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).

Adam Woodyatt

Adam is a popular English film and TV actor. He is most widely known among many nations for his role as Ian Beale in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, which he played between 1985 and 2021.

Georgia Toffolo

Georgia, also known as Toff, is a British media and television personality. She is best known for appearing on E4 reality television series Made in Chelsea from 2014 and winning the seventeenth series of ITV's I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! As well as being a huge presence on social media, with over 1.8 million followers on Instagram, Toff is also the author of several books, including her inspirational, positivity-filled memoir, ‘Always Smiling: The World According to Toff’, which was published in 2018.

AJ Pritchard

AJ is a British dancer and choreographer. In 2013, he auditioned for the seventh series of Britain's Got Talent along with professional partner Chloe Hewitt, where they reached the semi-finals. From 2016 to 2019, he appeared as a professional dancer on the BBC One dance series Strictly Come Dancing. In 2020, he participated in the twentieth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!

Giovanna Fletcher

As an author, actress, blogger, vlogger, presenter, and mother of 3, Giovanna has succeeded in all that she’s tried her hand at. As author and presenter of the book and podcast, ‘Happy Mum, Happy Baby’, Giovanna has shared her experiences and encouraged others to be confident in themselves as a parent, celebrating how putting a focus on being a happy and confident mum can really make for a happy baby. Her newest novel, ‘Walking on Sunshine’ follows three friends Vicky, Zaza and Mike who have each reached a defining (and longed for) point in their lives. However, rather than feeling happy and fulfilled they individually find themselves asking ‘is this it?’

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).

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).

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.

AJ & Curtis are two brothers who know how to move! AJ is a British dancer and choreographer. In 2013, he auditioned for the seventh series of Britain's Got Talent along with professional partner Chloe Hewitt, where they reached the semi-finals. From 2016 to 2019, he appeared as a professional dancer on the BBC One dance series Strictly Come Dancing. In 2020, he participated in the twentieth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! 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.

Juliet Sear

Mum, food stylist, TV Presenter, author, cook and of course, baker, Juliet has had the honour of making all sorts of cakes and other delicious treats for countless people, including Prince Harry, Kate Moss, Holly Willoughby, McFly and Alexa Chung – just to name a few. Her recipes and food styling can be seen in BBC Good Food, Sainsbury’s Magazine, Time Out, Hello, and Vogue. You can also see her in action on This Morning and Sunday Brunch, or on her YouTube channel for easy family meals with wow-factor, a whole lotta cake, and some amazing collabs with special guests.

Shivi Ramoutar

Dubbed by The Guardian as “Caribbean Food Supremo”, and by BA The Club magazine as "Queen of Contemporary Caribbean Cooking", Shivi has shared her unique, fresh and colourful approach to flavoursome Caribbean food across London and the UK, via her supper club, and subsequently through restaurant and brand collaborations and her first book, Caribbean Modern: Recipes From The Rum Islands. Her journey with food continues with each change in her life, now favouring a thoughtful waste-free approach to food, for the whole family, in whatever sense that can take form, time-saving, low-cost and clever cooking. But without a doubt, she and her recipes still adhere to her original signatures of vibrant colour, bold flavour and tropical touches.

Jak O’Donnell

Formerly Patron of The Sisters Restaurant in Glasgow, Jak is well known and respected in the culinary world in Scotland. Her many television and radio appearances include BBC’s Great British Menu and STV’s Scottish Kitchen.

Candice Brown

Winner of The Great British Bake Off 2016, Candice is best known for her fabulous cakes and bakes. Candice grew up in the pubs that her parents ran, and that she famously immortalized in gingerbread for her most talked about showstopper. Since winning Bake Off, Candice became a Sunday Times columnist, has baked on This Morning and Christmas Kitchen, and appeared as a panellist on Loose Women.

Tamara Wall

Tamara is an English actress, known for playing Grace Black in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. Before playing Grace, Wall portrayed the role of Martina Quinn in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Her vast experience in the soap opera industry makes her a shoo-in for this session.

