Up-to-the-minute programming… Hot Topics…

9 months
3 weeks ago

Just announced, the subject for Hot Topics event 266 on Saturday 17 October 2009 at 7:15 pm

Afghanistan, is it an unwinnable conflict?

What is the future of the conflict in Afghanistan? The new head of the British Army, General Sir David Richards and the outgoing Head of the Army Sir Richard Dannatt, argue for more troops and equipment, whilst Gordon Brown and Barack Obama face tough questions from all sides. Is it an unwinnable conflict? What are the implications if troops are withdrawn? Join our panel of experts including Bronwen Maddox, Times chief foreign commentator to discuss the current conflict in Afghanistan and its wider implications for international relations and the British and American armies.
Find out more about our Hot Topics events

don’t miss this Hot Topic →

We’ve tagged this post with Hot Topics, literature on Friday 9 October 2009.

Give a whole year’s Festivals with Cheltenham Festivals Membership

9 months
3 weeks ago

Do you know someone who loves coming to the Festivals? Why not make their Festival experience that extra bit special next year with a year’s Cheltenham Festivals Membership.

Membership starts from just £15 and offers priority booking on 2010’s Jazz, Science, Music and Literature Festivals, generous ticket discounts, previews and insights with Director’s Picks and special member events.

There are special packages for under 25s, individuals, couples and families: to apply, just download an application form, or call the box office on 0844 576 7977.

more information about Membership →

We’ve tagged this post with jazz, literature, membership, music, science on Thursday 8 October 2009.

Announcing… the winner of the Man Booker Prize 2009

9 months
3 weeks ago

Hilary Mantel was last night named the winner of the Man Booker Prize for Fiction for Wolf Hall.

The successful work was picked from a shortlist that included novels by A.S. Byatt, J.M. Coetzee, Adam Foulds, Simon Mawer and Sarah Waters.

We are thrilled to welcome Hilary Mantel to Cheltenham in two very special events. On Friday Hilary joins us in our Man Booker Prize event – a unique opportunity to be amongst the first to congratulate the 2009 winner of this prestigious award!

On Thursday 15th Tracy Chevalier joins Hilary Mantel to compare notes on the challenges of recreating the past and the attractions for writers of particular moments in history.

Join us to celebrate the Man Booker Prize 2009 and congratulate Hilary Mantel!

Man Booker Prize Winner →
Tracy Chevalier and Hilary Mantel →

Find out more about the Man Booker Prize →

We’ve tagged this post with literature, Man Booker Prize on Wednesday 7 October 2009.

Great names and faces at The Book Show, for FREE!

9 months
3 weeks ago

We’re all very excited about Sky Arts’ flagship programme The Book Show that’s coming to the Literature Festival this weekend — as well as all the great names that’ll be making an appearance alongside Mariella Frostrup. Sky Arts will be filming the first two episodes of the new series of the UK’s only television programme dedicated to books, and this is your chance to be part of the live studio audience!

Each episode will include interviews with leading authors from the world of books. The first recording, from 10-11am, will feature Iranian comic Shappi Khorsandi, broadcaster and journalist Melvyn Bragg, and ex-editor of The Sunday Times Harold Evans – Shappi Khorsandi and Melvyn Bragg’s other Festival events are sold out, so don’t miss this chance to see these popular guests!

The 12-1pm event will feature Guest Director Richard Eyre, award-winning screen-writer Christopher Hampton, and star actor Robert Vaughn.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be behind the scenes of a TV show, then this is great opportunity. Remember, both of these events are absolutely free, but tickets are limited: don’t delay in booking your place, and experiencing a really rare event!

The Book Show: Saturday 10am →
The Book Show: Saturday 12 noon →

The Book Show airs on Sky Arts 1 and Sky Arts 1 HD Thursday at 7pm from 15 October. For further details please visit www.skyarts.co.uk/thebookshow

We’ve tagged this post with interview, literature, The Book Show on Tuesday 6 October 2009.

Richard Hammond now on sale!

9 months
4 weeks ago

Here at the Festivals we have been working hard behind the scenes, and we’re glad to deliver some very exciting news – Richard Hammond is now confirmed at the Literature Festival, and his event is open for booking!

After yet another eventful year, he joins us to take a look at his latest book, Or is that just me?, and will offer more of the wry, honest and often hilarious chronicles of Richard Hammond — TV presenter, adventurer and general drawer of the Short Straw — focussing on just a few of his many hair-raising stunts, expeditions and encounters.

On Friday the 9th October, the Top Gear presenter, adventurer and all-round Festival favourite joins us from 8:45pm-10pm in the Centaur; please be aware this is a change from the advertised date and time in our brochure.

We do hope that you will be able to join us for what promises to be an incredibly special event! Tickets are on sale now; either book in person at the Town Hall, call the box office on 0844 576 7979, or book online here.

