Tim Healy

Tim is a British actor from Newcastle upon Tyne, England, best known for playing Dennis Patterson in the comedy-drama series ‘Auf Wiedersehen, Pet’, Les/Lesley Conroy in the comedy series ‘Benidorm’, and Gastric in the comedy series ‘Still Open All Hours’.

Chris Fairbank

Chris is an English film, stage, and television actor. He played Moxey in the comedy-drama series ‘Auf Wiedersehen, Pet’. As his CV shows, his experience in theatre, film, television, radio drama as well as voiceover work in radio and TV commercials, documentary narration, cartoon voices, looping, ADR and re-voicing work is both extensive and varied. Over the years Chris has gained a reputation for being one of the most versatile actors of his generation.

Dapper Dave

Dave, most famous for his role on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, is a comedy actor, writer, and presenter. In 2009, the short film CGI-Brows, which Dave starred in, won the People's Choice Award in the Virgin Media Shorts competition. David went on to write and perform a series of sketches for Channel 4's Big Brother's Big Mouth and performed numerous sketch comedies for BBC Comedy Feeds and Channel 4's Comedy Blaps. In 2013 he was one of the regular presenters on the Hat Trick Productions comedy YouTube channel Bad Teeth and in 2015 he starred in ITV's The Delivery Man alongside Darren Boyd and Brotherhood on Comedy Central.

Amanda Abbington

Amanda is an English actress. She is best known for playing Miss Mardle in Mr Selfridge and Mary Watson in Sherlock, the BBC adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. Amanda is currently starring in Steven Moffat's new comedy, the Unfriend, at Chichester Festival Theatre which has been directed by Mark Gatiss. In television, she most recently starred in Sky’s new drama Wolfe, directed by Adrian Shergold. She recently wrapped shooting a lead role in the upcoming series, the Net, and Stephen Frears’ next feature film, the Lost King.

Catherine Tyldseley

Catherine is an English actress, comedian and model known for her roles as Iris Moss in the BBC drama Lilies, Eva Price on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 2011 to 2018 and Karen Norris in BBC One sitcom Scarborough in 2019. In 2019, Catherine participated in the seventeenth series of Strictly Come Dancing and was partnered with Johannes Radebe.

George Sear

George is a British actor, presenter and dancer who portrays Benji in the Hulu television series, Love, Victor. He is known for his roles as Billy Cooper in Will (2017), Benji in Love, Victor, Noah Morris in The Bill and Parker Roscoe in Alex Rider (2020). At the age of 11, George played the part of the boy in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot at the Theatre Royal, where he worked with Sir Patrick Stewart, a legend in the acting game. When George isn't acting and presenting, he's into fitness in a big way and enjoys practicing calisthenics. George's break dancing led him to compete in the UDO world-championships in 2012, where he was placed 2nd. Soon after, he appeared on the popular children's entertainment show, Alisha's Street Dance Stars.

Steph McGovern

Steph is an award-winning broadcaster, having also worked in financial journalism for over 15 years and spent 7 years as part of the BBC Breakfast family. Steph also co-presented BBC One’s ‘Watchdog’, Channel 4's 2021 Paralympics coverage, her own primetime BBC One programme ‘Shop Well For Less’ and a children’s TV show 'Pocket Money Pitch' for CBBC. Never shy of putting in the hours, Steph also spent time building up her own on-air profile, which included working as a business presenter on the Chris Evans show on Radio 2 and on BBC 5 live.

Sir Chris Hoy

Sir Christopher Andrew Hoy, MBE is a British racing driver and former track cyclist from Scotland who represented Great Britain at the Olympic and World Championships and Scotland at the Commonwealth Games. He is eleven-times a world champion and six-times an Olympic champion. With a total of seven Olympic medals, six gold and one silver, Hoy is the second most decorated Olympic cyclist of all time. His seventeen global titles across four disciplines makes Hoy the most successful track cyclist at the global level of all times.

