Two best-selling authors announced for Henley Literary Festival

Two best-selling authors are the first names to be announced for this year’s Henley Literary Festival.

The festival, which is being supported for the second year running by the Fane Group, is celebrating its landmark 20th edition from October 2 to October 11.

TV chef and Great British Bake Off judge Nigella Lawson will be making her debut at the festival on the opening night of Friday, October 2.

Meanwhile, author Julia Donaldson will return for the first time since the inaugural festival in 2007, on the final night of Sunday, October 11.

The 10-day event will feature some 140 conversations, workshops, performances and talks for adults and children, with more speakers to be announced in the coming months.

Lawson, a multi award-winning author of several bestsellers including How to Eat: The Pleasures and Principles of Good Food and Cook, Eat, Repeat: Ingredients, Recipes and Stories, will reflect on her career up until now at the Fane Marquee at Phyllis Court.

The festival’s flagship venue will also play host to Stick Man and Room on the Broom creator Donaldson, with the third Gruffalo book Granny Gruffalo.

Events will also take place at Henley town hall and the Relais Henley hotel, with Shiplake College returning as the children’s sponsor. Last year’s festival was the “most successful to date”, organisers said, with more than 27,000 ticket holders attending in person and “many thousands more” watching online across the country and globally.

Speakers included Graham Norton, Joanna Lumley, Michael Morpurgo, Jung Chang, and Elif Shafak.

Harriet Reed, director of the festival, said: “We are so excited to build on last year’s record-breaking festival for our 20th edition and are beyond thrilled to welcome back Julia Donaldson and have Nigella Lawson join us for the very first time.”

Alex Fane, chief executive Fane Group, said: “We’re proud to be back as headline sponsor of Henley Literary Festival for the second year running. It has been a joy to see festivals like Henley, which are so integral to the wider ecosystem, continue to attract such devoted audiences.

“We’re very much looking forward to what this year has in store.”

Tickets will go on sale to gold and platinum friends on Friday, July 3, friends on Tuesday, July 7 and general sale on Monday, July 13.

For more information about becoming a friend, call (01491) 575 948 visit: www.henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk/memberships/