RAWORTHS HARROGATE LITERATURE FESTIVAL
FESTIVAL PREVIEW
Sunday 11 October
10:00am Book and Brunch with Vaseem Khan Cedar Court Hotel
1:30pm Waking the Warriors with Ben Okri The Crown Hotel
4:30pm The Isle of Good Karma with The Crown Hotel Alexander McCall Smith
6:30pm Being Old and Learning to Love it The Crown Hotel with Prue Leith
Thursday 22 October
12:00pm Yorkshire Life Literary Lunch with The Crown Hotel Sophie Raworth
4:30pm Making Sense of British Politics The Crown Hotel with Sir John Curtice
6:30pm The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse The Crown Hotel with Heather Morris
Friday 23 October
6:30am Raworths Runs with special guest Harrogate Cenotaph Sophie Raworth
6:30pm Out of Colditz with David Lascelles The Crown Hotel
8:00pm The Midmorning Murders with Julian Clary The Crown Hotel
PREVIEW
Saturday 24 October
All Day Raworths Harrogate Literature Family Festival The Crown Hotel
11.00am Are You a Running W*nker? with Alison Stankard The Crown Hotel
12:30pm A Hard Day’s Night with Samira Ahmed The Crown Hotel
2:00pm Garden Yourself Happy with Jonny Hincks The Crown Hotel
3:30pm Fight to the Death with Paul Brand The Crown Hotel
7:00pm Come What May with Lucy Easthope The Crown Hotel
Sunday 25 October
11.00am Expiry Date Never with Victoria Tomlinson The Crown Hotel
12:30pm Autumn with Kate Mosse The Crown Hotel
2:00pm Agatha Christie: The Woman Behind the Words The Crown Hotel
3.30pm The Shape of Suspense with Greg Mosse The Crown Hotel
Welcome to the Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival pocket preview.
As Harrogate International Festivals celebrates its 60th anniversary, we’re delighted to share this first look at what’s in store this autumn.
Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival celebrates the power of stories in all their forms, bringing together a vibrant mix of voices, ideas and experiences for every kind of reader. From gardens to politics, crime fiction to running, history to memoir, the festival offers something for everyone.
Featuring national treasures, literary icons, bestselling authors, fascinating thinkers, brilliant children’s writers and social media stars, the programme showcases the biggest names alongside exciting new voices. With inspiring talks, lively conversations, family events and opportunities for the whole community to get involved, Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival is a celebration of books, ideas and the joy of sharing stories together. And the story doesn’t end here... Further events and special guests will be announced soon.
Raworths Welcome
Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival is now truly established as an integral fixture in the town’s diverse programme of events. We are so proud to be the sponsors of this world class Festival which marks its 15th anniversary in October, and has gone from strength to strength.
This year we welcome to the Harrogate stage a wonderful array of speakers including bestselling authors, acclaimed broadcasters and national treasures. With a programme packed full of inspiring topics for all ages, there are exciting events for the whole family.
It promises to be another absolutely memorable Festival this autumn and a fitting part of HIF’s 60th anniversary celebrations. We can’t wait to share with you this year’s feast of great books and stories.
BOOK AND BRUNCH WITH VASEEM KHAN
Sunday 11 October | 10:00am | £22
@ The Imaginarium, Cedar Court Hotel Harrogate
Enjoy a delicious brunch with bestselling crime writer Vaseem Khan before settling in for a captivating morning of mystery, history and adventure.
Taking audiences on a fascinating journey from Bombay to Bond, Vaseem explores the post-Independence complexities of India through his awardwinning Malabar House mystery novels, set in 1950s Bombay, before travelling into the secretive world of MI6 and the exploits of James Bond and Q.
Discover the inspiration behind his acclaimed crime fiction, the legacy of the British Raj, the evolution of the Bond franchise and the remarkable true story behind one of fiction’s most iconic characters.
With humour, history and plenty of intrigue, this is a unique opportunity to hear from one of the UK’s most celebrated crime writers.
WAKING THE WARRIORS WITH BEN OKRI
Sunday 11 October | 1:30pm | £20
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from Booker Prize-winning author Sir Ben Okri as he introduces his extraordinary new novel, Wakingthe Warriors.
