Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville announced as Whitby Lit Fest headline guest
Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville has been announced as the headline guest at the forthcoming edition of Whitby Lit Fest.
The actor will introduce his latest children’s book, Rory Sparkes and the Spy Who Loved Tea, at the Whitby Pavilion at 1pm on November 21. The Paddington star will talk about creating Rory’s world and take questions.
The festival programme spans crime, history, poetry, politics and food, and stories of the Yorkshire coast and other guests include The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas author John Boyne, Number One Sunday Times bestseller Ann Cleeves, Chocolat author Joanne Harris, Hairy Biker Si King, bestselling crime writers Elly Griffiths and Mark Billingham, and actor Greta Scacchi. Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae will introduce her picture book Put Your Records On.
Festival tickets go on sale today on the event’s website.
Events will take place at venues across the town, including Whitby Pavilion, Eighteen91, Flowergate Hall, Whitby Museum, Whitby Library, the Coliseum and the Jet Black Jewel.
Lois Kirtlan, chair of Whitby Lit Fest, said: “We were already incredibly proud of the programme we had assembled for Whitby this November, so to be able to announce Hugh Bonneville as a surprise addition just as tickets go on sale is fantastic.
“Hugh is loved by audiences of all ages, from Downton Abbey to Paddington, and we think families are going to have enormous fun discovering another side to him as the creator of Rory Sparkes.
“The whole programme reflects what we want Whitby Lit Fest to be – big-name writers alongside exciting new voices, events inspired by Whitby and the Yorkshire coast, and everything from crime and history to politics, poetry, food, film and children’s books.
“We would encourage people to take a look at the full programme and book early, particularly for some of our headline events and smaller-capacity venues.”