Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival 2024 a 'huge success'

The festival, held in East Devon, featured a stellar line-up of authors and engaging events, solidifying its reputation as a premier literary event in the region.

This year, renowned names such as Jonathan Dimbleby, Liz Earle, the Rev Richard Coles, Sarah Rainsford, Rick Stein, and Robert Harris visited the town.

Celebrity chef and writer Rick Stein at the festival (Image: Steven O’Gorman)

The festival also provided a platform for writers and emerging authors from the area.

At Iain Dale’s Susan Ward Memorial Talk on dictatorships, audiences were stunned to learn that 70 per cent of the world's nations are ruled by dictatorships and only 60 per cent of Britons voted in the last General Election.

Meanwhile, historian and commentator Anthony Seldon informed a packed Public Hall that the Tories will be out of power for the next decade.

Jonathan Dimbleby (Image: Steven O’Gorman)

The festival also featured a full programme of family events and workshops and a weekend of free family fun in the Mini Marquee on the Green.

The main marquee was abuzz in the evenings, hosting a range of free entertainment from opera to folk singers.

Sue Briggs, chair of the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival committee, said: "It’s been a wonderful five days here in Budleigh.

Writer and commentator Iain Dale (Image: Steven O’Gorman)

"Thanks to everyone who came along, to our sponsors and supporters and special thanks to our team of volunteers who work so hard to ensure everything goes smoothly during festival week."

Hundreds of people attended the event (Image: Steven O’Gorman)

The festival also marked the last for artistic director Annie Ashworth, who has been instrumental in developing the festival over the past seven years.

The Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival will hold its Spring Weekend event on March 7 and 8, 2025, with next year’s main festival set to take place from September 17 to 21, 2025.