Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Strat-Lit-Fest-website-Montage-Aut-25-1360-x-765-Pull-1000x563.jpg" alt="Stratford Literary Festival line-up autumn 2025" class="wp-image-63327" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Strat-Lit-Fest-website-Montage-Aut-25-1360-x-765-Pull-1000x563.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Strat-Lit-Fest-website-Montage-Aut-25-1360-x-765-Pull-800x450.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Strat-Lit-Fest-website-Montage-Aut-25-1360-x-765-Pull-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Strat-Lit-Fest-website-Montage-Aut-25-1360-x-765-Pull.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Sir Philip Pullman, Graham Norton, John Cleese, Dame Denise Lewis and the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet headline an unreal <a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/">Stratford Literary Festival</a> line-up this autumn.



For the first time more than 70 events will be taking place across four days right in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon town centre at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Whether you love comedy, history, world affairs, great fiction, wine,&nbsp;new writing, or simply want to play Speed Scrabble, every genre is covered.



 From broadcasters to bestselling authors, celebs, thought leaders, leading experts, comedians, and historians as well as emerging writers, workshops and immersive events for families, it&#8217;s all going on. So, want to know who we&#8217;re excited to see? 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sir-philip-pullman"><a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/sir-philip-pullman">Sir Philip Pullman</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Philip-Pullman-1-c-Sam-Allard-high-res-1000x667.jpg" alt="Sir Philip Pullman" class="wp-image-63328" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Philip-Pullman-1-c-Sam-Allard-high-res-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Philip-Pullman-1-c-Sam-Allard-high-res-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Philip-Pullman-1-c-Sam-Allard-high-res-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Philip-Pullman-1-c-Sam-Allard-high-res.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



One of the UK&#8217;s most respected authors, <a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/sir-philip-pullman">Sir Philip Pullman</a>, will be launching the sixth and final book in his series about Lyra Silvertongue, the character at the heart of His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust trilogy. The final instalment of his globally successful trilogy, The Rose Field, will follow his heroine&#8217;s story up to her early 20s. Its publication is set to be pretty momentous for the many millions of his fans who have followed Lyra&#8217;s adventures over the last 30 years. The trilogy&#8217;s first two books have sold 49 million copies&nbsp;worldwide. Pullman will be in Stratford on 2 Nov.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lyse-doucet"><a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/lyse-doucet">Lyse Doucet</a></h2>



The BBC’s Chief International Correspondent&#8217;s 2 Nov talk based on her evocative critically-acclaimed book, The Finest Hotel in Kabul, is already a sell-out. She&#8217;ll be sharing the hopes and tragedies of Afghanistan. Her book traces five decades of Afghanistan’s dramatic recent history through the story of one of its most famous hotels, the Inter-Continental, and offers a vivid and deeply humane window into the life of ordinary Afghans. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-graham-norton"><a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/graham-norton">Graham Norton</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Graham-Norton-1.jpg" alt="Graham Norton" class="wp-image-63366" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Graham-Norton-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Graham-Norton-1-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Graham-Norton-1-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Graham-Norton-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Graham-Norton-1-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



We all know him as the jovial TV BBC chat show host teasing all the goss from top celebrity guests over a glass of white wine on the sofa. But the hugely popular broadcaster, TV presenter and actor (who can forget his turn in Irish comedy Father Ted?) is also a bestselling author. On 31 Oct he&#8217;ll be in conversation about his latest novel, Frankie &#8211; a story that travels from post-war Ireland to 1960s New York. Tickets have already sold out.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-booklovers-wine-club"><a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/the-booklovers-wine-club">Booklovers&#8217; Wine Club</a></h2>



Like books? Check. Like wine? Check. How about the two together? Check, check, check, check! At <a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/the-booklovers-wine-club">The Booklovers Wine Club</a> on 1 Nov Vin Neuf’s James Richards pairs wines to match snippets from some of the books by authors appearing at the festival. Sample tipples as Lynn Taylor transports you with readings from the chosen books. Wine makes the perfect backdrop to any story (we concur). Leave the kids at home, this one&#8217;s for over 18s only!



