The Isle of Wight Literary Festival combines the wonderful world of avid readers, authors, journalists, historians, poets, and more during a four-day festival at Northwood House, a magnificent Grade II* listed Georgian manor house set in a 20 acre park. 

This year's star-studded line up boasts over 50 speakers from the worlds of football, showbiz, true crime, comedy, design, and many more, in addition to the return of LitFeast for the foodies. 

Headliners for 2025 include:

Sue Barker 
From Grand Slam glory to BBC icon—Sue Barker shares 50 years of Wimbledon memories in Wimbledon: A Personal History. A heartfelt look at her journey from world No. 3 player to beloved broadcaster, packed with legends, behind-the-scenes stories, and unforgettable moments on and off the court.

Francis Benali
Francis “Franny” Benali, former Southampton FC defender with nearly 400 appearances, is renowned not just for his football career but also for his incredible ultra-endurance challenges, raising over £1.4 million for Cancer Research UK. An MBE recipient and club ambassador, Franny shares inspiring stories from his playing days and the mental grit behind his fundraising feats. Now a football pundit and motivational speaker, he offers insights into resilience, determination, and overcoming setbacks both on and off the pitch.

Gyles Brandreth
Gyles returns to the Isle of Wight Literary Festival after last year's sell-out! His latest book, Somewhere, A Boy and A Bear,  explores the life of A. A. Milne and the legacy of Winnie-the-Pooh.

Tracy Borman
Historian and bestselling author Tracy Borman OBE—Chief Historian at Historic Royal Palaces—uncovers the explosive truth behind the end of the Tudor era, revealing how James I may have seized the throne illegally. The Stolen Crown, a gripping tale of espionage, conspiracy, and power that reshaped the monarchy forever. 

Lady Anne Glenconner
Bestselling author and former Lady in Waiting to Princess Margaret, Lady Anne Glenconner shares stories from her latest publication Picnic Papers—a delightful mix of royal memories, alfresco feasts, and anecdotes from friends like Rupert Everett and Tina Brown. She’ll also reflect on her extraordinary life and bestselling memoirs, including Lady in Waiting and Whatever Next?—with tales of royalty, resilience, and remarkable adventures.

Joanne Harris
Joanne Harris OBE, FRSL, bestselling author of Chocolat—adapted into an Oscar-nominated film—returns with Vianne, a prequel set six years before the original story. Born in Barnsley and Cambridge-educated, Joanne has written over 20 novels, plus screenplays, libretti, and cookbooks, published in over 50 countries. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and former Chair of the Society of Authors, she explores themes of food, family, scent, and belonging in this evocative new novel.

Cath Kidston
Cath Kidston MBE, the British entrepreneur and designer famed worldwide for her iconic patterns and prints, shares insights into her creative process and personal style. Drawing from her new book A Place Called Home, she takes us on a tour of her Gloucestershire house with decorating tips and stories. Since leaving her eponymous company in 2016, Cath has launched Joy of Print, a design studio, and in 2023 founded C.Atherley, a British body care brand specialising in scented geraniums. 

Helen Lederer
A trailblazer of British comedy, the writer, comedian and cultural icon joins the literary festival line up in October. From Ab Fab to her fearless memoir Not That I'm Bitter, expect sharp wit, honest stories, and plenty of laughs. 

Prue Leith
Restaurateur, author and Great British Bake Off judge, Prue Leith, joins the festival line up to share stories from her remarkable life and her new cookbook Life's Too Short to Stuff a Mushroom.

Rula Lenska
Actress and national treasure Rula Lenska—best known for Rock Follies and Coronation Street—joins the acclaimed Music and Literary Heaven for an evening of unforgettable entertainment. With her trademark flair, she’ll add a touch of Noël Coward, perform dramatic readings, and appear alongside poet Jeremy Robson. A celebrated star of stage, screen, and audiobooks, Rula brings charisma and charm to a stellar line-up featuring jazz legend Norma Winstone MBE and some of the UK’s finest musicians.  

Helen McGinn
Titillate your palate with wines selected by Helen McGinn, creator of The Knackered Mother’s Wine Club—an award-winning, bestselling guide. A former supermarket wine buyer with nearly a decade of global sourcing experience, Helen writes for the Daily Mail and Waitrose Food magazine. She’s also a familiar face as the resident wine expert on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen and ITV’s This Morning.

Loretta Rothschild
National bestselling author Loretta Rothschild joins us to discuss her debut Finding Grace - a sweeping love story and moral dilemma about secrets, choices and consequences. A Goodreads hottest debut of 2025, praised by Jodi Picoult and Chris Whitaker. 

John Suchet
Bestselling author, journalist, and broadcaster, known for nearly 20 years as a presenter on ITN’s News at Ten and almost a decade as the voice of Classic FM’s morning radio. An expert on Beethoven, he wrote the Sunday Times bestseller Beethoven: The Man Revealed and biographies of Mozart, Strauss, Verdi, and Tchaikovsky. Drawing on his life as a foreign correspondent and news anchor, John explores how Beethoven’s music has accompanied him through life’s highs and lows—bringing the composer’s story vividly to life from Bonn to Vienna in his new publication, In Search of Beethoven. 

Martin Sixsmith
Bestselling author, broadcaster and former BBC correspondent, Martin Sixsmith dives deep into Russia's thousand-year past and the paradox of Putin in his latest book Putin and the Return of History - How the Kremlin Rekindled the Cold War. 

Special events include:

• Wine Tasting with Helen McGinn
• Fizz Quiz at Island Sailing Club
• Paul Armfield's Songs for Bibliophiles
• Red Wine and Bloody Murder
• Music and Literary Heaven

Find tickets and more information on the Isle of Wight Literary Festival website.