30/09/2026
Have you got your tickets yet for the BerkoFest Book Festival on Sunday 1st November at Berko Town Hall?
Ticket link at https://tickets.matterpay.com/s/berkofest/ZXZlbnQ6OTM4MA==/berkofest-book-festival
Speakers/Authors include:
📚 Alexei Sayle
Alexei is a comedian, actor, presenter and writer. His television work as a writer and performer includes The Young Ones, Alexei Sayle's Stuff, and The All New Alexei Sayle Show. He has appeared in numerous films, from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade to Gorky Park and Swing. His latest book is ‘How I Tried to Change the World’.
📚 Joanne Harris
Joanne’s debut novel was the internationally acclaimed ‘Chocolat’ which became a film starring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche. She has since written 20+ novels, of varying genres, screenplays and a stage musical. Her latest book is ‘Sleepers in the Snow’.
📚 Lucia Osbourne-Crowley
Lucia Osborne-Crowley is an award-winning writer and journalist. Her latest book is the culmination of five years of court reporting. "The Lasting Harm: Witnessing the Trial of Ghislaine Maxwell" is an in-depth look at one of the most complex and high-profile US criminal cases in living memory. Lucia was one of only four court reporters allowed into the courtroom for every day of the Maxwell trial.
📚 Athena Kugblenu
Athena is a stand up comedian, writer, podcaster and voice artist. Her writing credits include, ‘Horrible Histories’, ‘Late Night Mash’, ‘Dead Ringers’, The News Quiz’, and The Last Leg’. Her latest books include History’s Most Epic Fibs and History’s Most Epic Fails.
📚 Ellen Jones
Ellen is an award-winning author, strategist & keynote speaker and works at the intersection of LGBTQ+ equality, neurodivergence, disability and culture. In 2026, Ellen’s book ‘Outrage’ was selected Book of the Month by the Booksellers Association.
📚 Caroline Litman
Caroline Litman is a British writer, transgender rights activist, and former NHS psychiatrist known for campaigning to improve gender-affirming healthcare and mental health services in the UK. She became a public advocate following the tragic death of her 20-year-old trans daughter, Alice Litman, who died by su***de in 2022 after spending nearly three years on an NHS waiting list for her first gender identity clinic appointment. To document her family's experiences and process her grief, Litman authored a widely acclaimed memoir, "Her Name is Alice".
📚 Ben Jennings
Ben is a Berkhamsted based cartoonist/illustrator. He is a regular political cartoonist for The Guardian and The i Paper and has worked on a variety of illustration projects worldwide. He has been named Political Cartoonist of the Year twice, and has just published his first collection, "Everything's on Fire! Here's Another Picture."
📚 Robin Ince (Host)
Robin Ince is many things. A multi award winning comedian, author, broadcaster, bibliomaniac and a populariser of scientific ideas. As a stand up Robin has toured the world and as an author he has written four acclaimed books, including Bibliomaniac, which earned him the prestigious Booksellers Association Author of the Year award. His fifth, Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal was published in May 2025.
📚 Nigel Barden (Host)
Nigel Barden is an acclaimed British food and drink broadcaster, critic, and journalist. He especially champions artisan produce. Additionally, Barden acts as a BBC rugby commentator and prominent food awards judge.
https://tickets.matterpay.com/s/berkofest/ZXZlbnQ6OTM4MA==/berkofest-book-festival