Louise Minchin

Louise is a British television presenter, journalist, and former news presenter. She presented the UK’s most watched Breakfast programme BBC Breakfast on BBC One for 20 years. With a passion in endurance sport, Louise is the host of the top-rated podcast, Push Your Peak, during which she sits down with superhumans who have done extraordinary things, to learn what it takes, mentally and physically - to go again (and again).

Curtis Pritchard

Curtis is an English dancer and choreographer, known for his role as a professional dancer on the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars. In 2019, he appeared in the fifth series of the reality series Love Island, finishing in fourth place. The brothers will be gracing the stage for a fun-filled dance workshop.

Kate Lawler

Kate is an English TV personality, presenter, model, and DJ. Kate has recently written her own book, ‘Maybe Baby: On the Mother Side’. It is the story of her journey from parentally undecided to early motherhood, via raging hormones, sleepless nights, emergency hospital trips, mum guilt, unspoken regrets, and post-natal depression. The book is not a parenting manual. It won’t tell you what to pack in your hospital bag, or how to get your baby to sleep. It may not help you with feeding or dealing with tantrums. But it will show you that you’re not alone – and that it’s perfectly possible, and maybe even normal, to love your child with all your heart while also feeling lost, alone, and resentful.

Tom Chambers:

Thomas is an English actor, known for his role as Sam Strachan in the BBC medical dramas Holby City and Casualty and as Max Tyler in BBC drama series Waterloo Road. He also won the sixth series of Strictly Come Dancing with his partner Camilla Dallerup.

Kate Thornton

Kate is an English journalist and radio & television presenter, best known as the first presenter of The X Factor and for presenting daytime shows including Loose Women and This Morning. Kate also has her very own Spotify podcast, White Wine Question Time which brings together well-known friends, three glasses of wine and three thought-provoking questions. Discover the friendships behind the entertainment headlines and listen in on their conversations for a side to the celebrities you've never heard before.

Esther Rantzen

Dame Esther is an English journalist and television presenter, who presented the BBC television series That's Life! for 21 years, from 1973 until 1994. She works with various charitable causes, and founded the charities ChildLine, promoting child protection, which she set up in 1986, and The Silver Line, designed to combat loneliness in older people's lives, which she set up in November 2012. Esther has been recognised for her contribution to television and society. She was awarded an OBE for services to broadcasting in 1991, a CBE for services to children in 2006, and in the 2015 New Year Honours, was made a Dame for services to children and older people through ChildLine and The Silver Line. She is Patron for the charity Operation Encompass and a Trustee for the charity Silver Stories both charities created and run by husband-and-wife David Carney-Haworth OBE and Elisabeth Carney-Haworth OBE.

Adrian Mills

Adrian Mills (born 16 July 1956) is a British television presenter and actor. He appeared on That's Life! with Esther Rantzen for seven until 1994. Since then, he has presented talk show Central Weekend Live, reported for BBC viewer feedback programme Bite Back and appeared as a location reporter on the TV series Surprise, Surprise, and in later years was a host on Getaways, TV Travel Shop. Sky Travel, Cruise First, and the LBC radio travel clinic. All this adds to his interest in travel writing and photography. For two years, he co-presented the number one programme The AM Show and is a regular contributor to LBC and Talk Radio.

Alastair Stewart

Alastair Stewart OBE is an English journalist and newscaster. Formerly presenting for ITV News, he joined GB News as a presenter in 2021. He has won the Royal Television Society's News Presenter of the Year award twice. Stewart joined Southern Television in 1976 then joined ITN in 1980 where he served three years with Channel 4 News and then went on to become a main newsreader with ITV News. He remained in this role for more than 35 years, making him the longest-serving male newsreader on British television, having worked in both local and national news for 44 years.

Shaparak Khorsandi

Shaparak is an Iranian-born British comedian and author. Shaparak established herself as one of the country’s finest comedians in 2006 with her sell out Edinburgh show, Asylum Speaker. This show lead to the publication of her childhood memoirs, “A Beginner’s Guide To Acting English“, her best-selling literary debut. Shaparak’s career has taken her to all corners of the globe, she has appeared on countless TV & Radio shows including Mock The Week, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Have I Got News For You, QI, Just a Minute & other flagship radio 4 programmes. She will be joining our all-star comedy cast at StarFest this year.

