Sky Arts will be on the road to Hay Festival this weekend capturing exclusive conversations with the much-loved authors appearing at the hottest event in the literary calendar. New series From Hay (3×60) will see presenter Simon Savidge, the book-lover and broadcaster behind hit YouTube channel SavidgeReads, sit down with five authors to discuss the stories behind their new works.

Simon Savidge commented: “Hay Festival is an absolute jewel of a gathering for book-lovers the world over. I can’t wait to sit down with this line-up of luminaries to dig into their newest writings, celebrate their bestsellers and bring our discussions to Sky Arts audiences across the country.”

Phil Edgar-Jones, Director, Sky Arts, commented: “The Sky Arts team are delighted to be returning to the Hay Festival to soak up the brilliant atmosphere and world class story telling this wonderful event has to offer. It’s a thrill to be able to bring some of the very best of the Festival to our highly literate audience.”

Julie Finch, CEO, Hay Festival commented: “Hay Festival 2023 offers ‘11 days of different’ in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, creating a space where great minds won’t always think alike, and where imaginations are free to roam. We are delighted to expand our work with Sky Arts this year, showcasing more of Hay Festival free for audiences unable to attend in person. Everyone is welcome.”

Award-winning actor, director, diarist and author, Richard E. Grant, will discuss his new book A Pocketful of Happiness. An inspirational memoir, A Pocketful of Happiness records the recent illness and death of Joan, Richard’s wife of 40 years, and the challenge she left him to find a ‘Pocketful of Happiness’ in life every day. He’ll also discuss his experiences of childhood in Swaziland and his breakout role in the iconic film Withnail and I.

Pulitzer Prize winner, Barbara Kingsolver, will join Simon to talk about her latest novel Demon Copperhead, longlisted for this year’s Women’s Prize for Fiction. She’ll also delve into her back catalogue of titles which includes The Lacuna, The Poisonwood Bible and Unsheltered.

Tik Tok star, comedian and podcaster turned author, Fats Timbo, will discuss her new book Main Character Energy, which outlines her 10 Commandments for how to live your life by harnessing your inner superpower. 

Kate Mosse, bestselling author known for the Languedoc Trilogy, will discuss the final instalment of The Joubert Family Chronicles trilogy, The Ghost Ship. She’ll also explore her work as Founder of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and her recent one-woman theatre tour Warrior Queens and Quiet Revolutionaries which brought stories of history’s most inspiring, trail-blazing women to the stage.

Author, academic and broadcaster, Emma Dabiri, joins Simon to discuss her books, Don’t Touch My Hair; Twisted, the Tangled History of Black Hair and her Sunday Times Bestseller, What White People Can Do Next: From Allyship to Coalition. Emma is appearing at Hay to celebrate 5 years of the award-winning publishing imprint #Merky Books.

From Hay will air weekly on Sky Arts, Freeview and NOW from 27th June. Hay Festival-goers can sign up to attend the live recordings this weekend here. The festival runs from 25 May until 4 June.

From Hay was commissioned by Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts and Entertainment for Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content for Sky UK and Ireland. The Commissioning Editor for Sky is Benedetta Pinelli. The series is produced by Cornerstone Studios. Amanda Sangorski is the Series Producer; the Executive Producers are Paula Campion and Beren Money.