Shoreham Wordfest

Various venues, Sunday, September 20, to Sunday, October 11

NOW on its fifth incarnation, this year's Wordfest is the biggest yet, with big names from across the worlds of literature, journalism and show business taking part in 35 events across Shoreham.

Pom Poms Up!

West Street Loft, West Street, Shoreham, Sunday, September 27, 7.30pm, £8/£6

CONTENDER for the title of Seventh Python, Carol Cleveland talks about what it takes to maintain a Hollywood lifestyle, accompanied by pianist Jason Pimblett.

The Annual Wordfest Dinner

Sussex Yacht Club, Brighton Road, Shoreham, Thursday, October 1, 7.30pm, £25/£22

WRITER of new Brighton-based police drama Cuffs Julie Gearey talks about the making of the new television series, and her work on Casualty, The Secret Life Of A Call Girl and Prisoners’ Wives.

Adur Reads

Shoreham Library, St Mary’s Road, Shoreham, Friday, October 2, 7pm, £7/£5

NEW for this year West Sussex libraries are encouraging Adur residents to read Brighton author Alison Macleod’s Booker longlisted novel Unexploded. The author will talk about the creation of the Observer Book Of The Year to culminate the mass-reading session.

Roll Over Atlantic

Ropetackle Arts Centre, Little High Street, Shoreham, Wednesday, October 7, 8pm, £10/£8

Queen’s Gold Medal winning-poet and performer John Agard presents the world premiere of his first one-man show revisiting the voyages of Christopher Columbus in verse form.

The Blue Touch Paper: David Hare

Lancing College, Thursday, October 8, 7pm, £10/£8

HASTINGS-BORN former Lancing College schoolboy David Hare reads from his new memoir covering his childhood and early life up to Margaret Thatcher coming to power in 1979.

Julie Burchill

Sussex Yacht Club, Brighton Road, Shoreham, Saturday, October 10, 4pm, £8/£6

CONTROVERSIAL writer Julie Burchill talks to Laura Lockington about Unchosen, her examination of modern Jewish culture.

John Crace and John Sutherland

Sussex Yacht Club, Brighton Road, Shoreham, Saturday, October 10, 2pm, £8/£6

ACADEMIC and author Professor John Sutherland and journalist John Crace discuss whether a book can change your life.

Belonging

Sussex Yacht Club, Brighton Road, Shoreham, 10am, £6/£4

NEWHAVEN writer Umi Sinha talks about her debut novel spanning 60 years of Anglo-Indian history from the darkest days of the Raj to the aftermath of the First World War, through the interwoven lives of three generations of a family.

Vesta

West Street Loft, West Street, Shoreham, Saturday, October 10, 7.30pm, £12/£10

CLAIRE Worboys stars in Chris Jaeger’s new one-woman show about former Hove-based cross-dressing music hall star Vesta Tilley.

Visit www.shorehamwordfest.com or call 07522 957691.

Carole Buchan and Duncan Hall