Ross Adams

Ross is an English actor. He plays the role of Scott Drinkwell in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks and previously played the role of Jeff Bowyer in the BBC Three sitcom The Gemma Factor. He has also previously worked as the assistant to the series producer for Coronation Street before moving to Emmerdale as a storyliner. Having written stories for over 400 episodes he then became a Script Editor; leaving the show in February 2015 to commence filming Hollyoaks, for which he was awarded the British Soap Award for "Best Male Dramatic Performance" in June 2018.

Jessica Fox

Jessica's career started at the age of eight when she starred in an epic Persil commercial filmed in "Indiana Jones" style, in Spain. She then went on to feature in West End roles in the Sound of Music, Les Miserables, and Oliver! Since then, she has featured in a myriad of different series, for which she was held in high regard by critics. Since her initial rise to fame, as well as guest leads in TV programs such as Powers (2004) and frequent Theatre work, Jessica moved into British soap operas, firstly playing Belle Wise in Crossroads (2001), and in 2008, Jessica adopting the role of Nancy Hayton in the popular soap Hollyoaks.

Gary Lucy

Gary is an English actor, television personality and model who is best known for playing Will Fletcher in the ITV police drama The Bill, Luke Morgan in Hollyoaks, Kyle Pascoe in Footballer's Wives and Danny Pennant in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He also played a part in the show The Dumping Ground as a footballer named Billy.

Jonny Meah

Jonny Meah is one of the most exciting young presenters in the industry. At just 27 years old, Jonny can be heard on Heart – the biggest commercial radio station in the U.K. You may have also seen him on BBC One, presenting on flagship shows such as The One Show and Morning Live, Sunday Morning Live, and Inside Out. On top of this, Jonny has presented a ground-breaking documentary, with millions of views on YouTube, voiced for big names such as ITV, Radio 1, MTV and many more; he is also a regular host at the historic SSE Wembley Arena.

Sarah Beeny

Sarah Beeny is a renowned property expert, businesswoman and TV presenter, well-known for fronting shows such as Double Your House for Half the Money, Restoration Nightmare, Renovate Don't Relocate, Property Ladder and Sarah Beeny's New Life in the Country. Sarah set up her property development company aged just 24 along with her brother Diccon and now husband, Graham Swift. In 2019, Sarah and family upped sticks and moved to the West Country to embark upon a new way of life and their biggest building project to date. New documentary series, Sarah Beeny's New Life in the Country for Channel 4, gives viewers unprecedented access to her family, in a thoroughly charming show that reveals how they're adapting to their new lives and how they're juggling this with building their new home.

Linda Barker

Interior designer Linda was instrumental in awakening the public’s interest in home design with the BBC’s pioneering show Changing Rooms, and became one of the best known designers in the UK. Linda’s television career spans nearly 20 years, and she continues to contribute to numerous programmes, regularly appearing on Lorraine, This Morning, and most recently the 11th series of 60 Minute Makeover which she has appeared on since series 7. Having always been passionate about health and fitness; Linda released a DVD in 2003 titled 'Simple Yoga', and completed the London Marathon in 2012.

Laila Rouass

Laila is a British actress, best known for her portrayals of Amber Gates in Footballers' Wives, and Sahira Shah in Holby City. Over the last two years, Laila has launched a UK-based platform called ‘WholeAndThenSome’, promoting happiness and well-being, which she also regularly discusses during the workshops that she leads. Laila also completed a Yale University course last year that delved into the science of happiness. Nowadays, Laila uses manifestation as part of her daily ritual which has helped her create true happiness and overcome adversity.

Sarah Barrand

Sarah Barrand is an English actress known for her role as Shannon Donnelly-Lawson in Footballers Wives and its ITV2 spin-off, Footballers' Wives: Extra Time. She has played other roles on dramas such as Casualty, and in the films Stag Night, Caught in the Act, and The Kid. Sarah presented a two-part documentary for ITV, Date with the Dalai, with Footballers Wives co-star, Zöe Lucker. In addition to acting and presenting, Sarah is a voice over artist for numerous television, video games and radio broadcasts.