Sally Phillips

Sally is a multi-award-winning British actress, comedian, and producer. She is best known for her work in the comedy television series I’m Alan Partridge, Jam and Jerusalem, Miranda, Taskmaster and Veep. She started her comedy career in the Oxford Revue and completed 9 Edinburgh Fringe runs. Her talent in acting is undeniable, which only adds to the fact that she is utterly hilarious!

Ronni Ancona

Ronni Ancona is an actress, impressionist, comedienne and writer. Her comedy career started on the comedy circuit, and she won the TimeOut Hackney Empire New Act of the Year in 1993. She worked extensively in TV and radio before becoming a name in the BAFTA-winning Big Impression for which she won a British Comedy Award and Variety Club Award. She is the director, alongside fellow StarFest team member, Sally Phillips, and veteran Nick Hamson, of the production company Captain Dolly. Ronni is a legend in the fields of both comedy and drama, and we’re lucky to have her!

Harriet Thorpe

Harriet is an English actress, known for her roles in the British sitcoms, The Brittas Empire (1991–97) and Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2012) and has also starred in the West End musicals, Cabaret (2006), Wicked (2008) and Mamma Mia! (2010). Harriet’s skills in both comedy and drama are undeniable and are a huge reason for the success of the sitcoms she was a part of. We can’t wait to see her at StarFest!

Rachel Horne

Rachel is a Northern Irish newsreader and journalist. She presented the BBC children's news programme Newsround from 2002 until 2006. She also presented BBC News' business bulletins on the BBC News Channel and travel news on weekday mornings on BBC Radio 2 in March to December 2018. She joined Virgin Radio UK as a breakfast show newsreader in January 2019. She has been married to comedian Alex Horne since 2005.

Melanie C:

Melanie C first became a household name as a member of The Spice Girls, the bestselling girl band of all time. Since the band separated, Melanie has had a successful solo career, achieving over 3 million album sales, two Number 1 singles and six Top 10 singles. She has just released a brand new album and has written her first autobiography, which will hit the shelves later this year.

Louise Minchin

Louise is a British television presenter, journalist, and former news presenter. She presented the UK’s most watched Breakfast programme BBC Breakfast on BBC One for 20 years. With a passion in endurance sport, Louise is the host of the top-rated podcast, Push Your Peak, during which she sits down with superhumans who have done extraordinary things, to learn what it takes, mentally and physically - to go again (and again).

Eddie Izzard

Hailed as the foremost stand up of a generation. Star of stage and screen. Tireless supporter of charity. Runner. Political campaigner. Fashion icon. Human. Eddie is all these things and more. Eddie is hailed as an activist, and has proved herself on my occasions, having completed 43 marathons in 51 days in 2009 for Sport Relief, and 27 in 27 days in 2016 in South Africa in honour of Nelson Mandela. Eddie’s had her own experiences with mental health, having been very open about them over the past couple of decades. She will be sharing her insightful views with CarFest visitors this Summer.

Chris Evans

The creator of and mind behind CarFest, Chris is an English television presenter, radio DJ and producer for radio and television. Presenting and hosting a plethora of shows, both on TV and radio, including his current breakfast show on Virgin Radio, Chris is known for his charisma and energy, as well as for his commitment to several charitable causes. As he does each year, he will be gracing the stage at CarFest, to chat with our incredible guests.

James Haskell

James is one of the most well-known rugby players in the country, having racked up 77 international caps, as well as playing all around the world for the British and Irish Lions. Having retired in 2019 James is pursuing a career as a Podcaster, Presenter, and professional DJ. Alongside these, he spends a large amount of his time speaking on several topics from straight after dinner work, to serious motivation and leadership. James has transcended just being a rugby player. James is also a Sunday Times Bestselling Author for his smash hit autobiography “What A Flanker”. He has also published some best-selling fitness and nutrition books Perfect Fit, Cooking for Fitness and Rugby Fit.

