Christmas Books Weekend
27–29 November 2026
Assembly Rooms, Torquay
Torquay Town Hall
We were thrilled with how well our first festival went, and so we have decided to do more! It gives us great pleasure to tell you that you can now book for our ‘Christmas Books Weekend’. We are holding this event at the Assembly Rooms, Torquay (part of the Town Hall building). This venue has a rich history, having hosted huge acts like The Rolling Stones, The Clash, The Sex Pistols and David Bowie, but in more recent years has become rather desolate. We are spending a lot of money to completely revamp the acoustics, and creating a ‘festive’ space, where we hope you will feel comfortable hanging out all weekend. We will have extensive, high-quality catering, so you don’t have to venture round the top of town in search of food between events, and we are extremely excited about the authors who have agreed to take part.
Following the buzz around the first summer festival, we want to continue on our mission to (1) bring high-quality unique live cultural events to the Bay; (2) celebrate Torbay generally and bring more people to it, to help celebrate its beauty and all we have to offer; and (3) encourage reading in people of all ages. We hope you will join us in doing that.
Friday 27 November
Debbie McGee – A Magical Life
For more than 50 years the woman forever known as ‘the lovely Debbie McGee’ has dazzled audiences, not just as the glamorous assistant to one of Britain’s most beloved magicians, Paul Daniels, but as a woman of strength and brilliance in her own right. In her revealing memoir, A Magical Life, Debbie explores both what it was like during the years of huge success but also deals with what it was like to suffer huge loss, and how she has had to reinvent herself and what has helped her carry on. Join us for funny stories, celebrity anecdotes, but also powerful insights into Debbie’s remarkable strength and resilience. And, yes, we will ask what she saw in ‘multi-millionaire Paul Daniels’ – the answer may surprise you!
Debbie will be taking questions towards the end of the event and signing copies of her book afterwards.
If you require disabled seating or have any other special requirements please e-mail info@torbayliteraryfestival.co.uk before booking.
Book ticketsRachaele Hambleton – An Evening with Part-Time Working Mummy
Hall, Tickets £6.00-£25.00 Give yourself a night off, and spend the evening
with Rachaele Hambleton, aka Part-Time Working Mummy, the triple Sunday
Times bestselling author and one of the most popular parenting personalities
online. Come and hear first-hand about her journey as mother of six, plus a
dog, birds and lots of dinosaurs. Share insights into the challenges or
being a mum, as well as what it’s really like living with her ‘bird-boy’
husband, Josh. You can put questions to Rachaele and guests are encouraged
to come with a friend and enjoy food and drinks from 18:00 onwards.
This is Rachaele’s first major event in her hometown, and she will also talk
about the work she is doing with her own Women’s Centre, which supports
women and children locally. Rachaele will be signing books towards the end
of the event and is a keen supporter of our campaign to encourage reading
within Torbay.
If you require disabled seating or have any other special requirements please e-mail info@torbayliteraryfestival.co.uk before booking.
Book ticketsSaturday 28 November
Caroline Quentin – Drawn to Nature
Caroline Quentin is one of our most beloved and acclaimed stage and screen actresses, especially in the field of comedy. She will be familiar to many from shows such as Jonathan Creek and Men Behaving Badly, but is also an award-winning stage actress. What is less well-known about her is her life-long passion for wildlife, nature and gardening. She now lives in a country farmhouse in Devon and has a dedicated Instagram account @cqgardens, which showcases her love of gardening and is hugely popular in its own right. Caroline has now written and illustrated her own book, Drawn to Nature. Written in her familiar conversational voice, this book invites you to reconnect with nature in all forms, whether you nurture a sprawling garden or just a few houseplants.
Caroline will discuss her celebrated career, but we will also explore the themes in this book: how we can learn joy and calm in the natural world, wherever you live and whatever your space. She will also take questions and sign copies of her book at the end of the event.
Book ticketsJeremy Vine and Iain Dale – In Conversation (Remembering Ann Widdecombe) Hosted by Andrew Pierce
Jeremy Vine and Iain Dale have two distinct things in common. Both are among the country’s leading radio and television broadcasters, and both worked extensively with the late Ann Widdecombe on their shows. Following her tragic death earlier this year, Jeremy and Iain will share their memories of Ann and celebrate her unique personality and what it was like working with such a strong personality. We will also take this unique opportunity to speak to both about the challenges of a daily TV or radio show and discuss some of the other more interesting guests they have had over the years.
