Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2021 by Harrogate International Festivals

Theakston Old Peculier

Crime Writing Festival

22-25 July | Old Swan Hotel Box Office: 01423 562 303

THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER

crime writing festival

AT A GLANCE | 2021 | OLD SWAN HOTEL Thursday 22 July

8.00 pm Theakston Old Peculier Crime Awards

Friday 23 July

9.00am Special Guest: Mick Herron 10.30am Gung Ho - Action Hero 12.00pm Historical Crime Fiction 2.00pm Planners v Pantsers 3.30pm Who Killed The Police Procedural 5.00pm Special Guest: Ann Cleeves 8.30pm In Conversation: CL Taylor and Clare Mackintosh 10.00pm Top of the Cops

Special Guest: Elly Griffiths Napoleons of Crime New Blood with Val McDermid The Writing Life Scientific Watching Me, Watching You Pleasure and Pitfalls of the Short Story Author Dinner Special Guest: Mark Billingham Late Night Quiz

Saturday 24 July 9.00am 10.30am 12.00pm 2.00pm 3.30pm 5.00pm 6.15pm 8.30pm 10.00pm

Sunday 25 July 9.30am Christie’s Enduring Allure 11.00am Politics of Crime 12.30pm Special Guests: Richard Osman Key: event included in Weekend Rover ticket, event included in Friday Rover ticket - To be released event included in Saturday Rover ticket - To be released *Please note individual tickets may not go on sale pending government guidance. *Some seating in the auditorium may be pre-allocated as a reserved seat Front cover image courtesy of Jez Campbell

Join the conversation online: @harrogatefest #theakstonscrime

Harrogateinternationalfestivals

welcome festival AT A GLANCE | 2019

Ian Rankin | Welcome! What a pleasure to welcome you all back to Harrogate and this year’s live-and-kicking festival after what has been such a traumatic sixteen months. This has always been a celebration of crime fiction – a celebration of fans as well as authors – and here’s hoping for sunshine and plenty of cold, frothing pints! I know first-hand how hard the programming committee has worked, aided by the unstoppable force of nature that is Sharon Canavar. Juggling large-scale festival logistics during a pandemic is not for those of a nervous disposition, so I’d like to thank everyone involved. We’ve a packed schedule for you, featuring the cream of contemporary writing, a starry array of special guests, and brilliant panels. So don’t waste a second of it. This is your weekend. Thanks for coming! Ian Rankin | 2021 Festival Programming Chair Simon Theakston | A very warm welcome, I say it every year, how can we build further on last year’s. It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you back to a returning Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, after what has been a very reflective year for us all. Our 2021 event might look and feel a little different to normal, with the Festival being run safely within government advice, however the programme is as outstanding as it always is, irrespective of some minor logistical changes. I am sure that the social side of the Festival will also be buzzing - a much loved aspect of the weekend at our traditional haunt of The Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate. I’m sure you will be just as excited as I am at seeing yet another remarkable line-up of the world’s biggest-selling authors, with our 2021 Programming Chair Ian Rankin at the helm. Ian and his Programming Committee have produced another criminally good programme, which will transport us into a world free of imposed lockdown. As ever Festival highlights span the giants of the genre whilst keeping a careful eye on ones to watch under the watchful eye of Val McDermid’s New Blood. This year we’re welcoming over 80 authors to the stage and are delighted to be welcoming back so many of our audiences from across the UK. This last year we have been kept apart, but we know the crime writing community here in Harrogate is incredibly special, and we are so pleased to be welcoming you back. I hope you’ll agree, 2021 is a poignant yet exciting year for us to host our 18th Festival. Enjoy seeing new and old faces, and of course relish the social side of the event at the bar - with a pint of Theakstons in hand of course! Simon Theakston | Executive Director T&R Theakson