Sophia Franklin

Sophia is confident, fun, and quick-witted presenter, voice over artist, broadcast journalist and producer, obsessed with music, news, politics, good outfits, showbiz, food, wine, and podcasts. Sophia is the Monday news presenter on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky, producer, and presenter of the Times Daily World Briefing, and freelance as a newsreader for talkSPORT, talkRADIO and Times Radio. She is also passionate about music, and this has led her to interview a huge number of names. Her career has given her the knowledge, the experience, and the scope to make great conversation at CarFest this summer!

Humza Arshad

Humza Arshad MBE is an actor, comedian, and writer. Famous for the web series ‘Diary of a Badman’ and ‘Badman’, his YouTube videos have raked up over 100 million views, making him one of the most popular comedians in the UK. More recently, Humza, along with comedy writer, Henry White, has created the ‘Little Badman’ series of novels, which follow 11-year-old rapper Humza Khan. The three already published books have been highly celebrated, with Penguin Random House buying the series in 2018. The next book, ‘Little Badman and the Rise of the Punjabi Zombies’ is to be released in July and will be a hot topic of discussion when Humza comes to visit us at CarFest.

Nina Warhurst

Nina is an English journalist, newsreader, TV presenter and actress. A regular face on BBC Breakfast since 2018, Nina is the programme’s Business Presenter, and often fills in as anchor on the famous ‘red sofa’. Nina is happiest running around a factory or a farm, delivering the latest economic news in a high-vis jacket and wellies. Her work as a political correspondent means she’s interviewed three Prime Ministers – two of them at Downing Street. Journalism has taken Nina all over the world, making her a perfect host.

Lydia grew up in the Roman city of Lincoln and from there, developed an appetite for historical detail from around the world. Lydia decided to study modern foreign languages at Durham University to help her research into women in history from around the world and has lived in many places such as Paris, Madrid and Salamanca! Along with her passion for fashion and travel, her research and experience have greatly contributed to creating ‘Hysterical Herstories’.

Emma Guns

Emma is an experienced beauty, health and lifestyle writer, presenter and brand consultant.

She is the host of The Emma Guns Show featuring interviews with celebrities, brand creators, editors and authors. The podcast launched in April 2016 and has already charted in the Top 10 on iTunes in the arts chart and has been featured in Stylist, Metro and Cosmopolitan in print and The Coveteur and Get the Gloss online.

Dr Kit Chapman is an award-winning journalist and adventurer. With more than a decade of experience writing for titles such as Nature, New Scientist, Chemistry World, Physics World and the Daily Telegraph, his work has taken him to more than 60 countries as he seeks amazing tales from the cutting edge of science. He has interviewed more than a dozen Nobel prize winners, been inside the world's fastest computer and once convinced an Oscar-winning actress he was a cyborg! Kit has a PhD in the history and philosophy of science from the University of Sunderland and a master’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Bradford. His first book ‘Superheavy’ was listed as one of Publisher's Weekly's top 10 science books for Fall 2019 and a finalist for the AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science books.

Oscar Leonard

Oscar is a London based actor, he has recently graduated from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. He has always had a passion for all kinds of literature, and finds every opportunity to tell important stories through his roles.

Dr Alex George

Alex is on a mission to make mental health education compulsory in schools and has become prolific throughout the UK in his campaigning with charities such as YoungMinds, Anna Freud Centre & Mind, to lobby the government to change policy and ensure mental health sits alongside the likes of Maths and English on the curriculum. Alex is a resident presenter on ITV’s Lorraine, has presented for Watchdog and appeared on Celebrity Masterchef. Alex has a hugely successful podcast, The Waiting Room, and a rapidly growing audience on YouTube & TikTok. He is also a fully qualified Level 3 PT. Across his platforms, Alex has become a leading voice in mental and sexual health and uses his platform to make health and medicine more accessible to millennials and beyond.

Kate Thornton

Kate is an English journalist and radio & television presenter, best known as the first presenter of The X Factor and for presenting daytime shows including Loose Women and This Morning. Kate also has her very own Spotify podcast, White Wine Question Time which brings together well-known friends, three glasses of wine and three thought-provoking questions. Discover the friendships behind the entertainment headlines and listen in on their conversations for a side to the celebrities you've never heard before.