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mark-radcliffe"><a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/mark-radcliffe">Mark Radcliffe</a> </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Untitled-design-2025-09-06T215359.103-1000x667.jpg" alt="Mark Radcliffe" class="wp-image-63912" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Untitled-design-2025-09-06T215359.103-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Untitled-design-2025-09-06T215359.103-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Untitled-design-2025-09-06T215359.103-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Untitled-design-2025-09-06T215359.103.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



The BBC Radio 6 presenter will share his very funny travelogue Et Tu Cavapoo? based on a three-month sojourn with his wife Bella to the Italian capital after setting off from Cheshire in their VW Beetle convertible with their beloved and pampered five-year old eccentric cavapoo, Arlo. A must for dog-lovers. Mark will be in town on 30 Oct.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dame-denise-lewis-amp-baroness-sue-campbell"><a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/baroness-sue-campbell-and-dame-denise-lewis">Dame Denise Lewis &amp; Baroness Sue Campbell</a></h2>



Who better than West Bromwich-born&nbsp;Olympic gold medalist Dame&nbsp;Denise&nbsp;Lewis and the former Director of Women’s Football at the FA Baroness Sue Campbell to talk about the transformative <a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/baroness-sue-campbell-and-dame-denise-lewis">power of sport</a>? These two brilliantly talented women will be in conversation on 30 Oct.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-joanna-page"><a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/joanna-page">Joanna Page</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="650" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Joanna-Page-jacket-650x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63325" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Joanna-Page-jacket-650x1000.jpg 650w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Joanna-Page-jacket-520x800.jpg 520w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Joanna-Page-jacket-768x1182.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Joanna-Page-jacket.jpg 975w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /></figure>



We all know her as Stacey, the girl from Barry Island, in much-loved BAFTA-winning BBC sitcom Gavin &amp; Stacey. The Swansea-born star, now a regular presenter on Loose Women, will be discussing a career that started off at the RSC and includes Richard Curtis&#8217; 2003 Christmas romantic comedy film, Love Actually, on 2 Nov. And she&#8217;ll be bringing all the goss about her famous co-stars &#8211; from James Cordon and Ruth Jones to Hugh Grant and Martin Freeman.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sir-tony-robinson"><a href="https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/stratford-literary-festival/tony-robinson-the-house-of-wolf/2025-10-30/12:30/t-jzoerpy">Sir Tony Robinson</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="667" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Tony-Robinson-2-667x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63915" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Tony-Robinson-2-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Tony-Robinson-2-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Tony-Robinson-2-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Tony-Robinson-2.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 667px) 100vw, 667px" /></figure>



On 30 Oct the Blackadder actor and Time Team presenter will be discussing his career and how it feels to publish his first novel The House of Wolf, which brings to life the story of Alfred the Great and the making of England.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mick-herron"><a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/mick-herron">Mick Herron </a></h2>



The creator of Slow Horses, the massively successful Apple TV series about misfit spies starring Gary Oldman, reveals the ninth installment in his bestselling&nbsp;Slough House&nbsp;series. In this latest novel the gang of washed-up spooks becomes entangled in a dangerous game of blackmail with its roots in the Irish Troubles. Even Philip Pullman has confessed to being a Slow Horses fan.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-john-cleese"><a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/john-cleese">John Cleese</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="691" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/John-Cleese-691x1000.jpg" alt="John Cleese" class="wp-image-63330" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/John-Cleese-691x1000.jpg 691w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/John-Cleese-553x800.jpg 553w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/John-Cleese-768x1112.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/John-Cleese.jpg 1036w" sizes="(max-width: 691px) 100vw, 691px" /></figure>



The veteran comedian and Monty Python actor will be chatting all things about <a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/john-cleese">50 Years of Fawlty Towers</a> on 30 Oct. Despite being only 12 episodes it became an instant BAFTA-winning classic. Now for the first time the comedy legend tells stories from behind the scenes in his memoir Fawlty Towers: Fawlts &amp; All &#8211; My Favourite Moments.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dr-rachel-clarke"><a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/dr-rachel-clarke">Dr Rachel Clarke</a></h2>



