Writer, broadcaster and Celebrity Gogglebox star Gyles Brandreth is to be the leading author for this year’s MBC Maidstone LitFest.
Launching his new book ‘Prose & Cons’ this autumn, the best-selling author will delve into the English language with a whirlwind tour in his signature style and wit at an event to be held at Maidstone’s All Saints Church on Saturday 12 October.
Maidstone LitFest is a Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) led project which is now in its second year following a hugely successful week-long event in 2023. In response to the popularity of the inaugural festival, the 2024 programme of events has been extended and will be held from 5-12 October.
MBC Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion and Safety – Cllr David Naghi said:
Maidstone Borough Council is extremely proud to be bringing this event back to the town centre as part of our arts and culture offering this October.
Last year’s event was a strong start for a new literary festival, but this year is looking even better and we cannot wait to welcome even more people and as many different audiences to Maidstone so that they can enjoy what the MBC LitFest has to offer.
The festival programme so far includes authors Maria McErlane (Graham Norton’s former radio sidekick), Gill Hornby, crime thriller writers Tim Weaver and Mark Billingham with a special event featuring the Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, which is supported by the Maidstone Valley Invicta Academies Trust.
Festival co-director Jodi Eeles added:
The Maidstone LitFest team have been keeping our fingers crossed for weeks in the hope that Gyles Brandreth can join the line-up. We are all big fans and know that he is such a popular character. We are so pleased he has chosen Maidstone LitFest as part of his book tour.
We want to make him truly welcome to our town and give him something to remember us by. Maybe one of his signature jumpers that expresses the creativity in the town! And if there are any yarn-bombers or knitters who want to dedicate a post box to him – we’d love to have some fun for his visit.
This project, Maidstone LitFest, has received £20,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.