2015 events | comedybookfest

Saturday November 7

11am

DAVID BADDIEL

David Baddiel invites you into the hilarious universe of The Person Controller - a story of humour, adventure and wishes gone wrong for a brother and sister who make an astonishing discovery that turns their lives upside down. The Guardian called Baddiel’s kids' debut The Parent Agency ‘Funny, sometimes moving, always engaging” and the same can be said for the man himself! So, come and witness David employ his considerable talents as a seasoned comedy performer, to guide you and your children through the fantastical world of The Person Controller. Ages 8+

12.30pm

BEST OF THE

PG WODEHOUSE

NEW COMIC

WRITER

AWARD

Chortle joined forces with PG Wodehouse’s publisher, Random House, to launch a hunt for the funniest new comic writer. Now hear some of the best short stories submitted in the competition, organised to mark the centenary of the publication of Something Fresh, the first of his novels set in Blandings Castle. Hosted by Jem Roberts

2pm

ISY SUTTIE

Hear the exclusive first extracts from The Actual One, Isy Suttie’s brilliantly funny memoir about that moment in your late 20s when you suddenly realize that all your mates are growing up without you (to be published in January. Isy is an award-winning comedian, writer, songwriter and actress with credits including Peep Show and Shameless. She'll be in conversation with comedy writer Sian Harries.

3.30pm

THE FROOD: THE HITCHHIKERS' GUIDE TO
DOUGLAS ADAMS
IN THE 21ST CENTURY

To mark the paperback release of the new officially authorised Douglas Adams biography, The Frood, author and comedian Jem Roberts shares some of the Hitchhiker's Guide and Dirk Gently surprises hidden within the Adams archives, and debates the difficulties of posthumorous publishing, the thorny problem of What Douglas Would Have Wanted, and how in 2015 we all seem to be living in the great man's dream world without him.

5pm

ROBIN INCE'S
DARK AND

STORMY LATE

AFTERNOON

THING

Robin Ince (The Infinite Monkey Cage, Book Club) has put together a second anthology of horror stories written by comedians. He will read from some of his childhood favourite horrors and passages from the new book and generally talk about scary stuff and horrible things. Dead Funny contains stories by Stewart Lee, Rufus Hound, Josie Long, Isy Suttie, Phill Jupitus and many more. It reveals just how dank and vile comedians' minds are

6.15pm

BENNETT ARRON:

HEARD THE ONE
ABOUT IDENTITY

THEFT?

Several years ago, comedian Bennett Arron was in serious debt. Only it wasn’t him. Bennett had become one of Britain's first major victims of Identity Theft. It left him penniless and homeless. Later he made a documentary on the subject… and as a result was shortlisted for a Bafta and arrested in a dawn raid by Scotland Yard. Bennett has now written a true, disturbing and very funny account of his experience

7.30pm

JON HOLMES

Unfortunately this event has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

9pm

BOB SERVANT

The bestselling trilogy of Bob Servant books have been critically compared to the work of Spike Milligan and Peter Cook. To mark the release of a new Bob book (Ask Bob – Your Guide to A Wonderful Life), Bob Servant creator Neil Forsyth and friends Jonathan Watson, Alex Norton and Sally Kinghorn bring the Bob Servant books to life in an evening of live readings and performance.