Taking place in September, the festival features talks and discussions on a wide range of topics and unites some of the country’s leading writers, artists and experts to provide their insight. The first three speakers were named in March as comedian Ruby Wax OBE, Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Steven Bartlett and the drag performer Bimini.
Festival organisers this week announced more of the guest speakers lined up, including barrister Rob Rinder, Countryfile presenter Matt Baker, chef Dame Prue Leith and the Leeds author Richard McCann. His best-selling 2005 book, Just A Boy, is an account of the murder of his mother at the hands of serial killer Peter Sutcliffe and the devastating impact this had on his own childhood.
Richard will join investigative journalist Louise Shorter, actress Gemma Whelan and others on a panel discussing the nation’s obsession with true crime. Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post about his involvement, he said: “I’m not sure if excited is the word, I am quite humbled to be asked to be part of such a prestigious event with so many high-profile stars. To be invited to this – from someone who used to be ashamed of my past – just reinforces that it is not something to be ashamed of and I have a voice, so I am quite excited but I am humbled to add my voice to such an important discussion.
“I want to be able to share not only the impact of what happened to me in terms of Peter Sutcliffe all those years ago, not just the obsession the public seem to have, but the media and how they can often be very insensitive to the families and almost commoditise the victim’s families. I want to share that – and it’s not something I typically speak about.”
The festival is being organised by LeedsBID, working in partnership with Weightmans and The Hoot. It takes place at at Leeds Playhouse from Wednesday September 27 to Saturday September 30.
More speakers are still to be announced but further details can be found on the Leeds International Festival of Ideas website where tickets are also on sale. Here are 13 of the notable speakers who have been confirmed for the festival so far.
7. DamePrueLeith
Not only is Dame Prue Leith a famous cook and owned a Michelin starred restaurant, she is also a novelist and TV presenter. She has won Businesswoman of the Year, founded Leith’s School of Food and Wine, and has made TV documentaries including one on assisted dying. She will be speaking on a panel about conversations around grief on September 30 at 7pm. Photo: Leeds International Festival of Ideas
8. Jay Blades
Jay Blades is an up-cycler and also the host of BBC1’s The Repair Shop, a show on repairing old treasured items. He will be appearing on the panel discussing sustainability and the planet, which will be taking place on September 28 at 7pm. Photo: Leeds International Festival of Ideas
9. GemmaWhelan-landscape[1].jpg
Gemma Whelan is a British actress and comedian and has worked on many critically acclaimed projects including Game of Thrones and Killing Eve. She will be joining the panel on discussing the obsession with true crime on September 29 at 7pm. Photo: Leeds International Festival of Ideas
10. Rob Rinder
Rob Rinder is a barrister, author and broadcaster and is also a renowned TV presenter for his reality court show Judge Rinder. He has also starred in My Family, Holocaust and Me, Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond The Lobby and presents Good Morning Britain on ITV1. He will be hosting a chat on September 28 at 12pm. Photo: Leeds International Festival of Ideas
11. Ruby Wax OBE
Ruby Wax is well-known for a number of different things - appearance on Royal Shakespeare Company and prime time TV to name a few. She possesses a master’s degree in mindfulness, is also a best-selling author and was awarded an OBE for providing services to mental health. On September 29, she will be hosting a chat on her journey to mindfulness at 7:30pm. Photo: Leeds International Festival of Ideas
12. Bimini
Bimini is a performer, recording artist, author and model who has also been on hit BBC series RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. Bimini's critically acclaimed book A Drag Queen's Guide to Life explores what it is like to be non-binary in binary world. They will be speaking at Leeds Playhouse on September 28 at 7:30pm. Photo: Leeds International Festival of Ideas