Kate Lawler

Kate is an English TV personality, presenter, model, and DJ. Kate has recently written her own book, ‘Maybe Baby: On the Mother Side’. It is the story of her journey from parentally undecided to early motherhood, via raging hormones, sleepless nights, emergency hospital trips, mum guilt, unspoken regrets, and post-natal depression. The book is not a parenting manual. It won’t tell you what to pack in your hospital bag, or how to get your baby to sleep. It may not help you with feeding or dealing with tantrums. But it will show you that you’re not alone – and that it’s perfectly possible, and maybe even normal, to love your child with all your heart while also feeling lost, alone, and resentful.

Dapper Dave

Dave, most famous for his role on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, is a comedy actor, writer, and presenter. In 2009, the short film CGI-Brows, which Dave starred in, won the People's Choice Award in the Virgin Media Shorts competition. David went on to write and perform a series of sketches for Channel 4's Big Brother's Big Mouth and performed numerous sketch comedies for BBC Comedy Feeds and Channel 4's Comedy Blaps. In 2013 he was one of the regular presenters on the Hat Trick Productions comedy YouTube channel Bad Teeth and in 2015 he starred in ITV's The Delivery Man alongside Darren Boyd and Brotherhood on Comedy Central.

Lindsay was lucky enough to be raised in a house of stories, music and love of the ocean, and now lives in sight of the chillier Sussex Sea with her husband and two sons

She can’t wait to join the Costa Coffee Reading Room at CarFest North to read from her latest children’s book – a high stakes aquatic adventure called ‘My Friend the Octopus’. Join Lindsay and her puppets for a lively reading and dress-up.

‘My Friend The Octopus’

Twelve-year-old Vinnie Fyfe works in the tea-shop at Brighton aquarium, and waits for her milliner mother to return from Paris.

The arrival of a giant octopus changes her life for ever. Discovering a talent for art, Vinnie begins to draw the extraordinary beast.

She soon realises she can communicate with the octopus through colour and – as a gripping mystery begins to unfold – discovers what true courage really means …

LINDSAY’S READING IS AIMED AT 9+ CHILDREN, THEIR MUMS AND DADS

Fri 22nd, Sat 23rd & Sun 25th July

In 2016, Lindsey Cole was free diving in Indonesia when she cut her hand on a small piece of plastic. Finding the plastic issue upsetting, she decided she wanted to do something about it. Two years later, she swam the Thames as a mermaid to highlight how we’re choking our mermaids and their friends. Along the way, Lindsey rescued a REAL-LIFE cow, so has written about this in a compelling children’s adventure.

Meet real-life mermaid Lindsey (complete with her mermaid’s tail!) in the Costa Reading Room where she’ll be reading from her children’s adventure story as well as signing copies of her book and posing for photos.

LINDSAY’S READING IS SUITABLE FOR A FAMILY AUDIENCE INCLUDING YOUNG CHILDREN

Fri 22nd, Sat 23rd & Sun 25th July

Duncan is a children’s author and illustrator from Bristol, UK. He’s been obsessed with drawing ever since he could hold a felt tip in his clammy little fist and has fond memories of sprawling out on his parents’ living room carpet for hours on end, filling sketchbooks with his doodles.

Duncan’s debut picture book ‘The Bear Who Stared’ was nominated for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2017. Since then, he’s written and illustrated titles for many publishers.

When not busy drawing kung-fu kicking llamas, heavy metal badgers, or starey bears, he can be found walking his dog Ivor around a muddy park or losing heavily to his daughter at various videogames.

Duncan will join us to read from both ‘The Bear Who Stared’ and his forthcoming children’s picture book ‘No Sleep For Bear’ as well as leading an illustration class.

DUNCAN’S READING & DRAWING CLASS IS SUITABLE FOR A FAMILY AUDIENCE INC YOUNG CHILDREN

Fri 22nd, Sat 23rd & Sun 25th July TIMES TBC

As an author, speaker, community leader and meditation leader, Michael is one of the leading figures in the modern mindfulness movement. Founder of the app, ‘Just Breathe’, Michael has dedicated himself to increasing the value of mindfulness and meditation in daily life.

