A much-loved star of TV drama and comedy, the Queen of Shops, a fighter pilot and a doyenne of the big and small screen are among the highlights of a fascinating selection of authors just announced as coming to the 2026 Isle of Wight Literary Festival.
For those visiting the Northwood House based event from 8th-11th October, there will be an opportunity to see a different side to actor Larry Lamb, best known for his roles in EastEnders and Gavin and Stacey, as well as his work in theatre, reality TV and as a radio presenter.
Larry will be covering the highs and lows, joys and sorrows of his career and reflecting on his life at different stages from womb to tomb from his memoir Mummy’s Boy, as he shares anecdotes and personal poetry making you laugh and cry in equal measure.
Another big name just announced is Mary Portas OBE. She was a board member at Harvey Nichols and attempted to revive High Street retail with her well-loved Noughties TV show Mary Queen of Shops.
Today, she describes herself as a broadcaster, author, activist and businesswoman, and she will be talking about her book I Shop, Therefore I am, when she visits the Isle of Wight event.
Mary describes the book as part memoir, part manifesto for business as a creative act.
Former Island resident and National Treasure Celia Imrie CBE returns to Cowes to talk about her latest book The Elegant Hustler – Adventures From a Life on the Move.
Travel is more than simply a passion it’s a way of life for Celia and she will be sharing the most memorable adventures of her life, riding ocean waves and iconic railways across the world, detailed in her book and all told with her signature wit and humour.
Celia has starred in a vast array of films such as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Calendar Girls, The Thursday Murder Club, Bridget Jones Diary, Nanny McPhee and many more as well as countless roles in television including Dinner Ladies with the late Victoria Wood and last year took part in Celebrity Traitors.
Best known as the presenter of BBC’s HARDTalk and now a familiar voice on Times Radio, Stephen Sackur worked for the BBC for almost 40 years and was highly regarded as a foreign correspondent.
Hard Truth: Investigations That Shook the World and Why They Matter is Sackur’s latest book, which makes a passionate case for challenging government, criminals and the tech elite.
Mandy Hickson is a female RAF fast jet pilot who succeeded in a male-dominated world. Alongside her husband, helicopter pilot Craig Hickson, she has written An Officer and Her Gentleman, an inspiring dual memoir charting their experience as aviators in the military and beyond.
It is a follow-up to Mandy’s first book, An Officer, Not a Gentleman.
Four authors with a penchant for geography, are also among the new names.
Merlin Hanbury-Tenison is a Cornish conservationist and veteran who founded The Thousand Year Trust, Britain’s rainforest charity.
A veteran, he returned from Afghanistan to Cornwall having PTSD and revived the family farm and set about restoring the local forest. Our Oaken Bones is the story of that mission.
Robert Winder’s latest volume, Three Rivers, shows how the Rhine, the Rhone and the Po shaped the continent of Europe in so many ways.
The heritage of Britain’s coast is the subject of Ben Robinson’s Coastline while Jon Woolcot’s Tattooed Hills takes a journey around the nation’s chalk figures.
As well as the previously announced headliners Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall, Sophie Raworth, Clare Balding and Clive Tyldesley, there are some other fascinating new names on the list.
These include:
- Geoffrey Robertson KC, whose latest book World of War Crimes looks at a grim but fascinating topic.
- Field Marshal Lord David Richards – will be in conversation with Sir Martin White, a retired senior British Army officer and past Lord Lieutenant of the island. They will tackle the subject of global wars and chaos – how did we get here and what’s the solution.
- A.N. Wilson – The noted historian’s latest volume The Wise and Their Work uncovers the legacy of The Great Exhibition of 1851.
- Michael Gray – This world-renowned authority on the life and works of Bob Dylan has written several books on the great artist but his talk will focus on Dylan’s connections with the Isle of Wight.
Maggie Ankers, chair of the IW Literary Festival, said:
“After our original announcement, these names show the enormous breadth of topics covered in the four days of the festival.
“We are sure there is something for everybody, from fans of the royals to lovers of our nation’s geography, and from football supporters to military strategists.”
For more authors and special events, go to isleofwightliteraryfestival.com.
Tickets for the 15th Isle of Wight Literary Festival are due to go on sale in mid-August.