Peter Ash

Peter is an English actor from Newton Heath, Greater Manchester who has starred in British television series such as Casualty, Footballers' Wives, Hollyoaks and Coronation Street. On stage he has appeared in productions of Street Trilogy, Ways to Look at Fish, Salford Tales, No Comment, War Horse, Toil and Trouble, From Heaven to Hell and Playmates. He also won the 2020 National Television Award for best newcomer.

Gary Lucy

Gary is an English actor, television personality and model who is best known for playing Will Fletcher in the ITV police drama The Bill, Luke Morgan in Hollyoaks, Kyle Pascoe in Footballer's Wives and Danny Pennant in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He also played a part in the show The Dumping Ground as a footballer named Billy.

Helen Skelton

Helen is an English television presenter and actress. She co-presented the BBC children's programme Blue Peter from 2008 until 2013, and since 2014 has been a presenter on Countryfile. She also co-presented two series of the BBC One programme Holiday Hit Squad alongside Angela Rippon and Joe Crowley. She also presented the daytime series The Instant Gardener that ran for two seasons.

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.

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.

Hayley Tamaddon

Hayley Tamaddon is a stage and television actress best known for her roles in Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Shameless. In 2010, she won Dancing on Ice and returned in 2014 for a winner’s special. She has appeared in multiple theatre productions, including the popular West End musical ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’.

Philip Glenister

Philip is an English actor, best known for his role as DCI Gene Hunt in the BBC series Life on Mars (2006–2007) and its sequel Ashes to Ashes (2008–2010). He also played DCI William Bell in State of Play (2003) and Reverend Anderson in Outcast (2016–2018). He has had a varied career in film, television and theatre spanning over twenty-five years.

Linda Barker

Interior designer Linda was instrumental in awakening the public’s interest in home design with the BBC’s pioneering show Changing Rooms, and became one of the best known designers in the UK. Linda’s television career spans nearly 20 years, and she continues to contribute to numerous programmes, regularly appearing on Lorraine, This Morning, and most recently the 11th series of 60 Minute Makeover which she has appeared on since series 7. Having always been passionate about health and fitness; Linda released a DVD in 2003 titled 'Simple Yoga', and completed the London Marathon in 2012.

Rob Brydon

Robert Brydon is a Welsh actor, comedian, impressionist, presenter, singer and writer. He played Dr Paul Hamilton in the Australian/British comedy series 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.

Sarah Beeny

Sarah Beeny is a renowned property expert, businesswoman and TV presenter, well-known for fronting shows such as Double Your House for Half the Money, Restoration Nightmare, Renovate Don't Relocate, Property Ladder and Sarah Beeny's New Life in the Country. Sarah set up her property development company aged just 24 along with her brother Diccon and now husband, Graham Swift. In 2019, Sarah and family upped sticks and moved to the West Country to embark upon a new way of life and their biggest building project to date. New documentary series, Sarah Beeny's New Life in the Country for Channel 4, gives viewers unprecedented access to her family, in a thoroughly charming show that reveals how they're adapting to their new lives and how they're juggling this with building their new home.

Linda Barker

Interior designer Linda was instrumental in awakening the public’s interest in home design with the BBC’s pioneering show Changing Rooms, and became one of the best known designers in the UK. Linda’s television career spans nearly 20 years, and she continues to contribute to numerous programmes, regularly appearing on Lorraine, This Morning, and most recently the 11th series of 60 Minute Makeover which she has appeared on since series 7. Having always been passionate about health and fitness; Linda released a DVD in 2003 titled 'Simple Yoga', and completed the London Marathon in 2012.

Philip Glenister

Philip is an English actor, best known for his role as DCI Gene Hunt in the BBC series Life on Mars (2006–2007) and its sequel Ashes to Ashes (2008–2010). He also played DCI William Bell in State of Play (2003) and Reverend Anderson in Outcast (2016–2018). He has had a varied career in film, television and theatre spanning over twenty-five years.

Ben Miller

Ben is an English comedian and actor. He rose to fame as one half of the comedy duo Armstrong and Miller. He is also known for playing the lead role of DI Richard Poole in the first two series of the BBC crime drama Death in Paradise, and for portraying James Lester in the ITV science-fiction series Primeval. Ben is also the author of several novels, including the most recent one ‘How I became a dog called midnight’, published in 2021, a body-swap comedy crossed with a compelling adventure as George and his dog Midnight magically take on each other’s identities.

