Camilla Morton talks with Anna Murphy
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Edward Stourton
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Nandini Das on her new history of India
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Mike Brearley
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Afua Hirsch
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Bernardine Evaristo and Afua Hirsch
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Anne Sebba in conversation with Blake Morrison
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Stefan Stern talks to Linda Yueh
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Annie Macmanus talks to John Kennedy
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Sam Carlile talks to Henry Marsh
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L-R: Claire Cohen, Thomas Curran and Emma Gannon
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Steve Backshall & Helen Czerski
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Suzi Feay talks to Alexander McCall Smith
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Janice Hallett in conversation with Joy Kluver
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Why We Grow: Claire Ratinon
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Janina Ramirez talks to Alexandra Pringle
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Xiaolu Guo in conversation with Rowan Hisayo Buchanan
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QI Elves James Harkin and Anna Ptaszynski
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George the Poet and Sofia Akel
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John Inverdale
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Danny Cipriani
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Chris Bryant
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Chris Bryant and Ian Dunt
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Rose Trmain with Erica Wagner
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Stefan Stern talks to Wes Streeting
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Anna Murphy
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Busy BookFest!
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The on-site coffee van!
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David Kynaston and Craig Brown
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Ben Okri in the Rutherford Theatre
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Writing the Royals panel event
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Reclaiming the Witch panel
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Kamal Ahmed talks to Anthony Seldon
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Woman Life Freedom: Malu Halasa, Roshi Rouzbehani and Fari Bradley
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Ed Vere – The Artist Live
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Aasmah Mir
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Mohsin Hamid Zooms in from Pakistan
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Osman Yousefzada
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Paterson Joseph
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Mikaela Loach
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S.J. Parris
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Cressida Cowell onstage before the show
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David Walliams
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David Walliams at New Wimbledon Theatre
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Stephen Mulhern