2021 |

Welcome Back To Harrogate

The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival has been much missed in our festivals calendar over the past two years but behind the scenes we’ve been working flat out to produce a safe and enjoyable event. Those twin aims have driven all our preparations. In an ever-changing environment, everything has been designed to keep people secure while delivering the same fabulous festival experience that you’re used to. For 2021, we’ll be cautious but convivial, prudent but pleasurable, guarded yet garrulous. To those ends, the site at the Old Swan will look a little different as we’ve moved things around a little to make it as safe as we can. Some regulations may change between pressing print on our brochure and actual delivery on site, but we’ll do our utmost to keep you up to date with any adjustments and to make the event as exciting and fantastic as you’ve come to know it. The road to being back at the Old Swan this summer has been long and twisting. We’ve been busy – from the creation of HIF Player where you could watch and listen to a host of podcasts dating back to our very first Theakston Crime events in 2003 right up to new book launches month by month, to a host of small pop-up live events. We’ve been worried too. We’re an arts charity and although it might look as though everything is glitz and glam with generous sponsors and full houses, but this fun and frantic weekend in July is only a part of what we do. The investment goes back into the community delivering arts events across the north as well as investing in the festival itself year on year. There’s been a devastating number of casualties over the last two years from great festivals that won’t come to life again, to long-serving suppliers like our Papakata tent partners who we have worked with for years. We’ve also had to lose some amazing staff and we’re missing some key suppliers, whilst the guidance to create an event is clearly hidden in the mysteries of a great crime novel. With these challenges, we know we’re lucky to hold a festival at the Old Swan Hotel this summer. Beyond all of that, we have missed you all. Thank you for coming back to Harrogate, supporting us as an author on stage or buying a ticket to be here. With a fantastic line-up of crime writers, excellent chat in the bars, our 2021 Festival is definitely worth raising a glass of Old Peculier to. Thanks to Simon Theakston and his team for their enduring support, the amazing Programming Committee chaired by Ian Rankin, the generosity of sponsors and supporters, and the incredibly indefatigable HIF Team who consistently go above and beyond. Have a great weekend, Sharon Canavar | Chief Executive

2021 |

Your 2021 Festival

What can I expect?

Whilst there is a proposed ‘terminus’ date of the 19th July, the reality is there is no guidance for events after this date, so along with other festivals we are working in the dark. The health and safety of all our staff and visitors is paramount and whilst the current restrictions are forecast to be lifted by the time we take place, we are implementing a range of measures to ensure that our audiences feel safe whilst they are with us.

These measures include:

• • • • • • •

Moving from our traditional stage in the Ballroom of the Old Swan Hotel to a large auditorium tent located at the back of the hotel Capping the numbers on site to ensure safety including introducing a Site Ticket to manage numbers, and potential distancing for all those at the Old Swan Hotel Adapting the festival to use as much outdoor space as possible Sanitiser points, track and trace and managing the flow of people across the site Reducing the capacity of all our spaces Extra staffing to assist with numbers and potential pinch points Tickets are non-transferable and cannot be passed to anyone else

What else do I need to know?

The details below refer to where we are now within Step 3 of the Guidance. Things may change in the coming weeks, but these are the elements that are likely be in place on site at the festival: • • • • • • • •

You must not travel to or attend the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival if you are experiencing any Covid-19 symptoms including loss or change in sense of smell or taste, a temperature or a new persistent cough. You must not travel to or attend the festival if you have been told to isolate. You must have pre-booked a ticket to attend the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, these are going on sale at different stages in the run up to the event. Please keep an eye on our socials and website for further details, as this guidance may change in the days leading up to the festival delivery When you arrive, please be aware that social distancing and safety measures may be in operation in line with the current national guidelines. Please follow all the advice on site and listen to staff instructions. Based on the guidelines at the time, there may be spaces where you have to wear a mask for the duration or whilst you are walking around the site. We will be led by regulations in place at the time. Medical exemptions will apply. The site may look and feel a little different this year and in the event of inclement weather it may be wise to consider clothes to cover both outdoor wet weather for some areas of the bars as well as to cover the potential for fabulous sunshine including sunscreen. Please be patient when dealing with staff or if there is a delay at any point in gaining access or leaving the auditorium. It may take longer than normal to get your drinks or to gain access to certain spaces to allow for safety precautions. Remember we’re all working together to have a great event! You may need to observe social distancing and avoid close contact with people outside your bubble, please be mindful of this if certain precautions remain in place as part of the government guidance. If you have booked a ticket, you will be updated with the most up to date and relevant information for the festival, and in the meantime please keep an eye on web and socials.

Thank you to you all for your understanding and here’s to a great and safe festival this year!

Brewery Tap

& Gift Shop

A very warm welcome awaits you at the Black Bull in Paradise Visitor Centre! Join a guided tour of the famous Masham Brewery, enjoy a pint (or two) of legendary ale in the Brewery Tap and pick up a ‘Peculier’ souvenir in the Gift Shop 01765 680000 bookings@theakstons.co.uk www.theakstons.co.uk

Theakston Brewery Theakston1827 theakstonbrewery

Fri 22 | Theakston Old Peculier Crime Awards | £20

8pm

Join six nervous shortlisted authors – and a small army of their peers – as they await the announcement of the genre’s most coveted title, the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year.

Recognising the best books by British and Irish crime writers, the prestigious award is now in its 17th year. Hosted by TV presenter and journalist Mark Lawson, and with a pint of Yorkshire’s finest for company, it promises to be a stylish opening to the 2021 festival. There will also be an Outstanding Contribution award to a giant of the genre and, regulations allowing, from 9pm celebrations continue with the official Festival opening party. Supported by:

harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

Friday 23 July

9am

Special Guest: Mick Herron £16

For far too long, Mick Herron was crime fiction’s best kept secret. His outstanding novels won prizes and the envy of his peers but didn’t reach the wider audience his books undoubtedly deserved. The Slough House series - charged with wit, satire and insight - changed that forever. The tales of the slow horses led by the inimitable Jackson Lamb have rocketed Herron into a different league. Readers have rightly taken the dodgy denizens of Slough House to their hearts and the forthcoming TV series based on the books, and starring Oscar-winner Gary Oldman, is sure to earn Herron an even-greater legion of fans.

Mick Herron will be interviewed by crime writer N.J. Cooper.

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PRE-ORDER NOW! We have TEN proofs to give away to Harrogate delegates! Just email your name and address to themadnessofcrowds@hodder.co.uk to be in with a chance of winning one. UK only. For full terms and conditions please visit: bit.ly/HarrogateProof.

Fri 23 | Gung-Ho Action Hero | £13

Simon Kernick

Steph Broadribb

Holly Watt

A.A. Dhand

10.30am

Charles Cumming

Is James Bond’s time up in a Me-Too world? Has Jack overReached himself in a cancel culture society? Times have never been tougher for action heroes and heroines. Four accomplished practitioners of kick-ass will peacefully discuss the changing landscape. Simon Kernick is the master of the grab-you-by-the-throat thriller and his latest, Kill A Stranger, features a deadly dilemma. Steph Broadribb’s bounty hunter Lori Anderson pulls no punches in her latest white-knuckle ride, Deep Dark Night. Former investigative journalist Holly Watt put years of frontline experience into her award-winning creation, Casey Benedict, who returns in The Hunt and the Kill. A.A. Dhand goes full throttle thriller in his new standalone The Blood Divide which races from Bradford to Delhi to the Pakistan border. Charles Cumming keeps our hero panel in check.

Fri 23 | Historical Crime Fiction | £13

Antonia Hodgson

Laura Shepherd-Robinson Abir Mukherjee

S.G. Maclean

12.00pm

S.J.Parris

One of literature’s most compelling protagonists, Phillip Kerr’s Bernie Gunther, is a classic example of how historical crime fiction can shine a spotlight on the past and on hard truths for the present. Four Bernie Bros will discuss Kerr’s legacy and the future of the genre. Antonia Hodgson’s The Silver Collar, a rip-roaring revenge story, has established her as a leading voice in the genre; Laura Shepherd-Robinson’s Daughters of Night has been a hugely successful follow up to her award-winning debut Blood & Sugar; Abir Mukherjee’s acclaimed India-set Wyndham and Banarjee series has rightly earned a devoted following; S.G. MacLean is the award-winning author of The Seeker historical series set in Cromwell’s London; bestselling historical author SJ Parris will keep order and take notes.

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Fri 23 | Planners v Pantsers | £13

Mark Edwards

Sarah Pinborough

Helen FitzGerald

Erin Kelly

2.00pm

Luca Veste

There are two kinds of crime writers; those who meticulously plot out their novels, and those who fly by the seat of their proverbial pants. To fight it out, we have two painstaking planners and two fearless fools. Mark Edwards is the multi-million selling author of The Magpies, Follow You Home and now, The Hollows; Sarah Pinborough made the world stop with her genre-busting hit Behind Her Eyes; Helen FitzGerald’s The Cry became a hit BBC series and her latest, Ash Mountain, is a heart-breaking disaster thriller; Erin Kelly’s Watch Her Fall proves again that she’s the mistress of the twist. The talented Luca Veste is in the chair but is he secretly a planner or a pantser? Sponsored by:

Fri 23 | Who Killed the Police Procedural | £13

Will Dean

Mari Hannah

Olivia Kiernan

Parker Bilal

3.30pm

James Oswald

News just in: readers in some countries are turning away from fictional detectives in favour of psychological mysteries. Have reports of the death of the police procedural been greatly exaggerated? Will Dean has a foot in both camps, following his Tuva Moodyson series with the breath-taking standalone The Last Thing To Burn; the most recent outing for Mari Hannah’s DCI Kate Daniels was in the award-winning Without a Trace; Olivia Kiernan’s DCS Frankie Sheehan is back in her ingenious new page -turner The Murder Box; Parker Bilal has expertly written investigators, but he runs on the other side of the tracks with his brilliant new book Whitehavens; James Oswald, author of the bestselling Inspector McLean series, wields the judge’s gavel.

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Proud official bookselling partner at

Visit our pop-up shop at The Old Swan Hotel for books and signings by the guest authors.

Friday 23 July

5pm

Special Guest: Ann Cleeves £16

Ann is the author of two of the best-loved detective series of this century, both of which have been adapted into hugely successful televisions shows with fans around the world. A Gold Dagger win for Shetland novel, Raven Black, and the creation of the iconic, unconventional DI Vera Stanhope, endeared Ann’s work to millions of readers. Memorably brought to life by actress Brenda Blethyn, Vera featured in nine novels as well as ten series of the ITV drama. Remarkably, Ann repeated the feat with eight books in the outstanding Shetland series, featuring DI Jimmy Perez, which were adapted to great acclaim by the BBC. Ann will also be talking about her latest character, Detective Matthew Venn, sharing some exclusive details on The Heron’s Cry coming this September. An ITV drama

based on The Long Call, the first in this series, is in production for ITV drama. Ann Cleeves will be interviewed by television presenter and broadcaster Steph McGovern.

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Tel: 01423 530630 www.mccormicks-solicitors.com

Fri 23 | In Conversation: C.L. Taylor

& Clare Mackintosh

8.30pm

| £16

Two of the fastest rising stars in crime fiction go head-tohead to discuss their books, themselves and anything else that takes their fancy.

C.L. Taylor

C.L. Taylor is the author of eight gripping psychological thrillers, seven of which have been Sunday Times bestsellers. She has an enviable ability to reel in readers and leave them gasping for air at twists they don’t see coming. Her latest novel, Her Last Holiday, is a masterpiece of suspense. Clare Mackintosh rocketed to the top of the charts with her astonishing debut I Let You Go which won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year and was followed by three further page-turning hits. Her new novel Hostage is a high-octane thriller that’s certain to keep you up all night.

Clare Mackintosh

Fri 23 | Top of the Cops | £13

Mark Billingham

Ian Rankin

Elly Griffiths

Martyn Waites

10.00pm

Abir Mukherjee

A pompous Belgian with a funny moustache in a fight to the death with a one-eyed American in a grubby raincoat. A sweater-wearing Danish detective grappling with a little old lady in a tweed suit. Five leading crime writers take no prisoners as they champion their favourite TV cop show of all time. Caution: expect laughter, swearing and strong opinions. Our fabulous five fictioneers all know a thing or two about exceptional detectives. Mark Billingham’s Tom Thorne has enthralled readers for 20 years; Ian Rankin gifted us the legend that is John Rebus; Elly Griffiths created the iconic Ruth Galloway; Tom Kilgannon is the latest fabulous creation from Martyn Waites; Captain Sam Wyndham leaps from the brilliant mind of Abir Mukherjee.

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E X P R E S S YO U R TA L E N T. DEPEND ON OURS. W W W. H W F I S H E R.C O. U K

Saturday 24 July

9am

Special Guest: Elly Griffiths £16

Elly Griffiths was walking across Titchwell Marsh in Norfolk when her archaeologist husband explained how prehistoric people thought marshland was sacred ground, neither land nor sea, neither life nor death. Instantly inspired, she saw Dr Ruth Galloway walking towards her out of the mist… In that moment, a star was born and in the space of 20 outstanding novels, Griffiths has established herself as one of the leading crime fiction writers working today Lauded by critics and loved by readers, the 13 books in the Galloway series, the five in the Brighton Mysteries, and one sensational standalone, add up to an exceptional body of work.

Elly Griffiths will be interviewed by Joe Haddow, the brains behind the Radio 2 Book Club.

harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

Sat 24 | Napoleons of Crime | £13

Craig Robertson

C.J. Tudor

Luca Veste

Liz Nugent

10.30am

Barry Forshaw

Who doesn’t love a good baddie? From Moriarty to Lecter, from Annie Wilkes to Tom Ripley, we all enjoy the vicarious thrill of tangling with the great villains of crime fiction. Four authors, all adept at delving into the darkness of their souls, will explore our need for misdeed, and explain how they go about creating memorable monsters. Craig Robertson’s Watch Him Die sees cops needing the help of an unknown killer; C.J. Tudor’s latest bestseller The Burning Girls rings with dark menace; Luca Veste’s dark mind created the terrifying and unforgettable Bone Keeper; Liz Nugent’s winning streak of chilling villains continues in Our Little Cruelties. Barry Forshaw, the Napoleon of crime fiction reviewers, is in the chair Sponsored by:

Raworths Harrogate

literature festival 21-24 OCTOBER 2021 Crown Hotel | Harrogate Line-up to be announced in July. Join the mailing list at harrogateinternationalfestivals.com for author and event announcements.

Sat 24 | Val McDermid’s New Blood

12pm

£13 Grab a front row seat for a glimpse into the future. Val McDermid’s ability to spot the future stars of the genre has made this the most anticipated panel of the weekend.

Greg Buchanan

Lara Thompson

Patricia Marques

Anna Bailey

Sixteen Horses is the hauntingly unnerving debut from Greg Buchanan, described by the Queen of Crime herself as being “unlike anything else you’ll read this year”; Lara Thompson is a lecturer in film and has brought a classic noir quality to her stunning novel One Night, New York; Patricia Marques returns to Portugal, the country of her birth, for her extraordinary genre-busting debut, the “breathtakingly original” The Colours of Death; Anna Bailey expertly used her experience of living in small-town America to create the acclaimed and compellingly claustrophobic thriller Tall Bones.

Sponsored by:

Sat 24 | The Writing Life Scientific | £13

Fiona Erskine

Lin Anderson

Prof. Niamh Nic Daeid

Sarah Vaughan

2.00pm

Lesley kelly

In a world of armchair epidemiologists and part-time pathologists, how do authors keep one step ahead of the ever-changing science as well as the Karens and Keiths? Our panel of experts and writers will examine the data. Fiona Erskine, a chemical engineer by trade, is the author of the wonderfully titled Phosphate Rocks: A Death in Ten Objects; Lin Anderson is the acclaimed creator of forensic scientist Rhona MacLeod and a graduate of Glasgow University’s forensic course; Professor Niamh Nic Daeid is an expert in fire scene investigation, clandestine drug chemistry and explosives; Sarah Vaughan’s Anatomy of a Scandal was made into a major Netflix series; Lesley Kelly, author of the Health of Strangers series, will oversee order and analysis.

Sat 24 | Watching Me, Watching You | £13

Denise Mina

Chris Brookmyre

Matt Wesolowski

Louise Candlish

3.30pm

Mark Lawson

Current affairs. Contemporary problems. Technology changing with more pace than a Reacher novel. Increased surveillance and online stalking. Virtual vices and cyber crimes. Meet four authors tackling tomorrow’s issues today. In Conviction, the ever-excellent Denise Mina explores where truth starts and stops in true-crime podcasts; Chris Brookmyre’s exceptional new novel The Cut raises questions about technology’s ability to deceive; Matt Wesolowski’s riveting Six Stories series is a searing insight into online journalism; Louise Candlish’s unnervingly brilliant The Other Passenger shows how we’re now never truly alone. Author and broadcaster Mark Lawson is Big Brother and is watching you.

harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

UNLOCK THE LATEST THRILLERS

For exclusive extracts, trailers, interviews and more, join us at: www.thecrimevault.com @TheCrimeVault

@TheCrimeVault

Little, Brown Book Group

Sat 24 | Pleasures and Pitfalls of the Short Story | £13

Cath Staincliffe

Susi Holliday

Jane Casey

Stuart Neville

5.00pm

Ian Rankin

2020 marked 100 years since the launch of Black Mask magazine, heralding a golden age for American pulp and the crime short story. It’s an art all of its own, giving plenty of bang for your buck, but fiendishly difficult to do well. Cath Staincliffe, author of Running Out of Road, is a past winner of the CWA Short Story Dagger; Susi Holliday, author of the forthcoming Substitute, has had twisty tales published in anthologies and magazines; bestseller Jane Casey’s short stories include One in Custody featuring her detective Maeve Kerrigan; the latest work from the brilliant Stuart Neville is a short story collection, The Traveller & Other Stories. Master of all stories, Ian Rankin has a watching brief.

Sat 24 | Author Dinner | £38

6.15pm

Looking for something special to do for dinner across the weekend of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival? Then join us for our special Author Dinner where you’ll enjoy dinner with some of our favourite authors on this year’s programme. A unique opportunity to get to know authors in a relaxed dinner environment, you’ll learn all about your table host and their writing. There may even be a mystery to solve! Tickets include a two course meal, a glass of wine and a copy of your table host’s book. Authors to be announced shortly.

harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

Join us for the return of Orion’s Incident Room FRIDAY 23RD JULY • The library @ The old swan hotel 1500- | An exclusive signing with the 2021 Theakston 1530 Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival Chair, Ian Rankin Bring your own books for Ian Rankin to sign in this intimate signing event

1600 | The secrets behind writing and publishing a thriller Nikki Smith, Robin Morgan-Bentley, Elle Croft and Chris McGeorge will be discussing their latest books and sharing some secrets behind getting successfully published

1700 | Writing strong and unforgettable female characters Join Mari Hannah and Cate Quinn discussing their strong female leads

1800 | Orion Meets Winnie M Li: Introducing Complicit Join us as we introduce one of 2022’s biggest books, Complicit. All ticket holders will receive a signed proof of the book for collection at the event Please note that this venue is indoors and masks will be required during each event. Social distancing measures will be in place and we’ll be operating at 50% capacity.

TICKETS

FREE!

available Friday 9th from 10am on July, so this space watch !

FIND OUT MORE ON TWITTER: @orion_crime | #incidentroom *PLEASE NOTE THAT ENTRY TO THE INCIDENT ROOM EVENTS IS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE ROVER PASS

Saturday 24 July

8.30pm

Special Guest: Mark Billingham £16

In August 2001, a novel called Sleepyhead was published. It introduced the world to a maverick, dedicated, countrymusic-loving detective named Tom Thorne and to his creator, Mark Billingham. Twenty years later, both Thorne and Billingham have reached iconic status with crime fiction fans around the world, selling books by the million, topping charts and winning awards. In 2020, we were treated to Cry Baby, a brilliant Thorne prequel that used all Billingham’s gifts and experience. As if that weren’t enough, Billingham has been an actor, a stand-up comic, an integral member of

the world’s greatest crime writing rock n’ roll band, The Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, and a raconteur par excellence. Mark Billingham will be interviewed by Ian Rankin. Sponsored by:

harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

Sat 24 | Late Night Quiz | £13

10.00pm

The legendary Saturday night closer, the quiz to end all quizzes, is a true test of your little grey cells and your resilience to the sponsor’s product.

Val McDermid

The quiz is hosted by the Dream Team, the Bonnie and Clyde of quizzing, the Fred and Ginger of crime, it’s Val McDermid and Mark Billingham! Between them they have won Celebrity Mastermind, Pointless, Eggheads, University Challenge and The Chase. They even know the way to San Jose and what becomes of the broken hearted. Join a team and put your own knowledge to the test. Sponsored by:

Mark Billingham

2021 |

Harrogate International Festivals

Sun 25 | Christie’s Enduring Allure | £13

Ragnar Jonasson

Stuart Turton

Sarah Phelps

Ruth Ware

9.30am

Elly Griffiths

2020 was the centenary of Hercule Poirot’s first outing yet time has not diminished his creator’s appeal. In the most suitable of settings, we will discuss Agatha Christie’s legacy, the many adaptations and the countless homages. Ragnar Jonasson’s first foray into publishing was translating Christie into his native Icelandic; Stuart Turton yearned to write a Christie-style mystery from the age of eight, doing so spectacularly with The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle; screenwriter Sarah Phelps has brilliantly adapted five Christie novels for the BBC; Ruth Ware is the queen of classic-meets-modern and regarded as Christie’s heir; Elly Griffiths will need all of her little grey cells as she helps explore these brilliant minds.

Sun 25 | The Politics of Crime | £13

George Alagiah

Brian McGilloway

Doug Johnstone

11.00am

Sarah Vaughan

Alan Johnson

Politics is everything, so it’s said. And it’s everywhere. So it is that contemporary crime novels inevitably stray into its murky waters. Some authors do so warily, others plunge in with relish, but can a novel be too political and turn readers off? Veteran BBC newsreader George Alagiah knows more about politics than most and has made his fiction debut with the thrilling The Burning Land; Brian McGilloway’s much-lauded novels never shirk from the political realities of his native Northern Ireland where they’re set; Doug Johnstone’s thought-proving works ask tough political questions without ever detracting from the thrills; former Guardian political correspondent Sarah Vaughan’s latest bestseller is the gripping Little Disasters. MP turned thriller writerAlan Johnson is in the Speaker’s chair.

Sponsored by:

harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

Brilliant thrillers for just 99p!

Sunday 25 July

12pm

Special Guest: Richard Osman £16

Book charts of the last 12 months have been dominated by one book and by one man. Not since the heyday of The Beatles, the girl power frenzy of the Spice Girls, or the irresistible march of the Mongol Empire has domination been so total. Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club has broken all bookselling records, becoming the first novel to sell over a million copies in its first year. Osman’s astonishing debut about octogenarian amateur sleuths has been described as “smart and funny” and “deplorably good” by none other than Ian Rankin. Hard on the heels of his TV successes

with Pointless and his eponymous House of Games, he’s shown himself a force to be reckoned with. Richard Osman will be interviewed by Mark Billingham. Sponsored by:

harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

Save the Date

21-24 July 2022 Old Swan Hotel | Harrogate Weekend Break Packages - the perfect getaway Treat yourself to a weekend at the crime hot spot of the summer by booking a combined ticket and accommodation package. Stay in one of our specially selected Festival hotels (subject to availability) and join over 80 of the world’s most celebrated crime authors in conversation, in action and in the bar! If you’re not sure which option will best suit your needs the Festival team will be happy to help and advise. Weekend Break Packages Include: Weekend Rover ticket, including:

• Access to all Festival events* from 8pm on Thursday 21 July

to 12.30pm on Sunday 24 July.

• Delicious lunches at The Old Swan Hotel on Friday and Saturday • A complimentary Festival goody bag. Rover tickets Do NOT include: (Creative Thursday, Dinner Events and any 3rd party events. These events must be booked separately, please check event listings tor details

3 nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation (21, 22, & 23 July) Tailor-made packages for I, 2, or 3 nights stay are also available Rooms are always in demand during the Festival weekend: don’t miss out! 2022 Packages go on sale on Friday 23 July at 1pm. Accommodation available includes:

The The The The The

Old Swan Cairn Crown Majestic Crowne Plaza

The Country Living St George The Camberley B&B The Yorkshire Harrogate Lifestyle Apartments

Double, single and twin rooms available. Prices available at the Festival Box Office Tent. Book with a £5O per person deposit to secure your room. Final Balance will be due by the end of January 2022.

sponsors | supporters Title Sponsor

Crime Novel of the Year Partners:

Major Supporter

Community Partners

Regular Funder

Honorary Solicitors

Crime Event Sponsors:

Premier Partners:

Festival Bookseller:

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2021 |

About Us

Harrogate International Festivals is the flagship arts Festival for the North of England. A charitable organisation, our passion and ambition maintains our position as an arts organisation delivering Festivals of national importance and dramatically increasing the cultural opportunities for Harrogate and the wider region.