Jed Mercurio

Jed Mercurio OBE is a British television writer, producer, director, and novelist. A former hospital doctor and Royal Air Force officer, he has been ranked among UK television's leading writers. His most celebrated works are the original TV series, Bodies, and Line of Duty. The former was ranked as one of the “Shows of the Decade” by the Times, whilst the latter ranked among the best BBC shows of all time in 2016. Jed is also responsible for the 2018 original series, Bodyguard, starring Richard Madden. His expertise in the police series industry makes him a perfect fit for the conversation.

Brian Capron

Brian is a highly trained English actor, best known for his role as serial killer, Richard Hillman, in the long-running ITV soap opera, Coronation Street, from 2001 to 2003. He has also been involved in a myriad of other crime related series and films, making him perfect company for the rest of the panel in the conversation.

Gaby Roslin

Gaby is an English television and radio presenter who rose to fame co-presenting The Big Breakfast on Channel 4 between 1992 and 1996. Roslin also presented the Children in Need charity telethons on the BBC between 1995 and 2004. She presented the weekly The National Lottery Draws on Saturday evenings and co-presented the Channel 5 daytime programme The Saturday Show alongside Matt Allwright. She has been on our screens for years and her extensive knowledge of the television industry makes her the perfect host for this conversation.

Giovanna Fletcher

As an author, actress, blogger, vlogger, presenter, and mother of 3, Giovanna has succeeded in all that she’s tried her hand at. As author and presenter of the book and podcast, ‘Happy Mum, Happy Baby’, Giovanna has shared her experiences and encouraged others to be confident in themselves as a parent, celebrating how putting a focus on being a happy and confident mum can really make for a happy baby. Her newest novel, ‘Walking on Sunshine’ follows three friends Vicky, Zaza and Mike who have each reached a defining (and longed for) point in their lives. However, rather than feeling happy and fulfilled they individually find themselves asking ‘is this it?’

Izzy Judd

Izzy Judd was born into a musical family in 1984 and went on to study the violin at Chethams School of Music and The Royal Academy of Music. She was a member of electric string quartet Escala, who took part in Britain's Got Talent in 2008 and went on to release a top-ten album with Simon Cowell's label SYCO. Izzy married Harry Judd in 2012 after meeting on McFly's Wonderland tour, and they became parents to two children, Lola, and Kit in 2016 and 2017. In 2017 Izzy published her honest and heartfelt memoir Dare to Dream: My Struggle to Become a Mum - A Story of Heartache and Hope with Transworld, charting her struggles with IVF, which went on to become a Sunday Times bestseller.

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.

Laura Brand

Laura Brand is an illustrator and mum of two. She shares her crafty experiments and creative ideas for everyday play in her book The Joy Journal for Magical Everyday Play and on her online platform The Joy Journal. She has led workshops for children and adults at Fearne Cotton's Happy Place Festival, Port Elliot and others. Laura lives in the countryside with her husband, Russell, their two daughters, two dogs, two cats and chickens. Home is a place of muddy boots, abundant jars of play dough and hand-painted 'welcome' banners above the doors. With chaos and calm in equal measure, Laura aspires to guide her children in the joy of play as well as mindfulness. Laura has found that having her own creative outlet, as well as facilitating a space for the creativity of her girls, has been a welcome tonic.

Russell Brand

Russell Brand is an award-winning comedian, actor, author, public thought leader, and a passionate activist for mental health and drug rehabilitation. Following his extremely successful acting career, Russell has become known as a public activist and campaigner and has spoken on a wide range of political and cultural issues, including wealth inequality, addiction, corporate capitalism, climate change, and media bias. He hosts several podcasts, writes books and articles, all which are aimed to help others achieve joy in life like that which he has found.

Helen George

Helen is an English actress, best known for playing Trixie Franklin on the BBC drama series Call the Midwife. Helen attended the Royal Academy of Music, London, studying musical theatre. She gained her first role some two weeks after graduation in the play The Woman in White. She was cast in Call the Midwife, based on the book by Jennifer Worth and was daunted by the prospect of working with the likes of Pam Ferris and Jenny Agutter, but has undoubtedly earned her stripes to place herself amongst them in the industry.