In this special event, one of the world’s most visionary literary voices will explore the ideas behind his powerful modern fable of courage, hope and resistance, offering unique insight into his creative process and the enduring power of storytelling.
THE ISLE OF GOOD KARMA WITH ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH
Sunday 11 October | 4:30pm | £20
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
Join one of the world’s most beloved storytellers, Sir Alexander McCall Smith, as he discusses his new novel, TheIsleofGoodKarma.
Expect warmth, wit and delightful observations on life from the bestselling author of TheNo.1Ladies’DetectiveAgencyand 44ScotlandStreet .
BEING OLD AND LEARNING TO LOVE IT WITH PRUE LEITH
Sunday 11 October | 6:30pm | £22
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
Warm, wise and wonderfully candid, national treasure Dame
Prue Leith shares the stories, lessons and laughter behind her latest book, Being Old...and Learning to Love It!
Blending memoir with uplifting reflections on ageing, Prue takes audiences through the triumphs, challenges and unexpected joys of growing older, from her journey to The Great British Bake Off fame to the friendships, family and experiences that have shaped her life.
With her trademark wit, honesty and no-nonsense charm, Prue explores everything from staying curious and finding purpose to love, loss, health and the realities of ageing well.
Nothing is off limits in this entertaining and heartfelt conversation about embracing every stage of life.
YORKSHIRE LIFE LITERARY LUNCH WITH SOPHIE RAWORTH
Thursday 22 October | 12:00pm | £22
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
Join acclaimed broadcaster and journalist Sophie Raworth as she discusses her inspiring memoir, RunningonAir.
Best known for presenting some of the nation’s biggest news stories, Sophie reflects on a life lived at full pace – from the pressures of live television to the challenges and rewards of endurance running. Honest, engaging and uplifting, this is a story about resilience, determination and discovering strength in unexpected places.
Ticket includes a welcome drink, two-course lunch followed by tea or coffee with petits fours.
This event is in partnership with Yorkshire Life Magazine.
MAKING SENSE OF BRITISH POLITICS
WITH JOHN CURTICE
Thursday 22 October | 4:30pm | £20
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
British politics is changing at a remarkable pace. Voter loyalties are shifting, new political movements continue to emerge, and the country’s political landscape has become more fragmented than ever before.
Ebis conemquae officta sinciam quaeprem. Nam voluptatume non comniam quiat et ut et es quatur aut et a cum volupta doluptis int.
Join Sir John Curtice, Britain’s leading political analyst, for an event of expert insight, lively discussion and authoritative analysis. Drawing on decades of experience interpreting elections, polling and public opinion, John will look beyond the headlines to examine the forces reshaping British politics and what they mean for the future.
THE PIANO TEACHER OF MONTPARNASSE WITH HEATHER MORRIS
AND PIANIST
Thursday 22 October | 6:30pm | £20
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
Heather Morris, the international bestselling author of TheTattooistofAuschwitz, joins us to discuss her new novel, The PianoTeacherofMontparnasse.
Set in Nazi-occupied Paris, the novel follows a piano teacher and member of the French Resistance who risks everything to protect a young Jewish girl. Drawing on the remarkable true story that inspired the book, Heather will talk about her research, her passion for uncovering forgotten histories, and the power of fiction to honour the courage and resilience of ordinary people in extraordinary times. The event will also feature live piano performances of music from the novel, bringing its evocative musical world to life.
RAWORTHS RUNS WITH SPECIAL GUEST
SOPHIE RAWORTH
Friday 23 October | 6:30am | FREE @ Harrogate Cenotaph
Start your festival weekend with a 5k run through Harrogate, with special guest Sophie Raworth joining us for this free community event. Open to all, whether you jog, walk or run at your own pace, the untimed route will begin at the Harrogate Cenotaph at 6.30am and finish with a free book for every participant.
Bring a running buddy, enjoy your favourite playlist or audiobook, lace up your shoes and join fellow festivalgoers for a relaxed and inspiring start to the weekend.
OUT OF COLDITZ WITH DAVID LASCELLES
Friday 23 October | 6:30pm | £20
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
What could lead one of the Nazi regime’s most senior figures to save the life of a British prisoner of war?
