Former BBC Breakfast host Louise Minchin has been added to the line-up for this autumn’s Isle of Wight Literary Festival. Minchin has just published her first novel, Isolation Island, which she will be promoting at the Isle of Wight event, which runs from 3rd – 6th October, at Northwood House in Cowes. She will join fellow celebrities Clare Balding, Susie Dent and Gyles Brandreth at the festival. Former cabinet minister Lord Norman Fowler, Gen Sir Michael Jackson, historian Tracy Borman and TV and radio presenter Martin Sixsmith are also in the line-up Louise is known for her time on the sofa of BBC Breakfast, numerous other TV roles and for her 2 non-fiction books (Dare to Tri and Fearless). She was chair of the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2023 and is so passionate about her characters in her debut into the thriller-writing world. In Isolation Island she draws on her inside knowledge on reality shows such as I’m A Celebrity to devise a show with a universally recognisable set-up, but where real darkness lurks behind the gloss of primetime entertainment. The book takes place on a remote island off the coast of Scotland, where 10 celebrities arrive in the depths of winter to take part in the most gruelling – and lucrative – reality survival show ever devised. Chair of the Isle of Wight Literary Festival, Maggie Ankers, said:
“It is wonderful to have Louise joining our 2024 line up. She is a multi-faceted person and will bring something special to our programme.”
The Lit Feast strand of culinary treats returns with TV wine expert Helen McGinn coming back to Northwood House. This year’s festival will also feature an expanded schools’ programme, a new jazz event and the return of the popular Fizz Quiz at the Island Sailing Club. Tickets are due to go on sale next month. 
She would have done better to write a book how the BBC says whatever the current government tells them to say. BBC is no better than the Russian state media, which are evil incarnate.
I smell a conspiracy theory in there somewhere.
This woman is a tiresome individual. Same level as Charlie Stayt and the loathsome Nag Monchetti