Welcome to our programme

Julia Hobsbawm with David Aaronovitch, Peter York, Allison Pearson and Douglas Alexander

EI Breakfast 2

The Editorial Intelligence director and her guests analyse the media stories and comment of the day.

Duration 45 minutes.

In association with Editorial Intelligence

Huw Bowen, Chris Williams, Huw Pryce

New History of Wales 2: Wales – Nation, Region, Province, Principality

Where is Wales and what is Wales? What’s the relationship with England, Europe and the world?


Duration 45 minutes.

In association with The Western Mail

Magnus Mills talks to Alice Jones

Screwtop Thompson

The novelist reads from and discusses his story collection. 'Magnus Mills' unerringly sharp eye for human foibles combines with a dry deadpan wit to create comic genius.' The Independent. He talks to The Independent Deputy Arts Editor.

Duration 45 minutes.

Sponsored by Herdmans Coaches

Judith Oakley

Seashore Safari

Starfish, crabs, jellyfish… Beaches are full of amazing wildlife, if only you know where to look. Join Judith, a passionate marine biologist, and discover the sandy secrets of British seasides.

Mary Warnock

Dishonest To God

The moral philosopher argues that to value religion as the essential foundation of morality is a profound and probably dangerous mistake. Chaired by David Aaronovitch.

Meghnad Desai

LSE Lecture 1: The Rediscovery of India

‘How an old civilisation became a new nation after four thousand years of history and four centuries’ engagement with Europe; why it has succeeded as a democracy and why it is a miracle economy.’

In association with the London School of Economics

Adam Nicolson and Sarah Raven

Smell of Summer Grass: Pursuing Happiness – Perch Hill 1944–2011

The story of the years spent in finding and building a personal Arcadia, sometimes a dream, sometimes a nightmare, by the writer and his wife, cook and gardener Sarah Raven. Chaired by Rosie Boycott.

Sponsored by Smallfarms, Hay-on-Wye

Timothy Brook and Xiaolou Guo

China

Two views of the emerging superpower from the distinguished sinologist, author of Troubled Empire and The Confusions of Pleasure and the novelist and performer whose books include A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers and UFO In Her Eyes. Chaired by Rosie Goldsmith.

Evelyn Juers

House of Exile

A unique imagining of the unconventional love affair between the writer and political activist Heinrich Mann and Nelly Kroeger – a tall, blonde ex-barmaid twenty-seven years his junior – recounting their flight from Nazi Germany in 1933, to France and then to Los Angeles. Chaired by Hannah Rothschild.

Supported by the Australian Council for the Arts

Mary Hooper & Linda Press Wulf

Fallen Grace, Crusade

Immerse yourselves in worlds gone by – the smog of Victorian London, the aromas of 13th century France and the heat of Jerusalem – with two stories of friendship, loss and love. Chaired by Peter Florence.

Rainbow Magic Fairy Party

Don your best fairy wings and pop along for some fairy fun, glittery games and plenty of pretty prizes.

AC Grayling

The Good Book

Drawing on the wisdom of 2,500 years of contemplative non-religious writing on all that it means to be human, from the origins of the universe to small matters of courtesy and kindness in everyday life, the philosopher has created a secular bible.

Sponsored by Transatlantic Films

Polly Toynbee & David Walker

The Verdict

Did Labour policies worsen the recession? Why did social mobility slow down on Labour’s watch? Has SureStart improved the prospects of tomorrow’s children? Does politics ever actually change anything?

Sponsored by The Open University in Wales

Allison Pearson talks to Tiffany Murray

I Think I Love You

Mohsin Hamid and Dinaw Mengestu talk to Kathryn Gray

Fictions: Strangers and Lovers

Moth Smoke, by the author of The Reluctant Fundamentalist, is a story of love and estrangement set in Pakistan; How To Read The Air shares the Ethiopian-American context of Mengestu’s brilliant debut Children of the Revolution.

The Book Show at Hay – Filming

Sky Arts returns with its acclaimed series of The Book Show. Join Mariella Frostrup for an exclusive recording, interviewing the biggest and best names at the festival.

Watch The Book Show at Hay on Sky Arts 1 HD at 7pm on Monday 30 May

Liz Pichon

Oodles of Doodles

Meet Tom Gates – master of excuses, expert doodler and comic story writer extraordinaire. His journal (The Brilliant World of Tom Gates – obviously!) is pretty awesome and his creator is going to show you how yours can be too. Bring a pad and pencil!

Rainbow Magic Fairy Party

Don your best fairy wings and pop along for some fairy fun, glittery games and plenty of pretty prizes.

National Nuclear Laboratory

Paper Free Science

Think robots, fission and colour!

hf2 for teens

In association with UK Youth

VS Naipaul

The London Library Lecture

The Nobel Laureate, author of A House for Mr Biswas, The Enigma of Arrival, A Bend in the River and The Masque of Africa charts his development as a writer and his relationship with his family in his Letters Between a Father and a Son. Chaired by Alexander Waugh.