Author of ‘The Flexible Body’ and ‘Stretch’, Roger has created a hive of information and mentoring aimed at increasing flexibility and reducing the pain and discomfort associated with certain movements. Having made his own self-discoveries regarding difficulties getting into certain positions and achieving certain movements, Roger has aimed to change the way people all over the world approach movement.

Georgie is a personal trainer and blogger, and the founder of GS Wellness, a one stop shop for all pillars of wellness. From nutrition and exercise to mental health and stress management, Georgie’s approach to physical and mental health aims to reconnect the mind and body has helped improve the lives of many and has even found her in the Evening Standard and Forbes.

As an author, speaker, community leader and meditation leader, Michael is one of the leading figures in the modern mindfulness movement. Founder of the app, ‘Just Breathe’, Michael has dedicated himself to increasing the value of mindfulness and meditation in daily life.

Author of ‘The Flexible Body’ and ‘Stretch’, Roger has created a hive of information and mentoring aimed at increasing flexibility and reducing the pain and discomfort associated with certain movements. Having made his own self-discoveries regarding difficulties getting into certain positions and achieving certain movements, Roger has aimed to change the way people all over the world approach movement.

Erin has been a professional commercial dancer for 15 years. During a very fun and exciting lifestyle, she turned to yoga in 2013 to help her find some peace and calm. Erin found such great benefits from the practice, that she took her involvement a step further, completing 200 hours of teacher training in Goa in 2018. Erin created The Gratitude Retreat in late 2020 as she has a huge passion for helping people and wanted to share the tools and practices that helped her so much throughout her dance career with others.

Shaparak Khorsandi

Shaparak is an Iranian-born British comedian and author. Shaparak established herself as one of the country’s finest comedians in 2006 with her sell out Edinburgh show, Asylum Speaker. This show lead to the publication of her childhood memoirs, “A Beginner’s Guide To Acting English“, her best-selling literary debut. Shaparak’s career has taken her to all corners of the globe, she has appeared on countless TV & Radio shows including Mock The Week, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Have I Got News For You, QI, Just a Minute & other flagship radio 4 programmes. She will be joining our all-star comedy cast at StarFest this year.

Sally Phillips

Sally is a multi-award-winning British actress, comedian, and producer. She is best known for her work in the comedy television series I’m Alan Partridge, Jam and Jerusalem, Miranda, Taskmaster and Veep. She started her comedy career in the Oxford Revue and completed 9 Edinburgh Fringe runs. Her talent in acting is undeniable, which only adds to the fact that she is utterly hilarious!

Ronni Ancona

Ronni Ancona is an actress, impressionist, comedienne and writer. Her comedy career started on the comedy circuit, and she won the TimeOut Hackney Empire New Act of the Year in 1993. She worked extensively in TV and radio before becoming a name in the BAFTA-winning Big Impression for which she won a British Comedy Award and Variety Club Award. She is the director, alongside fellow StarFest team member, Sally Phillips, and veteran Nick Hamson, of the production company Captain Dolly. Ronni is a legend in the fields of both comedy and drama, and we’re lucky to have her!

Harriet Thorpe

Harriet is an English actress, known for her roles in the British sitcoms, The Brittas Empire (1991–97) and Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2012) and has also starred in the West End musicals, Cabaret (2006), Wicked (2008) and Mamma Mia! (2010). Harriet’s skills in both comedy and drama are undeniable and are a huge reason for the success of the sitcoms she was a part of. We can’t wait to see her at StarFest!

Rachel Horne

Rachel is a Northern Irish newsreader and journalist. She presented the BBC children's news programme Newsround from 2002 until 2006. She also presented BBC News' business bulletins on the BBC News Channel and travel news on weekday mornings on BBC Radio 2 in March to December 2018. She joined Virgin Radio UK as a breakfast show newsreader in January 2019. She has been married to comedian Alex Horne since 2005.

Jimmy Carr

Jimmy (James) Carr is a British-Irish comedian, presenter, writer, and actor. He began his comedy career in 1997, and has regularly appeared on television as the host of Channel 4 panel shows such as 8 Out of 10 Cats, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and The Big Fat Quiz of the Year.