The 2025 Women’s Prize-winning writer will talk about her moving non-fiction book, The Story of a Heart, that tracks the process of a heart transplant through the intertwined stories of two extraordinary children. She&#8217;ll be in conversation on 31 Oct.&nbsp;Powerful.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nicola-sturgeon"><a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/nicola-sturgeon">Nicola Sturgeon</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="650" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Nicola-Sturgeon-Frankly-650x1000.jpg" alt="Nicola Sturgeon" class="wp-image-63329" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Nicola-Sturgeon-Frankly-650x1000.jpg 650w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Nicola-Sturgeon-Frankly-520x800.jpg 520w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Nicola-Sturgeon-Frankly-768x1182.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Nicola-Sturgeon-Frankly.jpg 975w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /></figure>



The former SNP leader be will be in conversation about her autobiographical book Frankly on 1 Nov &#8211; and discussing how she went from growing up in a working-class Ayrshire family to become Scotland’s first female and longest serving First Minister. She&#8217;ll also be giving her unique in-the-room perspective on Covid and the most eventful and tumultuous era in modern Scottish and British politics, plus much more.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-maz-evans"><a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/maz-evans">Maz Evans</a></h2>



We&#8217;re in the hometown of the Bard, so obviously we&#8217;re going to need some Shakespeare! On 30 Oct bestselling children&#8217;s author Maz Evans will be chatting about her new adventure story The Last Bard for ages eight+ which brings the legendary playwright back to life. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gyles-brandreth"><a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/gyles-brandreth">Gyles Brandreth</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="667" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Gyles-Brandreth-2025-667x1000.jpg" alt="Gyles Brandreth" class="wp-image-63323" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Gyles-Brandreth-2025-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Gyles-Brandreth-2025-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Gyles-Brandreth-2025-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Gyles-Brandreth-2025.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 667px) 100vw, 667px" /></figure>



The broadcaster, Goggleboxer and former MP celebrates 100 years of Winnie the Pooh &#8211; and the darker story behind the creation of the beloved bear in his book, Somewhere, A Boy and a Bear. He&#8217;ll be in Stratford to tell the story on 1 Nov.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cally-beaton-amp-rhys-james"><a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/cally-beaton">Cally Beaton</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/rhys-james">Rhys James</a></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="692" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Rhys-james-Youll-Like-It-When-You-Get-There-jacket-692x1000.jpg" alt="Comedian Rhys James " class="wp-image-63322" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Rhys-james-Youll-Like-It-When-You-Get-There-jacket-692x1000.jpg 692w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Rhys-james-Youll-Like-It-When-You-Get-There-jacket-554x800.jpg 554w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Rhys-james-Youll-Like-It-When-You-Get-There-jacket-768x1110.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2025/08/Rhys-james-Youll-Like-It-When-You-Get-There-jacket.jpg 1038w" sizes="(max-width: 692px) 100vw, 692px" /></figure>



There’ll be plenty of laughs with this pair of Live at the Apollo comedians. Both have released new books and they&#8217;re in Stratford to talk about them. Cally is chatting about her part memoir, part stereotype-defying manifesto, <a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/cally-beaton">Namaste Motherf*ckers </a>on 31 Oct. It takes an irreverent look at her story of radical midlife reinvention &#8211; from boardroom to&nbsp;podcaster and stand-up. 



Subtitled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk/events/rhys-james">A Life Lived Reluctantly</a>, Rhys brings us a guide to life from someone who doesn’t want to do anything. A deep dive into regret, humiliation and failure. Rhys will be in Stratford on 1 Nov. The stand-up has also appeared on QI, A League of Their Own, been a regular panellist on BBC Two’s&nbsp;Mock the Week, and created three critically acclaimed shows for BBC Radio 4, including&nbsp;The Rhysearch.



Tickets are now available to book. For the full list of who is at Stratford Literary Festival, Oct 30 &#8211; 2 Nov, click <a href="http://stratlitfest.co.uk">here</a>.

Read all about it! The best of Stratford Literary Festival’s biggest autumn line-up

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