Cheltenham Literature Festival 2025: Bake Off Stars, Booker Winner, and Jilly Cooper Tribute
The 2025 lineup for the Cheltenham Literature Festival has been revealed, showcasing notable figures such as Great British Bake Off judges Dame Prue Leith and Dame Mary Berry, as well as Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood. Scheduled from 9 to 18 October in Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham, the 10-day festival will feature over 500 authors, journalists, and celebrities across various venues. Noteworthy events include Maggie O'Farrell discussing Hamnet, and a tribute to the late Dame Jilly Cooper, hosted by Caitlin Moran. Other highlights include discussions with Russell T Davies on his memoir and Celia Imrie on her book Elegant Hustler. Priority tickets will be available starting 27 August, with general sales commencing on 3 September.
Key facts
- Dame Prue Leith and Dame Mary Berry are among the names announced for the Cheltenham Literature Festival.
- The festival runs from 9 to 18 October in Cheltenham's Montpellier Gardens.
- Over 500 authors, journalists, and celebrities will appear.
- Maggie O'Farrell will discuss her novel Hamnet.
- 2025 Booker Prize winner David Szalay is in the line-up.
- A panel will pay tribute to Dame Jilly Cooper, who died last year at 88.
- Craig Revel Horwood, Russell T Davies, Katherine Parkinson, Anneka Rice, Richard Osman, Marina Hyde, Sara Pascoe, and Sandi Toksvig are also billed.
- Priority tickets go on sale 27 August, general sale 3 September.
Entities
Artists
- Dame Prue Leith
- Dame Mary Berry
- Craig Revel Horwood
- Maggie O'Farrell
- David Szalay
- Helen Fielding
- Yann Martel
- Dame Jilly Cooper
- Caitlin Moran
- Katherine Parkinson
- Dominic Treadwell-Collins
- Felicity Blunt
- Emily Tarrant
- Gyles Brandreth
- Kathy Lette
- Mel Giedroyc
- Celia Imrie
- Russell T Davies
- Dave Rowntree
- Anneka Rice
- Richard Osman
- Marina Hyde
- Sara Pascoe
- Sandi Toksvig
Institutions
- Cheltenham Literature Festival
- Great British Bake Off
- Strictly Come Dancing
- Booker Prize
- BBC Gloucestershire
Locations
- Cheltenham
- United Kingdom
- Montpellier Gardens
- Gloucestershire