Rob Brydon

Robert Brydon is a Welsh actor, comedian, impressionist, presenter, singer and writer. He played Dr Paul Hamilton in the Australian/British comedy eries Supernova, Bryn West in the BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey and Keith Barret in the BBC comedy series Marion and Geoff and its spin-off The Keith Barret Show. He has appeared in a number of shows for the BBC with Steve Coogan, including The Trip series in 2010, released as a feature film later that year; and The Trip to Italy in 2014 and The Trip to Spain in 2017 and The Trip to Greece in 2020, also edited and released as feature films. Since 2009, Brydon has presented the BBC One comedy panel ‘show Would I Lie to You?’ after previously playing himself as host of a fictional panel show in Rob Brydon's Annually Retentive, which ran on BBC Three from 2006 until 2007. In addition to presenting his own late-night chat show, The Rob Brydon Show, for two years and hosting the 2014 Saturday-night game show The Guess List for BBC One, Brydon has also appeared in notable films including Cruise of the Gods, The Gruffalo, 24 Hour Party People, The Huntsman: Winter's War and Holmes & Watson.

Chris Evans

The creator of and mind behind CarFest, Chris is an English television presenter, radio DJ and producer for radio and television. Presenting and hosting a plethora of shows, both on TV and radio, including his current breakfast show on Virgin Radio, Chris is known for his charisma and energy, as well as for his commitment to several charitable causes. As he does each year, he will be gracing the stage at CarFest, to chat with our incredible guests.

Born on January 31, 1971, and given the name Amelia Driver, the Hollywood actress was raised in Barbados, returning to England along with her elder sister Kate in 1976. Five years later, she was sent to renowned Hampshire boarding school Bedales, where the budding jazz vocalist and guitarist began to explore her interest in theatre.

Minnie went on to enrol in the Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, making her stage debut just two weeks after graduating with an acting degree in 1991. Her career in Britain quickly took flight with roles in BBC TV productions and a series of her own before she made an international splash in Circle Of Friends, for which she gained two stone in weight.

The part boosted her to fame in the US, and she soon found herself newly slimmed down and every inch the budding Hollywood star on the A-list. Critically acclaimed roles followed as she mastered American accents in Sleepers and Grosse Point Blank.

She cemented her status in Hollywood when she secured an Oscar nomination as best supporting actress for Good Will Hunting.  Although Minnie didn't win the Oscar, she was well-settled in Tinseltown, buying an LA home, producing films with her own production company Two Drivers with her sister Kate.

She often returns to her English roots, making The Governess  in 1998, as well as the London-lensed An Ideal Husband and High Heels And Low Lifes and most recently Cinderella with Camilla Cabilo.

Most recently, Driver has turned her attention to the podcast phenomenon, with her own podcast called Minnie Questions  in which she interviews a range of creative figures,

Dos Guitarras are an acoustic guitar duo who take classic rock hits and performing them in a flamenco style. Myles and Korben are two young lads who love their guitars and have created an insane live performance that will reimagine the way you think of flamenco guitar.

DOS GUITARRAS’ SET IS SUITABLE FOR ALL AUDIENCES.

Fri 26^th August

Ages: Adult

Anna & Matt are the insanely popular husband and wife coupe behind ‘Parenting the sh*t out of life’, 'Where's My Happy Ending?: Happily Ever After & How to Get it' and the recently released ‘Underbelly’. Join them in the Costa Reading Room to discuss what it’s like to write as a husband and wife duo and why they wrote ‘Where’s My Happy Ending?’.

What does it take to make it to forever in the muddy waters of modern romance?

They’ll also be signing copies of their books.

Friday 26^th August, Saturday 27^th August

Ages: Middlegrade

If you like a one-of-a-kind mystery about a brilliant trio of protagonists, with an action-filled story, don’t miss this brilliant reading of Fiona’s recently released middle grade fiction ‘Looking for Emily’.

Fri 26^th August, Sat 27^th August & Sun 28th August