Shobna Gulati

Shobna Gulati is an English actress and presenter, known for her roles as Anita in Dinnerladies and Sunita Alahan in Coronation Street. In 2019, she published a memoir documenting her experience of assisting her mother who had dementia. She appeared in the West End production of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and the play The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, alongside her son.

Zack Morris

Zack is an English actor, known for portraying the role of Keegan Baker in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He began his professional acting career at the age of nine when he appeared in the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He also appeared in the play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and in a West End production of Oliver! Morris made his on-screen debut in 2011 as Sam in the miniseries The Fades, and a year later, he played Kyle in the BBC miniseries One Night. He has also appeared in several commercials. Despite being so young, Zack has gained himself plenty of experience, and has the skills and filmography to prove it.

Jenni Falconer

Known to the public for her various appearances in radio and television broadcasting, Jenni Falconer is an iconic media personality. A permanent fixture of the broadcasting world, Jenni has enjoyed an extensive media career that spans more than twenty years. Jenni is regularly booked to provide corporate entertainment at corporate events across the United Kingdom. Her extensive charity work includes her functioning as a celebrity patron for charity Breast Cancer 2000, as well as her participation in the London Marathon for charities such as Cancer Research UK and The Children’s Trust.

AJ & Curtis are two brothers who know how to move! AJ is a British dancer and choreographer. In 2013, he auditioned for the seventh series of Britain's Got Talent along with professional partner Chloe Hewitt, where they reached the semi-finals. From 2016 to 2019, he appeared as a professional dancer on the BBC One dance series Strictly Come Dancing. In 2020, he participated in the twentieth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! 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.

Adam Woodyatt

Adam is a popular English film and TV actor. He is most widely known among many nations for his role as Ian Beale in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, which he played between 1985 and 2021.

Alice Fearn

Alice is a professional singer and actress in America, best known for her work in films like Into the Woods, Robin Hood and Les Miserables. Alice began her career by working in The Woman in White at the Palace Theatre where she was understudying Laura Fairlie. Soon after, she became a part of the Les Miserables cast, then playing at the Queen’s Theatre. She portrayed the role of Factory Girl and understudied Cosette 7 Fantine. As well as having a long list of theatre credits, she has been in several workshops. These include Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Catch Me If You Can, Easter Parade, Jason and the Argonauts, and Jones: The Musical.

Cassidy Janson

Cassidy can currently be seen playing Anne Hathaway in Max Martin’s debut musical ‘& Juliet’ at The Shaftesbury Theatre, London for which she won an Olivier award. Cassidy is well known for playing Carole King in Beautiful, at the Aldwych Theatre in London’s West End, to rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. She was also a member of the original London cast of Wicked and played standby for Elphaba and performed the role of Florence in Chess for English National Opera at the Coliseum with Michael Ball and Alexandra Burke. Also, at the Coliseum she played Aldonza/Dulcinea in Man Of La Mancha to Kelsey Grammar’s Don Quixote. On film, her credits include The Hike, Tail’s End, Day Trip to London, Full Circle and Coma. Cassidy also appeared in Casualty for the BBC.

Bonnie Langford

Bonnie Langford is an English actress, dancer and singer. She came to prominence as a child star in the 1970s, when she had a notable role in the TV series Just William and in the 1980s, she played companion Mel Bush in Doctor Who. She has also been known for appearing in various musicals in the West End and on Broadway, including shows such as Peter Pan, Cats, The Pirates of Penzance and Chicago. From 2015 to 2018, she portrayed the role of Carmel Kazemi on the BBC soap opera EastEnders, for which she received the 2016 British Soap Award for Best Newcomer.

Kelvin Fletcher

Kelvin is an English actor, model, racing driver and presenter. He played Andy Sugden in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, a role he played from 1996 until 2016. In 2019, Fletcher won the seventeenth series of Strictly Come Dancing with his professional partner Oti Mabuse.

