Inaugural Radio Times Festival adds new names

San Diego Comic Con is only just behind us, but we’re already looking forward to more great pop culture events in the future.

Right now we’re most excited about the inagural festival from the UK’s own Radio Times. We’ve long said it was a shame that the UK, a fount of so much great pop culture media, had very few cons/festivals of the sort there are in the US (always lament the one time only festival hosted by Empire Magazine years ago), and the Radio Times Festival looks like it could be a great new option to fill that void.

Already announced offerings include panels with Sir David Attenborough, Russel T. Davies, Peter Capaldi, Emilia Fox, David Walliams, Phillipa Gregory, and many more ready to discuss some of the best TV, Radio, and Books the UK has to offer.

Tickets for the panels are already available, and more panels are being added daily. Check out the site for available tickets, and sign up for the newsletter for updates as more great events are added.
Even more events announced in the latest press release!

Call the Midwife, bestselling author David Nicholls, BAFTA winning drama Marvellous, a Man Booker Prize panel, comedian Omid Djalili and Silent Witness’ Emilia Fox are just some of the new names announced for the inaugural Radio Times Festival, as tickets go on general sale from 23rd June.

The new events added to the festival line-up are: Call the Midwife’s Jenny Agutter, who plays matriarchal Sister Julienne, will lift the lid on the forthcoming fifth series, alongside the show’s executive producer, Pippa Harris, and writer Heidi Thomas; bestselling author and screenwriter, David Nicholls; Pete Bowker, writer of BAFTA-winning Marvellous, alongside the real-life star of the drama, Neil Baldwin, and producer Patrick Spence; star of Silent Witness Emilia Fox alongside the show’s writer and forensics expert; “national trinket” and entertainer Julian Clary, with his debut children’s book The Bolds; former MP and wordsmith Gyles Brandreth; award-winning British-Iranian actor and comedian Omid Djalili; and number one best-selling author and creator of hit TV series The White Queen, Philippa Gregory, discussing her latest novel, The Taming Of The Queen. There will also be a Man Booker Prize panel, with writer and broadcaster Natalie Haynes and James Naughtie; historian Tracy Borman on her book on Thomas Cromwell; Sue Elliot and Steve Humphries, authors of Britain’s Greatest Generation, which accompanied the recent BBC 2 series; Kellie Maloney, the legendary boxing manager and promoter formerly known as Frank Maloney, will be appearing on a ‘Transgender Trailblazers’ panel, alongside Rebecca Root, star of upcoming BBC

Two comedy Boy Meets Girl, Britain’s first transgender sitcom; voice of The Shipping Forecast, Peter Jefferson; journalist and bestselling author Tony Parsons discussing his latest crime novel, The Slaughter Man; and Dr Marek Kukula and Simon Guerrier on their book, The Scientific Secrets of Doctor Who. Names already announced include: Sir David Attenborough, Sir Bruce Forsyth, Paul Hollywood, David Walliams, Russell T Davies, Shaun The Sheep, Gogglebox, Poldark, Dom Joly and Lynda La Plante. Ben Preston, Radio Times editor, says: “Come to the first Radio Times Festival at the Green at Hampton Court Palace this September. You’ll hear the inside story about your favourite television and radio shows and come face to face with broadcasting’s most talented people and some of your favourite writers – and much, much more. We want people to come together, share their passions and enjoy a great day out.”

The first festival of its kind, Radio Times Festival celebrates the best of TV, radio and books over one weekend, 24th – 27th September 2015, in the historic grounds of Hampton Court Palace. There will be actors, directors, presenters, screenwriters and novelists on hand with stories to tell and insights to give, alongside exclusive screenings and sneak previews of upcoming programmes, plus a host of free events including: RadioTimes.com Live, a chance to meet our award-winning website team and see them at work on Britain’s fastest-growing TV and entertainment website; Radio Times Has It Covered! RT’s art director Shem Law on the stories behind some of our iconic covers from the past 91 years and what it takes to create them today; Spoiler Alert! How To Watch TV For a Living, RT TV editor Alison Graham, deputy David Butcher and RT’s Choices writers share the secrets of life as a TV reviewer; Treasures from the Radio Times Archive, RT art director Shem Law and our longest-serving staff photographer Don Smith take a trip through 90 years of RT photography, a veritable who’s who of British broadcasting; Everybody Loves Radio 4: Don’t They? RT’s radio editor Jane Anderson assumed everyone adores Radio 4 but has discovered this might not be the case. Which side of the divide do you sit on? Festival-goers will also get the chance to enjoy delicious food and drink from pop-up gourmet street stalls and bars, or relax with a spot of shopping at the boutique shopping village. Waterstones will also be on hand with an on-site bookshop, stocked with books by all the writers attending the Festival, with book signings taking place after writers’ sessions. Liz Young, Head of Commercial Events & Services for Hampton Court Palace, said, “In our 500th anniversary year, we’re delighted to host the inaugural Radio Times Festival in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace.  Famously, Hampton Court was the setting for one of the greatest dramas in history – the reign of King Henry VIII – and the palace frequently appears in television documentaries and feature films.  We look forward to welcoming some of the top talents of television, radio and literature to this exciting event.”