Hay Festival 2024

Jasper Fforde is here to show you the UK, but not as we know it. Civilisation has been rebuilt after an unspoken ‘Something That Happened’ five hundred years ago. Society is now colour-based, the strict levels of hierarchy dictated by the colours you can see. From the economy to the health service, the shadowy National Colour reigns supreme. Negotiating the narrow boundaries of the Rules, Jane and Eddie must find out the truth of their world: what is it, where is it and is there a safe place that they can escape to?

On an Eardisley farm, in conservative, rural Mid Wales, lives Dean Goodwin-Evans aka Boo La Croux: farmer, organiser of Hereford Pride, professional hairdresser, son of an Aston Villa footballer, husband of Paul, lover of horses, and Miss Drag UK 2021. Billie Charity is an award-winning portrait and reportage photographer who has worked closely with David Hurn, John Bulmer and Niall McDiarmid. She has published two critically-acclaimed photo books, People of Hay and Colour.

In a special Hay Festival live recording of their hit podcast, comedian Jon Richardson and the Futurenauts, Ed Gillespie and Mark Stevenson, explore the ‘Future of Friday Night’, with special guest, BBC Radio 6 Music’s Amy Lamé. As pubs and nightclubs close are we doomed to binge-drinking on the sofa at home in front of Netflix? Is flirting beyond dating apps dead? Will the Great British Friday Night Out go the way of the dodo, or is there a new era of conscious hedonism being born? Will the authentic visceral experience of live performance get us up and out? Can we twerk our tushes into a better tomorrow? Grab a cocktail, mocktail or whatever whets your whistle for the usual riotous adventures in the imagination of the possible.

How many times have you wished you were able to explain something clearly and confidently? In this event, the BBC presenter and journalist Ros Atkins, creator of the Ros Atkins on… explainer series, shares the secrets he’s learned from years of working in high-pressure newsrooms, identifying the ten elements of a good explanation and the seven steps you need to take to express yourself as persuasively and accurately as possible.

Whether you’re preparing for a presentation, taking an exam or interviewing for a job, in The Art of Explanation Atkins provides the ultimate guide to communicating as effectively as possible. Atkins is BBC News’ analysis editor and the creator and presenter of Outside Source on the BBC News Channel and BBC World News.

Make your summer more salad-full in this demo and tasting event with the River Cottage chef. Alderson demonstrates how, with a bit of creativity and flair, simple ingredients can be combined to make truly great salads. Watch him as he cooks knockout recipes in front of you using everyday foods, drawing on his book River Cottage Great Salads – and you get to taste the results. He redefines the idea of salad, as playful flavour pairings, clever techniques and vibrant dressings bring out the very best in seasonal produce. Executive Head Chef of River Cottage for over ten years, Alderson has worked with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to create the menus served in all six River Cottage restaurants.

Get an exclusive preview of Jodi Picoult’s new novel By Any Other Name, to be published in October. Moving between Elizabethan England and modern-day Manhattan, it explores the theme of identity and the ways in which two women, centuries apart – one of whom might be the real author of Shakespeare’s plays – are both forced to hide behind another name to make their voices heard. Jodi Picoult describes her 29th novel as the “book of my heart”, the one she was destined to write. She describes the sleuthing she carried out to establish her character Emilia’s links to Shakespeare, and her personal experiences as playwright and author.

The Will Barnes Quartet bring us an auditory treat to Hay Festival. Source of the Severn is their debut album – an evocative, fluid collection mixing hints of Wales with immaculately performed jazz. Will Barnes (guitar) is joined by James Batten (drums), Jack Gonsalez (piano) and Clovis Phillips (bass) – a tight collective of highly experienced jazz instrumentalists. Their original music is a modern take on the classic bebop era with influences of Wes Montgomery, Bill Evans, Pat Metheny and Oscar Peterson, further taking inspiration from the exquisite landscape of Mid Wales and the Marches. The beautiful album artwork by skilled landscape artist Erin Hughes is also very covetable!

Marcel Lucont (Comedy Central at the Comedy Store, Sky Atlantic’s Set List, BBC1’s John Bishop Show) presents a feast of international cabaret. For one night only, he presents: Rob Deering, the UK’s foremost guitar-wielding, loop-layering stand-up comedian; Sara Twister, internationally renowned circus artiste from Berlin; and Jon Udry, winner of British Young Juggler of the Year! Cabaret Fantastique has no fixed abode – a cult hit at festivals worldwide, each programme of entertainment is handpicked by Marcel. You’ll be served up a luscious plate of the finest performers from the world of cabaret, comedy, circus, poetry, magic and music, all held together with dry wit and a dry white.

Join comedian Robin Ince for his unique Book Club, in which he chats with guests about the weirdest books and strangest stories they have read, and their secret reading obsessions. He brings along many of his favourite pulpy horrors, awkward romances and most eccentric self help guides. Expect an exhilarating tour around these books, where readings from Crabs on the Rampage will be twinned with Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin. Robin was named Author of the Year by the Booksellers Association and his most recent book, Bibliomaniac: An Obsessive’s Tour of the Bookshops of Britain was described by the TLS as “a tonic”. Don’t miss this event exclusively designed for Hay Festival 2024.