Penny Smith

Penelope Jane Smith is an English television presenter, newsreader and radio presenter. She has presented for Sky News, GMTV, Classic FM, BBC Radio London, talkRADIO and is the current presenter of the weekday drivetime show on Scala Radio.

Ali Tate

Ali Tate is a body positive plus sized model on a mission. With both beauty and brains, she has cultivated her own unique voice. Along with advocating for environmental and animal rights, Ali is a leader in the health and wellness movement as well as the modelling industry. She has a podcast called “The Love You Give” and hosts women’s circles in New York City. She uses her platform to help women overcome trauma and love the skin they’re in, as well as encouraging others to protect the earth.

Since becoming a model she has created her own plus size clothing line with Reformation, which impressively sold out. Ali has worked for prestigious clients including Mango, Ralph Lauren, Vanity Fair, Target, Lucky Brand, Marina Rinaldi, T, J Crew, Madewell, Express, Nordstrom and many more.

Felicity Hayward

Hayward has been recognised as one the first plus-size pioneers in the UK promoting body diversity in many high end fashion editorials by photographers such as Patrick Demarchelier, Dan Jackson, Matt Irwin, Rankin and Mark Lebon. Posing for publications such as VOGUE, GLAMOUR, Schon!, Numero alongside having her own I-D cover back in 2012. Since then she had campaigns with some of the leading fashion and beauty retailers such as Mac Cosmetics, TK Maxx, Accessorize, Ann Summers, Boohoo, New Look, River Island, Missguided and currently one of faces of Katy Perry's INDI and L'oreal Elvive. On top of all of this, Hayward was appointed in 2014 as the first ever Curve Ambassador & Stylist for ASOS, inspiring woman of all shapes and sizes to embrace their silhouettes.

Anna Shillinglaw

Anna is the Founder and Managing Director of model and talent agency MiLK Management. MiLK is world-renowned management agency dedicated to developing and nurturing the careers of top models and talent. MiLK has a reputation for championing diversity and challenging conventions within the fashion world. Their agents thrive on finding, developing, and managing the careers of new models and talent. They represent a wide range of talent across a variety of sectors including modelling, content creation and TV.

Jenni Falconer

Known to the public for her various appearances in radio and television broadcasting, Jenni Falconer is an iconic media personality. A permanent fixture of the broadcasting world, Jenni has enjoyed an extensive media career that spans more than twenty years. Jenni is regularly booked to provide corporate entertainment at corporate events across the United Kingdom. Her extensive charity work includes her functioning as a celebrity patron for charity Breast Cancer 2000, as well as her participation in the London Marathon for charities such as Cancer Research UK and The Children’s Trust.

Paula Radcliffe

Paula Jane Radcliffe is a former British long-distance runner. She is a three-time winner of the London Marathon (2002, 2003, 2005), three-time New York Marathon champion (2004, 2007, 2008), and 2002 Chicago Marathon winner. She was previously the fastest female marathoner of all time and held the Women's World Marathon Record with a time of 2:15:25 for 16 years from 2003 to 2019. Radcliffe is a former world champion in the marathon, half marathon and cross country. She has also been European champion over 10,000 metres and in cross country. On the track, Radcliffe won the 10,000 metres silver medal at the 1999 World Championships and was the 2002 Commonwealth champion at 5000 metres. She represented Great Britain at the Olympics in four consecutive games (1996 to 2008). Her running has earned her a number of accolades including the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Laureus World Comeback of the Year, IAAF World Athlete of the Year, AIMS World Athlete of the Year (three times) and a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). She has also been nominated for World Sportswoman of the year on several occasions. In 2010, she was inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the Loughborough University Hall of Fame in 2015. Her last competitive marathon was at the 2015 London Marathon which she finished in 2:36:55.

Victoria Pendleton

Victoria Louise Pendleton is a British jockey and former track cyclist who specialised in the sprint, team sprint and keirin disciplines. She is a former Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion, with two Olympic gold medals and one silver. Pendleton is one of Great Britain's most successful female Olympians. She had represented Great Britain and England in international cycling competition, winning nine world titles including a record six in the individual sprint, dominating the event between 2005 and 2012. In 2008 she won the sprint in the Beijing Olympics, and in 2012, she won the gold medal in the keirin at the London Olympics, as well as silver in the sprint. Pendleton was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2009 and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2013 for services to cycling. As a gold medallist at European, World and Olympic level, Pendleton is also a member of the European Cycling Union Hall of Fame.

