Countdown presenter Susie Dent to appear at York Literature Festival 2025   

The York Literature Festival returns in March for a full month’s celebration of the written and spoken word.  

Starting on Thursday 6 March, York St John University is proud to continue as the festival’s main sponsor, supporting its mission to promote local writers, groups and performers, as well as providing the community with an annual programme of engaging literary events.     

There will be 37 events held across numerous venues in the city, including York St John University, The Crescent, Theatre@41, Museum Gardens and York Explore Library and Archive.  

Prominent festival guests include: 

• Susie Dent, writer, broadcaster, and co-presenter of Channel 4’s Countdown, discussing her first novel, Guilty by Definition.

• Susanna Clarke, author of the award-winning Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, in conversation with Dr Rob O’Connor from York St John University. Susanna was awarded an honorary degree by York St John in November 2024.

• Internationally bestselling writer Sophie Hannah, discussing her new Hercule Poirot novel, movie adaptations, and also running a masterclass on achieving success.

• David Almond, multi award-winning children and young adult author, talking about his life, career and the creative process.

• Abdulrazak Gurnah, winner of the 2021 Nobel Literature Prize, in conversation with Professor Sarah Lawson White from York St John.

• Celebrated author Matt Haig in conversation with Dr Rob O’Connor from York St John.    

The York St John University campus plays host to a number of eclectic events, including: 

• Women in Science Fiction on Tuesday 11 March, featuring a panel of writers including Abi Curtis, Alexandra Grunberg and Pippa Goldschmidt. 

• What is a Classic? on Wednesday 12 March, with York St John Professor Vybarr Cregan-Reid, discussing what makes certain literature endure.

• Three book launches: 

The Brontës and Contagion on Sunday 16 March, with author and York St John University senior lecturer Dr Jo Waugh.

raw content by author Naomi Booth on Thursday 20 March, in conversation with Professor Abi Curtis from York St John.

The Mare on Friday 21 March, with Angharad Hampshire, Research Fellow at York St John, discussing her debut novel, based on the first person to be extradited from America for Nazi war crimes. 

The festival has a large input from York St John students and staff, including: 

• Hauntology, Spectrality and Folk Horror Day on Saturday 8 March, with York St John Professors Adam Smith and Robert Edgar discussing writing your own ‘haunted’ fiction.

• Creative Writing students running the Beyond the Walls Student Showcase on Monday 17 March, where members of our university community will read out creative pieces that they’ve written.

• Literary Enemies: Authors Hating Authors in the Olden Days on Thursday 20 March, with Drs Jo Waugh and Adam James Smith discussing the history of British literature bursting with stories of literary feuds and spats. 

MA Publishing students are also programming and hosting Pity with Andrew McMillan on Tuesday 11 March, David Almond on Friday 14 March, and Emma Morgan on Saturday 22 March.  

Dr Rob O’Connor, York Literature Festival Director and Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing and Creative Industries at York St John University, said:    

“The York Literature Festival team is so pleased with the variety of events we have this year, which include high-profile literary authors, events for children, poetry, masterclass workshops and spoken word performance.

“Once again, York St John University is sponsoring the festival and hosting 6 events on campus, all of which are free to students and the public.

“It is wonderful to have the institution’s support to help deliver the festival and, once again, students will be directly involved with the planning and hosting of the regular student showcase, as well as other events in the programme, gaining valuable vocational experience. We hope you can join us.” 

Tickets are on sale through the York Literature Festival website. 

The York Centre for Writing is a hub for creative writing activities at York St John University and beyond, running exciting writing events, projects and publications, in collaboration with the York Literature Festival, Valley Press, and other community partners. Learn more on the Centre’s webpage.