Chelt Lit Fest 13

Yes it's that time of year again but this time we have gone, arguably, for the quality rather than the quantity. Easing in gently with Ian Rankin - of Rebus fame - and Linwood Barclay. I came across Linwood, an American born now Canadian writer after I had exhausted my usual authors stocks. On Kindle I turned to Harlan Coben who, in turn, recommended LB. A prolific writer with a colourful background.

Today started with a heavy debate about the effect of equality on social mobility, chaired by  Andrew Neil the panel consisted Polly Toynbee, Alan Johnson and David Davies. Polly got the best ovation for a spirited defense of Early Years and Sure Start, David Davies got a tick for opposing university tuition fees (more robustly than any LibDem I feel) but to be honest it felt more like tinkering round the edges than confronting the 'inherent contradiction in capitalism'!

Onto something much lighter :) Jack Whitehall + Dad made a great pair, each a great raconteur with completely different styles. A set amiably held together by Nick Hewer.

... finishing tomorrow with the inimitable Derek Jacobi

Another Cracking CheltLitFest

Caught the likes of ...

David Suchet, a great raconteur, have you heard the one about the penny clenched between the buttocks? He was hot foot from recording the very last of Poirot, soon to be televised. There were only a few words for Poirot left unspoken so Suchet read them on an earlier stage to be able to claim thet he had spoken every word the Agatha Christie ever wrote for her famous detective. Question of the session “did you ever have any amorous feelings toward Miss Lemon ?” :)

There followed Jon Ronson and Peter Serafinowicz

SebastianFaulks

and PhilipPullman – another good raconteur!

Had to slip away after Phillip to go to friends joint 60^th in Market Drayton. John,Sue and I met up whilst at Poly in Birmingham many moons ago and ended up sharing a room in a house in Rotton Park. A great musical and artistic family the night was everything you would expect. Met some people I hadn’t seen for many years.

Back to the Fest Sunday lunch for the amazingly talented Sir Terence David John "Terry" Pratchett. 

then JennyAgguter (been a big fan from the Railway Children days thru Logans Run, Equus, Walkabout, Sweet William et al)

Finishing on Sue Townsend, Rachel Joyce and Ian McEwan.

Roll on 2013!

Chelt Lit Fest

Just completed the Cheltenham Lit Festival and used the opportunity to surreptitiously promote Marions book - loadsa fly posting. Coupla more coming out in late autumn and she just won $100 in an American short story comp :)

Our old favourite Roger McGough was there, 




together with Victoria Hislop (n hubby). Watch out for the Greek adaptation of 'The Island' and guess who plays the 'english gent'?











and lotsa authors, journalists n assorted entertainers: