Bookworms urged not to miss out on festival high

Rachel Feldberg says there are dozens of shows still to take place, and tickets for some big names – including Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, Paddy Ashdown, Andrew Motion, Penny Junor, John Julius Norwich and Gavin Esler – are still available.

Tickets are also available for other events, including Blake Morrison, Lemn Sissay, Ed Vulliamy, Raymond Tallis, Jan Blake, Victoria Glendinning, Marcus Berkmann, William Shawcross and Jenny Uglow.

The festival is past its halfway point, and Ms Feldberg says it has been a “roaring success” so far, and has been as good as previous years, with more than 200 events in all.

“It think I need to learn some new adjectives, but it’s been another great weekend,” she said.

“We’ve had members of the Ilkley Cycling Club out riding with Stephen Roche [Tour de France winner] and fell runners out with Boff Whalley.

“And we’ve had hundreds of children and their parents joining lots of events.”

But Ms Feldberg says people hoping to catch some of the festival’s shows have still got an opportunity to do so.

“Perhaps, and I hope this isn’t the case, but some people have just realised the festival is happening,” she said.

“Other people might have already been to something and have been waiting to buy more tickets.

“But, yes, there are still some tickets available for some very exciting things.”

She said her personal highlights would be Dame Harriet Walter and Polly Toynbee speaking about the Coalition Government, while there would be some ‘premieres’ for a raft of poets.

And Ms Feldberg is looking forward to the festival quiz this weekend, while admitting she probably will not get all the answers right!

Visit ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk or call the box office on (01943) 816714 for details about the festival and the latest ticket news.

And be sure to order your copy of the Ilkley Gazette and Wharfedale and Aireborough Observer next week for a full round-up of the festival highlights.