Jonathan Fenby
Jonathan Fenbyranges across 3,000 years of continuous civilization to show and discuss treasures from the earliest forms of writing and bronze work to the towering urban development of the C21st.
David Owen, John Kampfner
David Owen talks to John Kampfner about Illness in Heads of Government During the Last 100 Years.
David Crystal
The vaudevillian linguistics Prof David Crystal celebrates the most inventive and gifted wordsmith of all time.
Simon Hoggart
Guardian Sketch-writer Simon Hoggart collects his finest comic writing about Blair’s Westminster decade.
Oliver James, Stewart Wallis
A dialogue between Oliver James author of Affluenza and The Selfish Capitalist and Stewart Wallis Director of the New Economics Foundation.
Wallace Broeker, Robert Kunzig, Jon Snow
The pre-eminent climate change scientist who coined the term ‘global warming’ way back in 1975 Wallace Broecker and his co-author Robert Kunzig propose a radical and amazing solution to the carbon crisis.
Chaired by Jon Snow.
Orlando Figes
In this masterpiece of popular history Orlando Figes teases out intimate experiences from people who spent their lives regarding individuality as both subversive and dangerous.
Roy Hattersley
Roy Hattersley tells The Story of Britain Between the Wars—of economic crisis, cultural and Olympic triumph, political disaster and the rise and rise of Winston Churchill.
Les Dennis
Rollercoaster showbiz memoir:
Les Dennis tells all to Phil Rickman.
Diana Athill, John Walsh
The great nonagenarian publisher and memoirist Diana Athill talks to John Walsh about how the pleasure of sex ebbs, how the joy of gardening grows, how much there is to remember, to forget, to regret, to forgive—and how one faces the inevitable fact of death.
David Stafford
Using letters and interviews David Stafford creates an unforgettable panorama of the defeat of Fascism, of ordinary people and extraordinary valour, and of a Europe in every way tested to its limits.
Michael Wood
Historian Michael Wood introduces his enthralling and elegant study of the cultural history of the world’s largest democracy.
Patrick Wright, Peter Guttridge
Patrick Wright discusses his work of impressive scholarship that roots our understanding of Cold War rhetoric and attitudes deeply in the C20th. Chaired by Peter Guttridge.
Catherine Tate, Fiona Lindsey
The actress Catherine Tate talks to Fiona Lindsey.
John Prescott
11+ failure, Union firebrand, Britain’s longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister, and Blair-Brown consolidator John Prescott talks to John Harris.
Caspar Walsh, Peter Florence
Caspar Walsh is a former inmate, and now writer-in-residence at HM Parc Prison, Bridgend. He discusses his autobiography Criminal with Peter Florence. This session complements the Hay Comes to Parc arm of the Festival being held this week at the prison.
John Gormley, Jane Davidson, Guto Harri
Does the current emphasis on individual choice allow policy makers to duck out of difficult decisions when trying to put in place climate change solutions? John GormleyMinister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government Ireland and Jane Davidson Environment Minister (Wales) debate how far they could and should go in directing and guiding. Chaired by Guto Harri.
Alan Weisman
Alan Weisman asks how the world would change if human beings vanished from the earth right now, for good. What would the planet be like in a day, a week, a month…a millennium?
Kathleen Turner, Peter Florence
The actress (Body Heat, War of the Roses, Romancing the Stone) talks about her life, loves and movies, wittily recounted in her memoir Send Yourself Roses.
David Almond, Julia Eccleshare
The great author of Skellig, Kit’s Wilderness, Clay, The Savage and The Fire-Eater talks about his work with the Guardian’s children’s books editor.
Charlie Higson, Jonathan Douglas
Charlie Higson talks to Jonathan Douglas
To celebrate the centenary of Bond’s originator, Charlie Higson discusses recreating the superspy for a young audience.
John Bolton, Peter Florence
President Bush’s Ambassador to the UN (2005–06) discusses international relations.
Joann Fletcher, Corisande Albert
Joann Fletcher profiles the last and greatest Egyptian Pharoah-politician, mother, scholar and icon. Chaired by Corisande Albert.
Giles Milton
Giles Milton recounts the catastrophe of Smyrna 1922: The Destruction of Islam’s City of Tolerance.
Tariq Ramadan
The charismatic scholar sets the story of the Prophet in context.