Steve Cram

Stephen Cram is a British retired track and field athlete. He was one of the world's dominant middle distance runners during the 1980s. Nicknamed "The Jarrow Arrow", after his home town, Cram set world records in the 1,500 m, 2,000 m, and the mile during a 19-day period in the summer of 1985. He was the first man to run 1,500 m under 3 minutes and 30 second and wont the 1,500m gold medal at the 1983 World Championships and the 1,500m silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games. In 2000, Cram co-founded international children’s charity COCO (Comrades of Children Overseas) with British Army Major Jim Panton after running the Bosnia Comrades ultramarathon in 1998. Cram remains chairman of COCO, an organisation which currently provides education to children living in poor, remote parts of East Africa. Cram now works as a television presenter and athletics commentator, motivational speaker and athletics coach.

Matty Lee

Matthew Lee, born 5 March 1998, is a British diver and Olympic gold medallist. Adept in both individual and synchronised diving, and across both 3-metre springboard and platform, Lee won the gold medal in 10-metre platform at the 2015 European Games, the mixed 10-metre synchronised platform at the 2017 European Diving Championships and has twice been European junior champion on the 3-metre springboard. At world level, Lee won the silver medal in the mixed 10-metre synchronised platform event at the 2017 World Championships. At the 2019 World Championships, Lee and Tom Daley won bronze in the 10 m synchro event, as well as gold in July 2021 at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Vassos Alexander

Vassos is a British sports reporter, presenter, author, and endurance runner. He is currently the sports presenter of The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio. He also hosts the Parkrun podcast; he is a motivational speaker and serves as an ambassador for the young person's charity SkillForce, which supports children and young people in UK primary and secondary schools to improve their confidence, resilience, and self-esteem so that they are better equipped to deal with life's challenges and embrace its opportunities.

Laila Rouass

Laila is a British actress, best known for her portrayals of Amber Gates in Footballers' Wives, and Sahira Shah in Holby City. Over the last two years, Laila has launched a UK-based platform called ‘WholeAndThenSome’, promoting happiness and well-being, which she also regularly discusses during the workshops that she leads. Laila also completed a Yale University course last year that delved into the science of happiness. Nowadays, Laila uses manifestation as part of her daily ritual which has helped her create true happiness and overcome adversity.

Peter Ash

Peter is an English actor from Newton Heath, Greater Manchester who has starred in British television series such as Casualty, Footballers' Wives, Hollyoaks and Coronation Street. On stage he has appeared in productions of Street Trilogy, Ways to Look at Fish, Salford Tales, No Comment, War Horse, Toil and Trouble, From Heaven to Hell and Playmates. He also won the 2020 National Television Award for best newcomer.

Susie Amy

Susie Amy is an English actress best known for her role as Chardonnay Lane-Pascoe in the ITV series Footballers' Wives. Although she always studied drama, she went to academic schools all her life but was spotted for her talent in 1999 when she was doing a play at the National Theatre in London - 'After Juliet' by Sharman McDonald. Over the next two years she got parts in "Sirens" 2002, the sitcom 'Sam's Game', 'The Swap' and 'My Family'. In 2001, at the age of 20, she got her first big break in ITV drama Footballers' Wives (2002). After filming a second series of Footballers Wives in 2002, she was chosen for the lead role of 'Valentine D'Artagnan' in the Hallmark Production La Femme Musketeer (2004) which she had to train in martial arts, fencing and horse riding for the role.

Alison Newman

Alison Newman is a British actress first seen in Anthony Neilson's hit “The Censor” at The Royal Court. She then played Renee Williams in Bad Girls (1999), and she was subsequently offered the role of Hazel Bailey in Footballers' Wives (2002). She's also well-known for her recurring character DI Samantha Keeble in Eastenders and has co-created the critically acclaimed series Harlots.

