Hexham Book Festival, the much-loved literary festival, is back for 2023, and back to its traditional late-April slot after three years of enforced alterations. 

After full cancellation in 2020, a delayed and socially-distanced July festival in 2021, and a necessary move to June in 2022 to allow for more outdoor events, Hexham Book Festival is back in its traditional homes of the Queen’s Hall and Hexham Abbey, and will take over the Northumberland town of Hexham from 21 to 30 April. 

The announcement marks a very welcome return to normal for the festival, which was founded in 2006 and has welcomed thousands of people to its events ever since. Audiences will be able to enjoy the full 10-day programme of events with authors, poets, journalists, broadcasters and household names, as well as new writers they’ll be delighted to discover. 

Storyland – the children’s festival which runs alongside Hexham Book Festival – will take over Sunday 30 April with events for children of all ages, from babies to age 12+. Events include crafting workshops throughout the day; an interactive event for 2-7 year olds based on the bestselling book You Choose by Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt; and a talk for ages 7+ about the life of a country vet with Julian Norton, star of The Yorkshire Vet on Channel 5. 

Hexham Book Festival Schools Festival will run from Tuesday 25th – Friday 28th April and include author events for first and middle school children across Northumberland. Tickets go on general sale on 4th March with Priority Booking on 2nd and 3rd March. 

Amid a backdrop of rising inflation, a cost-of-living crisis, war in Europe and the climate crisis, Hexham Book Festival is here to help make sense of the world, and offer some calm, some escapism and some fun. 

Queen of modern crime (and creator of Vera) Ann Cleeves headlines a special early event on Saturday 11 March, whilst King of the well-written crime novel, Alexander McCall Smith, will be appearing on Tuesday 25 April. 

For the best advice on how to manage your money (and avoid being ripped off), BBC Radio 4 Moneybox host Paul Lewis will be speaking on Tuesday 25 April. In this current financial squeeze everyone is feeling, his 40+ years of experience in personal finance is invaluable.  

To offer their perspectives on the last few decades, and thoughts on the years to come, some of the UK’s best-loved and most-trusted broadcasters come to Hexham to share their experiences and eye-opening stories from the very centre of events: audiences will hear from Channel 4 News’ Jon Snow and BBC’s Mark Easton (Saturday 22 April), plus veteran reporter and presenter David Dimbleby (Tuesday 25 April) and Radio 4’s Edward Stourton (Saturday 29 April). 

The Guardian’s Russia and Ukraine expert Luke Harding – who spent the best part of 2022 in Ukraine on the frontline, reporting – will talk about his book Invasion on Saturday 29 April. 

Guardian food writer Felicity Cloake will guide audiences on the best of British breakfasts, in perfect time for brunch on Saturday 29 April. 

Presenter Susannah Constantine (What Not to Wear; Trinny & Susannah) will talk about her memoir Ready for Absolutely Nothing on Wednesday 26 April – including what really happened in the ladies’ loos with Princess Margaret - and writer and broadcaster Elizabeth Day headlines on Sunday 23 April with her book Friendaholic, celebrating and discussing friendships throughout her life and calling for more acknowledgement of the impact friendships have. 

For poetry lovers, UK Poet Laureate Simon Armitage headlines on Friday 28 April at the Queen’s Hall, and Don Paterson – who’s been described by ColmToibin as “one of the greatest poets now writing anywhere” - comes to Hexham on Sunday 30th April. 

The full programme of over 65 events, including writing workshops and interactive events, is available at www.hexhambookfestival.co.uk.  

Susie Troup, Director of Hexham Book Festival, says: 

“We are very excited to be returning to our popular Spring slot in Northumberland’s cultural calendar and to be working with new and existing partners to deliver what promises to be another stellar line-up of events for all ages.” 

 

Storyland Children’s Book Festival 

Alongside the annual Hexham Book Festival, Sunday 30 April plays host to the Storyland Children’s Book Festival, which was founded in 2020 with support from the Gillian Dickinson Trust and Arts Council England. 

Events during Storyland Children’s Book Festival include: 

• crafting workshops throughout the day;  
• an interactive event for 2-7 year olds based on the bestselling book You Choose by Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt;  
• Author Francesca Simon (creator of Horrid Henry) returns to Hexham with a show about Vikings for ages 5+; 
• and a talk for ages 7+ about the life of a country vet with Julian Norton, star of The Yorkshire Vet on Channel 5. 

 

The full programme for Hexham Book Festival 2023 and Storyland Children’s Book Festival 2023, as well as booking information, is available to view at www.hexhambookfestival.co.uk. Tickets go on general sale on 4th March with Priority Booking on 2nd and 3rd March. 

Ends 

 

Interviews with authors appearing at the festival, as well as Susie Troup, Director of Hexham Book Festival, can be arranged.  

For more information, request images or to arrange an interview, please contact Olivia Chapman. Alternatively, call the Hexham Book Festival office on 01434 600 601. 

 

Notes to editors: 

 

Hexham Book Festival is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, which has been running since 2006. Principally based at the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre in Hexham, it works across the wider Hexham area and with outreach work throughout Northumberland, supported by Northumberland County Council. Funders for the festival include the Northern Rock Foundation, Gillian Dickinson Trust and Arts Council England. 

 

Events at Hexham Book Festival 2023 are sponsored by: 

Womble Bond Dickinson; Newcastle Building Society; Hexham Dental Clinic; Clarand Accounting; Youngs RPS; Howdens; Curlew Accounting; Sycamore Corbridge; Nicholson Portnell; Ralph and Mimi and Sarah Hickey Jewellery.