Arts Diary: Will Marriott

“It’s all been a little surreal,” he says. “When the book first came out, it did ok, but this has been a real boost. Just being one of the shortlisted books is a real honour and if it did win I’m not quite sure what I’d do.”

To give The Radleys a push in the right direction, register your vote at www.channel4.com/play-win/the-tv-book-club-vote/the-tv-book-club-vote-competition/index.jsp

Brighton may be the spiritual home for Mods, but Hull will give the south coast resort a run for its money next week. On Wednesday, the city centre will play host to the biggest gathering of scooters for decades to mark the opening of Quadrophenia – a stage play based on The Who’s classic album – at Hull Truck Theatre. Garry Cooper, who starred in the film, and fellow actor Nick Bagnall will be guests at the event as scooter club members descend on Hull from across the county.

“Quadrophenia has so much nostalgic value for those who were around at the time, and is inspirational for those who were not,” says organiser of the rally Kevin Holder. “Hopefully, this production will help to stimulate further growth of the already large scooter scene in Hull.”

Quadrophenia will be staged for four days only – from August 24-27 and the rally begins on August 25 at 6.45pm.

Two children’s authors are also great believers in two wheels. After cycling around Europe and across America with their two rescue dogs, Fin and Zoa Gypsy are due to arrive in Leeds tomorrow.

The pair, who are behind the Dog Detectives picture book series, have already completed 16,000 miles on their energetic book tour and will be at the city’s Waterstone’s branch from 11am.

Sheffield doesn’t immediately appear to have much in common with Hollywood, but that’s not about to deter Geoff Nicholson. The author and satirist was born in Steel City and while he now lives in Los Angeles, he is about to return to South Yorkshire for the Off the Shelf Festival.

At the literary event, Nicholson will attempt to recreate a walk he took recently around Hollywood. Where he turned right on Sunset Boulevard, Nicholson will do the same on the streets of Sheffield and just to complicate matters he’ll also be using the 1927 Baedeker Guide to Sheffield.

No one is quite sure where the walk on October 22 will end, but safe to say it will be an experience like no other.

For more details of the event and the rest of the Off the Shelf programme for 2011, visit www.offtheshelf.org.uk.

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