Gary Lucy

Gary is an English actor, television personality and model who is best known for playing Will Fletcher in the ITV police drama The Bill, Luke Morgan in Hollyoaks, Kyle Pascoe in Footballer's Wives and Danny Pennant in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He also played a part in the show The Dumping Ground as a footballer named Billy.

Jonny Meah

Jonny Meah is one of the most exciting young presenters in the industry. At just 27 years old, Jonny can be heard on Heart – the biggest commercial radio station in the U.K. You may have also seen him on BBC One, presenting on flagship shows such as The One Show and Morning Live, Sunday Morning Live, and Inside Out. On top of this, Jonny has presented a ground-breaking documentary, with millions of views on YouTube, voiced for big names such as ITV, Radio 1, MTV and many more; he is also a regular host at the historic SSE Wembley Arena.

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 series 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.

Drew Pritchard

Drew Pritchard is an antique expert and host of the popular British reality TV show, Salvage Hunters. An avid car enthusiast, he bought his first car at 15 and has been buying, selling and restoring cars since 1987. He is the owner of DP Classics, alongside his business partner Clive Holland and between them, they have owned over a hundred Air- Cooled Volkswagen and Porsches.

Paul Cowland

Paul Cowland has had a 20-year career selling, restoring and photographing cars, and has been an advisor for many of the UK’s top automotive publishers. As the star of TV show Turbo Pickers, Paul used his expertise to find unloved cars and renovate them into profitable vehicles. He currently has 38 classic cars in show condition.

Jonny Meah

Jonny Meah is one of the most exciting young presenters in the industry. At just 27 years old, Jonny can be heard on Heart – the biggest commercial radio station in the U.K. You may have also seen him on BBC One, presenting on flagship shows such as The One Show and Morning Live, Sunday Morning Live, and Inside Out. On top of this, Jonny has presented a ground-breaking documentary, with millions of views on YouTube, voiced for big names such as ITV, Radio 1, MTV and many more; he is also a regular host at the historic SSE Wembley Arena.

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,

Jody Sheckter

Jody Sheckter is a South African former motor racing driver. From 1972 to 1970, he competed in Formula One, winning the Drivers Championship in 1979 and remains the only African driver to win the championship. Since retiring from motor racing, he has spent his time as a biodynamic farmer, owning the farm where CarFest South is held.

David Richards

David Richards CBE is the founder of Prodrive, chairman of Motorsport UK and former World Rally Championship winning co- driver. He was appointed a CBE for his services to motorsport and is listed in the Motorsport Hall of Fame.

Jonathan Palmer

Jonathan Palmer is a former Formula 1 driver and BBC commentator. He has won the British F3 title and the European F2 championship. He is currently the chief executive of MotorSport Vision, which runs six UK motorsport circuits, and several racing championships.

Adrian Newey

Adrian Newey OBE is a British Formula One engineer, aerodynamicist, designer and the chief technical officer of the Red Bull Racing Formula One team. His designs have won several awards, including 10 Formula 1 Constructors’ Titles and seven different drivers have won the Drivers’ Championship, driving Newey’s designs.

James Martin

James Martin is a British chef and TV presenter, known for his work on Ready Steady Cook and Saturday Kitchen. A self-proclaimed petrolhead, James wrote a motoring column for The Mail on Sunday for several years and has raced in the 2013 Masters Series and the 2013 Aston Martin Centenary Festival. He has a collection of 42 cars, including his personal favourite- a 1965 competition-spec Ferrari 275.

Tomi-GadgetsBoy

GadgetsBoy is one of the UK’s most influential online tech experts.

GadgetsBoy works with international brands to launch, review and unbox new products by creating engaging online content that reaches and influences massive audiences. A passion for shooting video and photography he creates the highest quality of meaningful content.

Brands that GadgetsBoy has recently worked with include Sky TV, eBay, Footlocker, Bosch, HP, Tassimo, 3Mobile, Carphone Warehouse, Nokia, Samsung, Microsoft, Uber, Gillette, Red Bull and Captain Morgan.

As of 2021, GadgetBoy is an official content creator for Formula E, as well as a motor enthusiast partnering often with car giants such as Audi, Renault, Ford, Jeep, Lotus, Cupra and more.