Book for Richard Hammond now →

We’ve tagged this post with literature on Saturday 3 October 2009.

Laugh out Loud!

10 months ago

In need of a laugh? This year’s Literature Festival brings a whole mix of topics, and our comedy line-up this year is one we’re particularly proud of. As part of our 60th year celebrations, some of the best names in comedy are descending on Cheltenham, and if you’re ready to laugh out loud you’d be mad to miss out!

Pub Landlord Al Murray steps out from behind the taps once again to help us fix Britain, teaching us that in order to take one step forward, we must first take two steps back; one of our most hilarious and idiosyncratic minds Vic Reeves takes a break from the new Shooting Stars series to present his Vast Book of World Knowledge; panel show favourite Rich Hall joins us to introduce a series of Magnificent Bastards, from a man vacuuming prairie dogs to a werewolf being mistaken for Brian Blessed; and Bristol boy Justin Lee Collins is his usual funny and shambolic self, as he tells how a M&S shelf stacker went to running riot on the Sunday Night Project.

And that’s not to forget there are still tickets left for Alistair McGowan and Ronni Ancona, hoping to make a Big Impression; our Guest Director Mark Watson and his very own Earth Summit; and of course, the award-winning and yet very bizarre world of comedy stars David Mitchell and Robert Webb.

See our comedy events →

We’ve tagged this post with comedy, literature on Friday 2 October 2009.

A very literary birthday celebration

10 months ago

The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival is 60 this year, and we celebrate with a programme which welcomes back a host of past Directors to share their memories of Cheltenham’s impressive literary heritage. The very first Literature Festival was held in 1949, and consisted of just 9 events – the festival now hosts over 440 events, talks and workshops every year.

Elizabeth Jane Howard was made Festival Director in 1962, and produced an unforgettable event which has since been described as the ‘literary festival’s coming of age’. We are delighted to welcome her back this year to talk about her life and friendship with some of the most fascinating writers of our time, and her own unique relationship with the Festival. As former Festival Directors and judges of the Whitbread Prize both P J Kavanagh and Lawrence Sail will be back at the Festival, as they come together to read from their poetry collections.

The Cheltenham Booker Prize is an annual institution and this year debates the merits of four novels printed in 1969, the first year that the Booker Prize was awarded. It brings together Former Festival Director John Walsh and last year’s Guest Director Kate Adie with Mary Beard, Erica Wagner and Ion Trewin to defend their favourite titles.

As well as examining the Festival’s history we also celebrate this landmark year with a line-up led by ten fantastic Guest Directors. Each brings their own unique flavour to the programme: Alice Roberts has programmed events that relate to the creative aspect of science and art; Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has gathered together some of the writers she admires most, including Diran Adebayo and Jackie Kay; and Rageh Omaar joins us to consider how journalism has changed over recent years. Don’t miss Richard Eyre, Sandi Toksvig, Anthony Horowitz, Jonathan Coe, Mark Watson and Monica Ali as each take to the helm for each of their own very special days of events.

View our Guest Director events →

We’ve tagged this post with 60th anniversary, guest director, literature on Wednesday 30 September 2009.

Andy Williams live at Hotel du Vin

10 months ago

After seven extraordinary decades in show business, Andy Williams is still holding audiences in the palm of his hand; and the legendary singer of Moon River and Music to Watch Girls By is coming to Cheltenham to perform live this October!

On the 10th October, Andy Williams joins us for a special Festival Lunch. Hosted at Cheltenham’s beautiful Hotel du Vin, you can enjoy a glass of champagne followed by a delicious three-course meal in the Hotel du Vin Bistro.

After the lunch Andy Williams will be talking about his new autobiography, Moon River and Me, and performing some of the iconic hits from his extraordinary career.

Join us on Saturday, 10 October at 12.30pm, and don’t miss the chance to witness an exceptional event with this show-business legend.

Don’t miss Andy Williams live →

We’ve tagged this post with literature on Tuesday 29 September 2009.

Book It! — the festival for families and young readers

10 months
1 week ago

We’ve tagged this post with Book It!, literature on Friday 25 September 2009.

Sky Arts bring The Book Show to Cheltenham

10 months
1 week ago

It’s just over two weeks until the start of The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 2009… and the fantastic programme just keeps on getting better! We are thrilled to announce Sky Arts’ flagship programme The Book Show as the latest addition to the line-up.

The Book Show, the UK’s only television programme dedicated to books, returns to Sky Arts this Autumn, and the first two episodes will be recorded live at the Literature Festival on Saturday 10th October. Presented by Mariella Frostrup the programmes will feature interviews with some leading authors from the world of books.

Tickets for these very special live recordings are free and available to book online now!

FREE event: The Book Show →

We’ve tagged this post with free, literature, The Book Show on Wednesday 23 September 2009.

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