Hay Festival

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​Hay Festival Packed with Inspiring Guest Speakers Online for the Whole Family to Enjoy this Weekend

The Hay Festival is in full swing for its 34th spring edition, broadcasting digitally across the world for free from Hay-on-Wye until 6th June. The event has acclaimed guests from all walks of life, including writers, poets, historians, politicians and innovators. Guests will be giving talks, lectures and running workshops to entertain and inspire children and adults alike.

​The Hay Festival is in full swing for its 34th spring edition, broadcasting digitally across the world for free from Hay-on-Wye until 6th June. The event has acclaimed guests from all walks of life, including writers, poets, historians, politicians and innovators. Guests will be giving talks, lectures and running workshops to entertain and inspire children and adults alike.

Though this year’s festival is solely digital due to covid restrictions, you can check out this YouTube video for a glimpse of what the festival is like in person: 
Renowned names include former UK Children’s Laureate, Michael Morpurgo; actress Floella Benjamin; former Prime Minister Gordon Brown; Fitness Coach, Joe Wicks; and comedians, Simon Webb and Frank Skinner.

Previous years have included powerful talks such as this one from actor Michael Sheen, talking about culture, society and the humane vision and tradition in his Aneurin Bevan Lecture from 2017: 
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For the festival’s final two days this weekend, there will be exciting talks from world-famous names, as well as some lesser known – yet equally brilliant – individuals speaking on a broad range of subjects. Here’s a flavour of what to expect:

Saturday 5th June 2021
Isabella Tree talks to Gaia Vince
Join environmental journalist and author, Gaia Vince, where she’ll be talking to Isabella Tree about her new children’s book When We Went Wild. Gaia is a passionate rewilding pioneer and has drawn on her experiences to create a picture book about two farmers who let nature do its own thing. She hopes to reassure and inspire eco-conscious children to show them what can be done to make a difference in the world.
This illustrated talk is online from 9:30am – 10am BST
 
Floella Benjamin discusses her new book Coming to England
Actress and working peer, Floella Benjamin, will be discussing her new book Coming to England, in which she shares her experiences of moving to Britain at the age of 10 from Trinidad. Her story explores the ups and downs of moving to a new home and having the courage to overcome challenges.
This online event will run from 10am – 10.30am BST
 
Nobel Laureate Didier Queloz – Lunchtime Lecture Series 10: The Exoplanet Revolution
Didier Queloz, Nobel Laureate, and Professor of Physics at University of Cambridge, will be exploring recent scientific research about the origins of life on our planet in this fascinating lecture. Over the last two decades, scientists have discovered many exoplanets (planets beyond our solar system). This has led to fresh hopes at the potential for finding other forms of life existing in the universe.  
Join the online lecture from 1pm – 1.50pm BST

Sunday 6th June 2021
Michael Morpurgo talks about his new book The Puffin Keeper
Former UK Children’s Laureate, Michael Morpurgo, will speak to Julia Eccleshare, Children's Director at Hay Festival, about his new children’s book. His magical story has been published to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Puffin Books.
This online talk will run from 11am – 11.30am BST
 
The Body Coach Joe Wicks talks to David and Stephen Flynn
Fitness coach, Joe Wicks, will be speaking to the Happy Pear Twins, AKA David and Stephen Flynn, about his new recipe book Joe’s Family Food. His book includes 100 healthy, easy-to-cook, tasty recipes for the whole family to enjoy. The latest offering from the Happy Pear Twins, The Happy Health Plan, also includes nearly 100 delicious, nutritious recipes designed alongside medical experts to promote a healthy body, in alongside medical experts to promote a healthy body, inside and out.

Join this online event from 12pm – 12.50pm BST

Suzette Llewellyn, Suzanne Packer and guests talk to Colin Jackson
Actress Suzette Llewellyn, most famous for her roles in Casualty, Doctor Who and Death in Paradise, will be speaking to her brother – athlete and star of Strictly, Colin Jackson, about her new book Still Breathing: 100 Black Voices on Racism – 100 Ways to Change the Narrative. The book features 100 voices from the Black community across Britain, from a broad range of backgrounds, all sharing their thoughts and experiences of being Black living in the UK – both the highs and the lows. The aim is to encourage positive communication about racism in Britain to implement real, long-lasting change for future generations.
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Join this online event from 3pm – 3.50pm BST

These are just some of the many inspiring and diverse talks taking place over the course of this weekend. For full details, and to register for these free, online events, visit the Hay Festival website.

Look out for Melissa's latest articles on Anita Frost's author website, where she'll talk about topics including business and publishing, author news and events, and giving back to communities. You can find her in-depth monthly feature on the News & Media page of the Green Bean Collection website, discussing children's books and reading, early years education, living a greener lifestyle and all things Green Bean!