Patron HRH The Prince of Wales Honorary President Peter Blackburn CBE Vice Presidents Mrs Frainy Ardeshir Lesley Garrett CBE Malcolm Neesam David Haxby David Salter Christine Woods

Board of Trustees Fiona Movley, Chairman Matthew Osbourne, Treasurer John Bywater Jenny Harris Lucy Hind Craig Ratcliffe Susan Rumfitt Observer: Stanley Lumley Councillor, Harrogate Borough Council

Programming Committee Ian Rankin, | 2021 Programming Chair Mark Billingham NJ Cooper Jane Gregory Steve Mosby Julia Wisdom

Support Services Marc Dunleavy Conrad Davies Creative Solutions Dot & Diode Tim Garbutt Events

Festival Staff Team Sharon Canavar | Chief Executive Lizzie Brewster | Head of Development & Comms Danielle Bush, Clemence Roux, Alison Kerr | Event Managers Ruth Moody | Financial Controller

Festival Events will begin punctually at the time stated. The use of mobile phones, cameras and audio/visual recorders is strictly prohibited.

Thanks With special thanks to all our volunteers without whom the Festival could not happen.

The management reserves the right to refuse admission and change or cancel the advertised programme. Harrogate International Festival Ltd | 32 Cheltenham Parade I Harrogate I North Yorkshire I HG1 1DB 01423 562303 | Harrogateinternationalfestivals.com | Registered Charity No. 244861. | Company Registration: 858029

Box Office: 01423 562 303 | booking fees apply

2021 | By Phone:

FAQ’s | Site Info

01423 562 303

Online:

harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

In Person:

Harrogate International Festivals,

32 Cheltenham Parade, HG1 1DB

Opening Times: 10am - 5pm Monday - Friday Payment: Harrogate International Festivals accept all major credit/debit cards (except American Express), cash or cheques. Cheques should be made payable to ‘HARROGATE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS’. In order to cover the cost of postage there is an additional £1.50 charge for postal bookings, however, you can choose to collect your tickets on the door or at the Festival office prior to the event. Booking Fee: Harrogate International Festivals charges a £1.75 transaction fee per booking. Ticket sales alone do not cover the costs of our Box Office and booking fees are vital to the development, maintenance and running of our in-house Box Office. For more information and for full Terms and Conditions please visit our website: harrogateinternationalfestivals.com Tickets on the door: Tickets may be available to purchase on the door subject to guidelines. Be aware events can sell out in advance. Early booking is recommended. Bag Searches: Please note there may be random bag searches. Returned Tickets: The Box Office cannot refund money or exchange tickets, except in the case of a cancelled performance. We are happy to try and re-sell returned tickets for sold-out events for a small charge. Concessions: Concessions are available for under 18s, students in full time education and those receiving unemployment benefits. Appropriate identification must be provided. May not be used in conjunction with any other offers. Limited number of Library Live Tickets available for selected events, to join as a free member visit the website. Seating, Queuing and Departing: We are using a large tented auditorium this year. Guidelines will be in place along with signage. Additional information about entry

and exit of the tent will be available in the run up to the event, including the potential for designated seating and/ or reserved seats. Please follow all directions carefully whilst on site. Parking: There is no parking available on site at the Old Swan Hotel Lost Property: Will be removed from the main auditorium and taken to the Old Swan Hotel reception desk. Visitors with disabilities: The Old Swan Hotel is wheelchair accessible. We offer free tickets for carers and special provisions can be arranged for visitors with disabilities. Please call the Festival Office on tel: 01423 562303 or visit the festival Box office tent onsite at The Old Swan Hotel to obtain a blue badge to allow priority entry to unreserved events. Photography & Recording: The use of photographic, video or audio equipment is strictly prohibited. Festival Bookstore: Waterstone’s will provide the Festival bookstore at The Old Swan Hotel and will host book signings after each event. You will need to show a ticket for each event to have book signed. Limit of 3 books per person. Friends’ Lounge: The Festival Friends’ Lounge is now part of the Definitely Digital ticket package and is located in the Ballroom of the hotel. A screen and a live link will be available across all the events. Valid tickets and membership cards must be shown in order to access the lounge.

All information in the guide is correct at the time of going to press and we reserve the right to make such alterations as may become necessary. Changes to the programme will be communicated in advance where possible and clearly signposted on site. A large print version of the event guide can be ordered by calling 01423 562 303. Harrogate International Festivals is a registered charity no. 244861.

harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

Fri 22 | Proposed Event Layout

ON ER T S LI K A CU E E E TH D P TAG OL S

DEFINITELY DIGITAL BALLROOM

WATERSTONES BOOKSHOP

TOILETS

Waterstones: Book shop and book signing. Laidlaw’s Bar: Bar.

BAR SEATING