Iain has recently published his memoir Have I Said Too Much?, a wonderfully revealing insider’s look into the world of media and politics. Jeremy is also a very successful crime novelist; his latest book Turn The Dial For Death was published this year. Both are great champions of reading, and we hope to also discuss the books they love, in what promises to be a very special afternoon – one we hope Ann Widdecombe would have approved of. Both Jeremy and Iain will take questions on any subject and will sign copies of their books after the event.
Book ticketsGirls Night Out – Kathy Lette and Ruby Wax Already Half Full!
Kathy Lette and Ruby Wax will be chatting about what makes the perfect ‘Girl’s Night Out’ and covering the importance of female friendships, sisterhood, mental health, and generally why and how women should have a sensational second act.
After the event, Kathy will be signing copies of her hilarious but empowering new novel The Sisterhood Rules and Ruby will be signing her brilliantly honest memoir I’m Not As Well As I Thought I Was. Come meet these wonderful women and have the best Saturday night out ever. And of course, fellas are welcome too – but attend at your own risk!
Book ticketsSunday 29 November
Louis de Bernieres – In Conversation
11:00-12:45 · including book signing £5.00-£14.00
Louis de Bernieres is one of our most celebrated and popular novelists. His most famous book ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ is a multi-million seller, made into a film with Nicholas Cage, John Hurt and Penelope Cruz. His latest book ‘Smelling of Rooks’ began as a happy accident. He started writing about the texture of his daily life, living in his Georgian rectory in Norfolk. These Sunday night dispatches which were about the rooks nesting in the roof, children falling from trees, or his cats, gathered thousands of devoted followers. Musing on mortality, sparring with online commentators or chronicling his children’s progress, it contains his unique blend of comic precision and and also the peculiar indignities of literary fame.
Louis will answer questions from the audience (after a short interval) , discuss his books, and also love of music. He will also sign books and meet readers after the talk. Come and get a signed book – perhaps a perfect Christmas present?
If you require disabled seating or have any other special requirements please e-mail info@torbayliteraryfestival.co.uk before booking.
Book ticketsMartin Roberts – My Life in Books
Martin Robert’s is the legendary presenter, property expert, entrepreneur and author, probably best known for presenting BBC One’s Homes Under the Hammer since 2003. Martin will choose six books that he loves, or have influenced his life, as we learn more about the man. Martin’s own book ‘Making Money from Property’ was a hugely successful guide to the everyday investor. However, he is equally passionate about encouraging reading in children, best illustrated by his own range of children’s ‘Villes’ books, which are aimed particularly at helping 6-9 year olds with problem solving. (further details at:thevilles.com/).
We will also talk about his long and varied broadcasting career, which spans from the early year’s of presenting ITV’s ‘Wish You Were Here’; to entering the jungle in ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’. You can also ask questions in the second half of the talk – and not just about property!
Come and meet Martin, who will be signing books towards the end of the event.
HUNTER DAVIES: The Beatles, Me and Everyone Else
Back by popular demand, Hunter Davies, the only authorised biographer of the Beatles, will this time talk about many of the other people he has worked with in a writing career of over 70 years. Hunter has written over 100 books including helping ghost the autobiographies of Paul Gascogne, John Prescott and Wayne Rooney. He was instrumental when editor of the women’s pages of the Sunday Times in helping the career of Jilly Cooper and was also married to the hugely successful novelist Margaret Forster for 56 years. His latest book ‘Get Back’ tells the story of the early years of the Beatles and he will no doubt talk about the three years he spent from 1966-1969, shadowing them, interviewing them and their families. He was the only person during this period allowed, by Brian Epstein, to write about them. However, this is also a rare opportunity to also hear about the rest of Hunter’s colourful life, and audience members will be able to ask questions and get books signed afterwards. (We will ensure we have plenty of books!)
We will also show a short 10-minute film of Hunter and Paul MacCartney on holiday from his private archive.
(If you have any special requirements/disabilities do e-mail us in advance but there are no stairs at the venue info@torbayliteraryfestival.co.uk). www.torbayliteraryfestival.co.uk
Ben Tisdall
Festival Director
Gallery
