Torbay Literary Festival to welcome star-studded line-up of authors and celebrities

Torbay is set to welcome a host of high-profile authors and celebrities this August for the first-ever Torbay Literary Festival at The Palace Theatre, Paignton.

The festival, running from 10–15 August, will feature writers including Giorgio Toffolo, Anne Widdecombe, and Merlin Holland, grandson of Oscar Wilde. Other names on the programme include DJ Mike Pickering, Christopher Biggins, biographer Roger Lewis, satirist Craig Brown, novelist Kathy Lette, and Lady Anne Glenconner, Princess Margaret’s former lady-in-waiting.

Festival director Ben Tisdall said the event aimed to fill a cultural gap in the South West. “There are barely any big literary events west of Bristol. Since the Ways with Words festival in Dartington and Cornwall’s Port Eliot festival both folded, I felt that the Southwest was crying out for something like this,” he said.

“I really hope in our inaugural festival that we can offer something for everyone. As well as big names like Alan Davies and Paul Burrell, we have many free events, writers’ workshops and more focused panel discussions on the writing process.

"However, our aim is not just to entertain, but there is a serious focus on encouraging reading, which is in decline across all age-groups. I hear anecdotally that more than a third of children starting school try and swipe the first book they are shown, thinking it’s an iPad.

"We are also supporting the local charity Life Chance Trust, who help young people aged 16–25 with mentors to assist them at this crucial time of their lives. I have deliberately placed the festival during the school holidays as then people of all ages can attend.

"It’s also when Torbay is at its most beautiful and we hope to attract book lovers from all over the country and even abroad.”

In addition to literary talks, the festival will host comedy and entertainment events featuring Melvyn Hayes, 'Absolutely Fabulous' Helen Lederer, and Hunter Davies, the only person approved by Brian Epstein to write about the Beatles and will show a never-before-seen ten-minute film of Paul, and Linda McCartney from his own archive.

Local talent will also feature, with authors such as Lesley Pearse and Torquay-born Sarah Pearse, whose recent thriller trilogy has sold 1.5 million copies. Stephanie Austin will head up a selection of local novelists, who will discuss topics including inventive ways to kill off characters and why TV shows often get forensics wrong.

Tisdall said: “I really hope local people will support this event, but that it also attracts new people to the Bay, who can enjoy all the other fantastic things to do here.

"I am particularly grateful to Maureen McAllister at the Palace Theatre, who could not have been more supportive, and I’m pleased to be doing something in Paignton, which doesn’t always get the bigger events.

"Matt Newbury of the Agatha Christie Festival has also been very encouraging, and I hope the two events will complement each other, and we become more known as a destination for cultural events. I have checked in with him so we aren’t pitching for the same authors, and he could not have been more helpful.

"Overall, it’s already a massively exciting event and it will bring me great joy to see people reading books on our beaches they might have bought at the festival.”

The festival will also run open mic sessions, giving attendees the chance to read their own poetry or prose and receive informal feedback.

Tickets go on sale at 12 noon on 15 February 2026 from The Palace Theatre’s website. Full details, including schedules and ticket options, are available at www.torbayliteraryfestival.co.uk .

For press enquiries, contact Ben Tisdall on 07590 396877 or ben@torbayliteraryfestival.co.uk.