From politics to nature - the 2024 Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival reveals its brilliant line up

The 16th Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival begins on 18th September for five days packed with over 80 events featuring bestselling authors, celebrities, lively panel conversations and inspiring events for families.

Leading the programme this year are the celebrity cookery writer Rick Stein, Great British Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant, Gardener’s World presenter Carol Klein and multi-million selling author Robert Harris.

Best-selling authors the Rev Richard Coles, Clare Mackintosh and Susan Fletcher will thrill with their latest crime fiction, and the Times columnists Hugo Rifkind and Anna Murphy will be bringing their latest books to Budleigh audiences. Satirist Craig Brown will turn his sharp eye to the legacy of the Queen and historian and broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby presents his leading study of Stalin’s influence at the end of WW2.

Skincare and well-being entrepreneur Liz Earle will share her tips for a brilliant later life, and leading British tenor Russell Watson, will talk about the immense challenges he has faced in his illustrious career. 

The Festival’s annual talk in memory of its founder Susan Ward will be presented by broadcaster Iain Dale who will consider why we allow dictatorships to emerge. The former BBC Moscow correspondent Sarah Rainsford will offer a very personal angle on Russia today, and BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner will talk about his latest very prescient thriller set in China and Taiwan.

Social and political history is covered by Virginia Nicholson on the lengths to which women in the early 20th century went to be beautiful, David Horspool on Britain’s relationship with sport, Helen Molesworth on gems, Sir Anthony Seldon on the recent personalities behind the black door of No.10 and Professor Vernon Bogdanor on the politicians who have changed history. The Lost King historian Philippa Langley, who discovered the grave of Richard III, turns her steely eyed investigations to the Princes in the Tower.

The standard of novels being featured at the Festival is as high as ever with Robert Harris and Susan Fletcher being joined by Clare Chambers, Clare Macintosh, Jennie Godfrey, Sara Leipciger, and debut Fiona Williams. As well as sharing her latest novel, Ordinary Time, Festival President Cathy Rentzenbrink will chair the annual Hilary Mantel Emerging Writers event in memory of her predecessor which showcases emerging talent.

As ever the Festival offers exciting and engaging events for families with a programme lead by the highly popular author/illustrator Rob Biddulph. He is joined by nature writers Yuval Zommer and Clare Helen Welsh with themes that complement a series of free activities on the theme of WOW! Words for Wildlife. Young people can also create favourite Aardman characters with the help of a professional model maker, create stories with music and learn to draw Manga character and comics.

“This year’s programme is jam packed with events,’ says Artistic Director Annie Ashworth. ‘We have aimed to be as broad as possible to satisfy and excite a wide range of interests. Book festivals are all about conversations and learning, entertainment and enjoyment and this year’s offering certainly meets all of those aspirations.”

A new addition to the Festival this year is the entertainment offered in the Festival Hub marquee located on The Green. Audiences can rest between events and enjoy jazz, light opera and even sea shanties over lunches and suppers from local caters Posh Nosh, Fat Fox Food and Mandy & Milena’s. The marquee will also host a showcase for local authors to share their work, and there’s even the chance to learn how to solve those tricky cryptic crosswords.

“We are excited to be offering these additional events,” says Festival Chair Sue Briggs, “and to be supporting local talent and local businesses. The Festival is steeped in our community and working together is important to us. We are enormously grateful to those local business who sponsor the Festival and enable it to happen and all our amazing volunteers.”

Tickets to the festival are available online and by phone at budlitfest.org.uk and on 0333 666 3366 from 22 July, and in person at the Budleigh Information Centre on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10.30am to 12.30pm.