Jo Wood
The model and cosmetics producer lays out an holistic organic manifesto—Naturally: How to Look and Feel Healthy, Energetic and Radiant the Organic Way.
WP Campbell
James WP Campbell describes not just the feats of Christopher Wren, but the work of the quarrymen, stonemasons, carpenters and craftsmen who collaborated on Britain’s most imposing cathedral.
Jenny Valentine, Julia Eccleshare
Valentine’s debut novel, Finding Violet Park, won the Guardian Prize for Children’s Fiction. Broken Soup is set to consolidate its author’s reputation as a unique and compelling writer who can combine heart-rending tragedy, quirky characters and intriguing mystery with a masterly lightness of touch.
Jeremy Clarkson, Rosie Boycott
Top writer talks cars and opinion.
Homero Arisdjis
The eminent Mexican writer ("Eyes to See Otherwise", "1492 The Life and Times of Juan Cabezon of Castille"), environmentalist and diplomat talks about his lifelong crusade to save the Monarch butterfly, which migrates every year from Canada to overwinter in Mexico's oyamel forests.
Louise Rennison
The bestselling and brilliantly funny author talks about Georgia Nicolson on page and screen, with sneak peeks from the upcoming movie of Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging and the upcoming book, Stop in the Name of Pants.
Anthony Johnson
Archaeological surveyor Anthony Johnson uses hi-tech analysis to nail one of the world’s great mysteries.
Robert Peston, Peter Oborne, Robert Yates
Robert Peston (Who Runs Britain?) and Peter Oborne (The Triumph of the Political Class) discuss the nature of power and influence in Britain, chaired by Robert Yates (Extreme Nation).
Paul Greengrass, Francine Stock
The director talks about his films; the Bourne trilogy, Bloody Sunday, United 93 and The Murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Boris Spassky, Ronan Bennett
The legendary Grand Master discusses Russian and Soviet chess culture, the psychology of the game, and the 1972 Reykjavík Match of the Century World Championships in which he lost his title to Bobby Fisher.
Monty Don, Patrick Holden
The new President and the Director of The Soil Association talk to Sky News anchor Adam Boulton about food production, climate change, and the organic movement’s lead with local and supermarket shopping.
George Monbiot
Eco-firebrand George Monbiot in his final conversation with the audience about global sustainability and political accountability.
Rob Brydon, John Walsh
The quicksilver Welsh comedian, creator of Keith Barret and Bryn in Gavin and Stacey talks to journalist John Walsh.
Roger McGough, Brian Patten
The great entertainers celebrate the ruby anniversary of the Mersey Sound anthology of Liverpool poets.
AA Gill, John Mitchinson
The passionate and incisive food critic entertains with Table Talk
Shashi Tharoor, Jonathan Freedland, Matt Frei, Jacob Weisberg
NY-based internationalist Shashi Tharoor hosts this conversation about American society with Jonathan Freedland of the Guardian, Matt Frei author of Only in America and Jacob Weisberg, author of The Bush Tragedy and online editor of Slate online magazine.
Rt Rev V Gene Robinson
The Bishop of New Hampshire, whose homosexuality threatens the schism of the Anglican Church discusses The State of the Communion. Chaired by Stephen Bates, author of God’s Own Country: Power and Religion in the USA.
Naomi Klein, Rosie Boycott
The radical analyst Naomi Klein meticulously exposes the US policy of ‘Disaster Capitalism’ that overwhelms societies reeling from natural (tsunami) and military (Iraq) catastrophe. In conversation with Rosie Boycott.
Jimmy Carter, Philippe Sands
The Nobel Laureate and former US Presidenton conflict resolution and human rights, and the work of the carter foundation. Introduced by Alan Rusbridger, editor of the Guardian. Chaired by Philippe Sands.
Cherie Booth, Francine Stock
The Matrix Chambers QC specialising in Employment and Human Rights lectures on Women’s Equality: Making your way in a man’s world.
Gore Vidal, Adam Boulton
The legendary American wit, novelist and politico.
Joseph Stiglitz & Linda Bilmes
The Nobel Economist and his co-author audit The True Cost of the War in Iraq. Chaired by Nik Gowing.
George Monbiot
In the first of a series of conversations with the audience, the captivating author of Bring on the Apocalypse: Six Arguments for Global Justice discusses a global or environmental topic arising from the day’s news.