Television personality and author Gyles Brandeth will join the likes of Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy taking part in Rochdale’s first ever Literature and Ideas Festival this autumn.
The former MP and One Show reporter will be talking about his new life as an acclaimed writer of Victorian murder mysteries which feature Oscar Wilde as a detective.
Renowned for his eccentric humour on shows like Have I Got News For You and Radio Four’s Just a Minute the 65-year-old has already drawn praise from Rochdale MP Simon Danzcuk.
“He’s highly entertaining, a very amusing chap with a fascinating insight into politics,” the Labour politician told MM.
“I saw him speak at a book awards in London about two months ago and he’s a really entertaining author so it’ll be great to have him in town.
“It’s a really exciting festival and it will be really good fun – I’m absolutely convinced it will be a success and I think the people of Rochdale will really take to it.
“Rochdale has a very strong artistic culture and there is a really strong emphasis on poetry, writing and arts more generally so I think it will be a real success.”
A former Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, Mr Brandreth is a regular on Channel Four’s Countdown, having appeared in dictionary corner more than 300 times.
Running from 25-27 October, the festival will include a series of live arts performances all linked to literature and philosophy with a full programme being released in July.
It will take place at various venues across the borough and will also feature Ms Duffy, Britain’s first female Poet Laureate.
The first of its kind in the area, Martin Ballard, manager of the town’s Wheatsheaf shopping centre hopes the festival will become an annual fixture in Rochdale.
“I’d love to see it continue,” he told MM.
“There are already some big names confirmed and I’m sure they will be more to follow so it can only attract people who perhaps wouldn’t visit Rochdale normally.
“There’s an awful lot of interested in the town for literature and arts and I think the festival can definitely help to inspire local writers.
“In the past whenever the library put on special events with authors or a book launch they were always well-received, particularly with live reading sessions there would be groups of people flooding in to hear them.”
In addition to his broadcast work, Mr Brandreth has also starred in his own award-winning West End musical Zipp!, and will be performing his new comedy show at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe.
And Rochdale Councillor Peter Williams, cabinet member for economic development and customer services, is delighted to be welcoming such a big name to the town.
“I hope the festival will be the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in the creation and appreciation of the written word in our borough,” he said.
“Gyles has enjoyed a varied career, and aside from his writing, acting and television presenting I know he’s a superb live performer too.
“We are very much looking forward to welcoming him to the very first Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival.”
Image courtesy of BBC via YouTube, with thanks.
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