Join David Lascelles as he uncovers the extraordinary true story of Gottlob Berger, whose unexpected intervention spared the life of Lascelles’s own father during the final days of the Second World War, as told in his book
Out of Colditz: My Father,the POW and the Nazi Who Controlled His Fate. Drawing on meticulous historical research and his own family’s remarkable story, Lascelles explores one of the Second World War’s most extraordinary moral paradoxes, revealing a compelling account of survival, courage and the unexpected choices made in humanity’s darkest hour. In partnership with
THE MIDMORNING MURDERS WITH JULIAN CLARY
Friday 23 October | 8:00pm | £20
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
Comedian, actor and bestselling author Julian Clary discusses his new murder mystery, TheMidmorningMurders.
Set behind the scenes of a chaotic daytime television show, the novel follows a researcher whose bid to revive the programme with a cold case segment takes a deadly turn.
In this entertaining event, Julian will talk about blending humour with suspense, writing crime fiction, and drawing on the colourful world of television to create his sharpest mystery yet.
ARE YOU A RUNNING W*NKER?
WITH ALISON STANKARD
Saturday 24 October | 11:00am | £18
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
Join Alison Stankard (better known on social media as Tote Inappropes) as she discusses her debut book AreYouaRunningW*nker?
Part memoir, part comedy, part love letter to the chaos of modern running culture, the book charts Alison’s journey from tentative jogs around the block to marathons, training obsessions and the strange rituals that come with becoming a runner.
With sharp humour and complete honesty, she explores everything from the obsession with kit and splits to the shared absurdities and triumphs of the running community.
A HARD DAY’S NIGHT WITH SAMIRA AHMED
Saturday 24 October | 12:30pm | £18
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
Journalist and author Samira Ahmed discusses A Hard
Journalist and author Samira Ahmed discusses AHard Day’s Night, her latest book in the BFI Film Classics series.
Exploring the Beatles’ iconic first film, Samira examines how it captured a moment of cultural change in 1960s Britain and became a landmark of modern cinema. Discover why A Hard Day’s Night continues to resonate today, and its lasting influence on film, music and popular culture.
GARDEN YOURSELF HAPPY WITH JONNY HINCKS
Saturday 24 October | 2:00pm | £18
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
Join Jonny Hincks, known to more than three million followers as @gardenwithjonny, as he celebrates his debut book, GardenYourselfHappy.
Bringing his signature humour, relatable advice and down-to-earth, no-fuss approach to gardening, Jonny will share simple ways to grow your confidence, embrace the joys of getting outdoors and discover how gardening can make you happier - whatever your level of experience!
FIGHT TO THE DEATH WITH PAUL BRAND
Saturday 24 October | 3:30pm | £18
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
Award-winning journalist Paul Brand explores one of the most profound and divisive questions of our time: who should decide how a life ends?
Drawing on deeply personal stories from people on all sides of the assisted dying debate,FighttotheDeath moves beyond politics to reveal the human experiences behind the headlines.
Compassionate, thought provoking and deeply moving, join Paul as he explores the complex questions of medicine, morality and personal choice, inviting us to listen, reflect and understand.
COME WHAT MAY WITH LUCY EASTHOPE
Saturday 24 October | 7:00pm
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
Join bestselling author and world-leading emergency planner Lucy Easthope as she discusses her extraordinary new book, Come What May.
For decades, Lucy has helped communities recover from major disasters and tragedies, witnessing first-hand the remarkable resilience of ordinary people. In Come What May, she distils that experience into compassionate, practical wisdom for navigating life’s own moments of uncertainty, change and loss.
Insightful, moving and profoundly hopeful, Lucy offers a new way of thinking about recovery, what really helps, what doesn’t, and how we find the strength to carry on when life doesn’t go to plan.
EXPIRY DATE NEVER WITH VICTORIA
TOMLINSON
Sunday 25 October | 11:00am | £15
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
Join writer and broadcaster Victoria Tomlinson for an inspiring conversation about her book ExpiryDate Never.
Challenging the idea that experience has an expiry date, Victoria explores how longer lives are reshaping the way we think about ageing, work and possibility. Drawing on research, real-world stories and her own insights, she reveals why our experience, knowledge and skills can be some of our greatest assets in a changing world.
