Isle Of Wight Literary Festival Tickets Still Available Ahead Of Next Week’s Event

There’s still time to book tickets for this year’s Isle of Wight Literary Festival, with the event getting underway at Northwood House in Cowes next week.

Some sessions have already sold out, including appearances by Celia Imrie and Helen McGinn, while tickets for talks featuring Sophie Raworth and Clare Balding are also proving popular.

However, there are still plenty of events to choose from, with speakers including football commentator Clive Tyldesley, former Coronation Street actress Amanda Barrie, TV actor Larry Lamb and crime writer Ann Cleeves.

The festival runs from October 8th to 11th, with talks and special events taking place at Northwood House and other venues around Cowes.

A temporary reduction in capacity at Cowes Enterprise College has also meant several events will now be held in a new marquee at Northwood House.

Organisers say the change will bring most of the festival's programme together at Northwood House and in its grounds.

Special events include a Ruby Afternoon Tea hosted by former royal butler Grant Harrold, a celebration of Rodgers & Hammerstein featuring Cowes resident and baritone Mike Christie, a murder mystery event curated by Ann Cleeves, and a whisky event with expert Ian Buxton.

The LitFeast Marquee at Northwood House will also host cookery demonstrations on Saturday, October 10th, featuring chefs Chris Galvin, Miranda Gore Browne and Eric Lanlard.

Local writers will also have the chance to take part in the Write on Wight programme, which is being held at Northwood House throughout the weekend.

Festival chairman Maggie Ankers says demand for some speakers has been "amazing", but tickets remain available for most events.

She is encouraging people to book soon to avoid missing out on this year's programme.