BOOK FESTIVAL
The north’s oldest literary festival takes place in Ilkley and this year celebrates its 50th anniversary. Here’s a peek within the pages
The people of Ilkley and its wellread visitors have leafed their way through many thousands of pages and hung on to the words of many a celebrated author in the 50 years since Ilkley Literature Festival began.
Opened in 1973 by the poet WH Auden, Ilkley has been a dedicated champion of poetry ever since with appearances over the decades from luminaries including Philip Larkin, Ted Hughes, and Carol Ann Du昀昀y.
A whole host of poets, novelists, biographers, and journalists will descend on the spa town this autumn to take part in circa 100 events across 17 days.
Headliners acts include children’s author Dame Jacqueline Wilson introducing her new book. Clare Balding explores the world of dogs and some pawsome heroes.
Comedian Shaparak Khorsandi tells of her self-discovery of an ADHD diagnosis, and Melanie Sykes talks of her life and career as a neurodiverse woman.
Presenter Helen Skelton shows us how putting one foot in front of the other – whether that’s on the Strictly dance 昀氀oor or in the great outdoors – can help us to journey back to ourselves.
Gyles Brandreth offers a portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth and historian and BBC broadcaster Tom Holland looks at the Roman Empire, while Tracy Borman delves into Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I.
Bob Cryer will share stories of his dad, the beloved comedian Barry, with anecdotes from his famous friends to reveal a glimpse of the man behind the jokes.
October 6-22. ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk
QUIRKY 50TH ANNIVERSARY FACTS
There is only one other literary festival older than Ilkley: Cheltenham.
It attracted national media attention in 1977, when a huge bronze statue of the Minotaur by sculptor Michael Ayrton was unveiled in the town for the festival. It boasted, ‘commensurately large genitalia’ resulting in petitions to protect the young and the elderly, and a headline in the Daily Express, ‘Bee昀椀ng over 7ft of Bull.’
As well as supporting emergin
