Hay Festival 2019 Programme

An opportunity to discuss the immediate and longer-term challenges that range across his brief with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Boycott is chair of the London Food Board.

The never-before-told story of radical suffragette Kitty Marion. The historian Fern Riddell finds a hidden diary and uses Kitty's own words to tell the story of her sensational life and explosive actions. Chaired by Rosie Goldsmith.

Was Diana killed by the Secret Services? Is climate change a hoax? Did man not walk on the moon? Who shot JFK? Drawing on a nationwide survey about belief in conspiracy theories, Drochon will explore what factors –religious, economic, political – make some and not others believe in conspiracy theories and what impact that has had on contemporary political events. Drochon is a political theorist and historian of modern political thought.

A persuasive and inspiring argument exploring the subject matter of his radical and brilliant book Lost Connections. Across the world, Hari found social scientists who were uncovering evidence that depression and anxiety are not caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, as we are often told. In fact, they are largely caused by key problems with the way we live today. Once he had uncovered nine real causes of depression and anxiety, they led him to scientists who are discovering seven very different solutions – ones that work.

By and large, environmentalism, at least in Britain, is still seen as the concern of the relatively well off, and the decidedly white, despite the fact that poorer communities often suffer disproportionately from the impact of pollution. In the developing world it can be a different story: where some of environmentalism’s greatest triumphs – such as the replacement of polluting kerosene with clean solar power – have brought huge benefits to such communities. If the fight against climate change and other existential environmental crises is to get the political prominence it needs, then it has to win support from way beyond the ‘usual suspects’. Craftivist Corbett, campaigner Porritt, farmer Emmanuel-Jones and young wildlife hero Mya-Rose Craig reach out with Martin Wright.

The diplomat and historian examines the nuclear confrontation between the Soviet Union and the West during the Cold War, and the lessons  for managing our difficulties with Russia today. Braithwaite was ambassador in Moscow at the time of the Soviet collapse, and then the Prime Minister's foreign policy adviser and chairman of the UK Joint Intelligence Committee. His books include Across the Moscow River (2002), Moscow 1941 (2006), Afgantsy: The Russians in Afghanistan (2011) and Armageddon and Paranoia: The Nuclear Confrontation (2017). Chaired by Nik Gowing, author of Thinking the Unthinkable: A New Imperative for Leadership in the Digital Age.

It is 100 years since women won the right to vote in the UK – albeit partial. Yet women are still embroiled in daily battles to get parity with their male colleagues and partners. Will it take another 100 years for women’s suffrage finally to mean women’s liberation? Or will 2018 be the year that marks a true step change in gender equality?

The uproariously funny comedian is best known as the host of BBC3's Live at The Electric, regular appearances on BBC1’s Live at the Apollo, BBC3’s Unzipped, ITV2’s Celebrity Juice and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! Now!  

The cult stars have totally re-invented the brass band sound for the modern age. A truly brilliant live act, they have played the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics, the BRITs, MOBO and Mercury Awards. The group has great playing chops and a fun-loving stage presence that makes every one of their shows both visually and musically compelling.

Wake up and re-energise with our morning yoga class. Iyengar yoga is characterised by precision, alignment and attention to detail and is an inclusive and accessible yoga practice. Mats are provided; wear comfortable clothing; all abilities welcome.

In December 2016 Harding meets former MI6 officer Christopher Steele to discuss the President-elect’s connections with Russia. Harding decides to follow the money and the sex. In Washington, January 2017, Steele’s explosive dossier alleges that the Kremlin has been "cultivating, supporting and assisting" Trump for years and that they have compromising information about him. Trump responds on Twitter, ‘FAKE NEWS’. Collusion is a gripping, alarming exposé about the biggest political scandal of the modern era, in which Harding reveals the true nature of Trump’s decades-long relationship with Russia and presents the gripping inside story of Steele’s dossier. 

A majestic distillation of our current understanding of the birth of the universe, of the solar system, of the oceans, of mountains and minerals, of all life on earth and of the driving dynamics of human culture and achievement. Christian is a Distinguished Professor in History at Macquarie University in Australia and the co-founder, with Bill Gates, of The Big History Project.

More than three billion people in the developing world live outside the formal economy and face unmet needs in areas such as health, education, energy, food and financial services. Meanwhile in the developed world, consumers are becoming both value- and values- conscious. The Jawaharlal Nehru Professor of Business and Enterprise at the Judge Business School addresses how frugal innovation – the creation of faster, better and cheaper solutions that employ minimal resources – can help solve some of the big problems of poverty, climate change and inequality that stalk the planet.

Polish novelist Olga Tokarczuk wins for Flights - translated into English by Jennifer Croft, who will join her onstage.

The longlist for this year's international fiction prize consists of Laurent Binet, Javier Cercas, Virginie Despentes, Jenny Erpenbeck, Han Kang, Ariana Harwicz, László Krasznahorkai, Antonio Muñoz, Christoph Ransmayr, Ahmed Saadawi, Olga Tokarczuk, Wu Ming-Yi and Gabriela Ybarra. The shortlist will be released on 12 April, and the winner will be announced on 22 May.

The author of Icebreaker, Down to the Sea in Ships, A Single Swallow and Running for the Hills leads a walk from Tretower Court through the Cwmdu Valley looking at stories in his Myths and Legends of the Brecon Beacons. A member of the Brecon Beacons National Park team will join the walk.

Since the publication of his first novel, The Boy in the Dress, David Walliams has seen ten years of global success as a children’s author. Hear about the inspiration for his best-loved characters, listen to him read excerpts from some of his books and get the chance to put your questions directly to him. David will be discussing his writing with Gemma Cairney.

The authors of To the End of the World and The Children of Castle of Rock discuss the great tradition of adventure stories and the delights of writing modern tales to add to it with Jonathan Douglas, Director, National Literacy Trust.

Join the author of The Lion Inside and The Koala Who Could for a fun-filled event packed with stories, drawing and games. Hear the tale of The Squirrels who Squabbled – a tale of two greedy mammals who must learn to share – before learning how to draw one of the iconic animal characters from Rachel’s books, illustrated by the talented Jim Field.