AUTUMN WITH KATE MOSSE
Sunday 25 October | 12:30pm | £20
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
Discover Autumnwith internationally bestselling author Kate Mosse as she explores the landscapes, memories and stories that inspired her beautifully evocative new book.
Part memoir and part nature writing, Autumncelebrates the changing seasons through folklore, history and the natural world, from the author’s own garden to the marshes and chalk downlands of Sussex. This is a chance to hear from one of Britain’s most celebrated storytellers as she shares a quieter, more reflective work that celebrates the beauty and complexity of the natural world.
AGATHA CHRISTIE: THE WOMAN BEHIND THE WORDS
Sunday 25 October | 2:20pm | £15
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
Join us for a special panel celebrating the life, writing and enduring legacy of Agatha Christie, marking 50 years since the death of the Queen of Crime and 100 years since her extraordinary disappearance in Harrogate.
Dr Loukia Drosopoulou, Project Curator of the British Library’s Agatha Christie exhibition, will reveal the stories behind key objects from the exhibition, offering fresh insights into Christie’s life, work and remarkable literary career.
She is joined by author Susan Brownrigg, whose novel TheSecretofAbneyHall was inspired by Christie’s life, and bestselling biographer Laura Thompson, whose new book ElevenDays re-examines Christie’s mysterious disappearance.
Together, the panel will explore Christie’s extraordinary legacy, the enduring appeal of her fiction, and why she remains the world’s best-loved crime writer.
THE SHAPE OF SUSPENSE
WITH GREG MOSSE
Sunday 25 October | 3:30pm | £15
The Crown Hotel, Harrogate
Discover the secrets of suspense with writer, director and storyteller Greg Mosse in this engaging illustrated talk exploring the art of tension across crime, thriller and comedy thriller film.
Through carefully selected clips, Greg delves into how filmmakers manipulate information, pace and audience expectation to create moments that keep us hooked, revealing the craft behind unforgettable storytelling. An entertaining and insightful exploration of the techniques that make us laugh, gasp and keep watching.
ALL DAY
Saturday24
A joyful celebration of stories, imagination and family adventures!
October @The Crown Hotel
Bring the whole family for a day packed with storytelling, live events, creative workshops, draw-alongs, crafts and unforgettable adventures.
Meet bestselling and award-winning guests including:
JOSEPH COELHO
Award-winning author and former Children's Laureate
ROB BIDDULPH
Bestselling author, illustrator and creator of #DrawWithRob
HOW TO BOOK
Box Office Opening Times
Monday to Friday, 10am – 5pm
Please note on-site box office hours will differ. Visit our website or call for further information.
Payment
Harrogate International Festivals accept all major credit/debit cards (except American Express), as well as cash. We do not store any of your credit or debit card details and payments will be taken on a per transaction basis, as indicated by the card holder via phone or online.
Booking Fee
We charge a £2.50 transaction fee per booking which is non-refundable. Ticket sales alone do not cover the costs of our box office and these fees are vital to the development, maintenance and running of our in-house box office system and staffing.
Buying Tickets on the Door
Tickets may be available to purchase on the door subject to availability. Be aware events can sell out in advance. Early booking is recommended.
Concessions
Concessions are available for Under 18s, students in full time education, carers, and those receiving unemployment benefits. Appropriate ID must be provided.
Festival Bookshop
The Festival Bookshop, provided by Waterstones Harrogate, will be open throughout the festival, offering the chance to purchase books and have them signed by authors after each event.
HarrogateInternationalFestivals.com | 01423 562 303
Join us as Raworths Salon North returns with four unforgettable evenings of curiosity, conversation and discovery.
Expect fascinating talks from leading thinkers exploring everything from the supernatural to ancient Egypt, from dangerous art to the inner workings of our brains, all in an intimate cabaret-style setting.
7:30pm @ Victoria Suite, The Crown Hotel
Thursday 24 September 2026
Thursday 12 November 2026
Thursday 28 January 2027
Thursday 25 March 2027 A NIGHT OUT FOR
TITLE SPONSOR
MAJOR FUNDER & COMMUNITY PARTNER
MAJOR SUPPORTER & HONORARY SOLICITORS
PREMIER PARTNERS EVENT SPONSORS
FESTIVAL PARTNERS
ACCOMMODATION
ASSOCIATE SPONSOR
