Writing festival to host first naked workshop

The ticket-only event was organised in partnership with British Naturism

Aspiring writers are being urged to "strip off to get inspired", following in the footsteps of authors like Victor Hugo, Agatha Christie and Ian Fleming.

Bournemouth Writing Festival, which runs from 25 to 27 April, has announced it will be offering its first naked writing workshop.

The ticket-only event was organised in partnership with British Naturism and will take place on 23 April at Springbourne Library.

Festival director Dominic Wong said: "Obviously some people may be shy at first but once you're in the swing of it everyone wants to be involved."

The writing festival will feature authors, TV and film screenwriters, journalists, editors, writing coaches and literary agents.

Mr Wong said: "Whilst this session will be a first for the festival, naked writing certainly isn't new in literary circles.

"Agatha Christie was said to be a huge fan, whilst Ernest Hemingway not only stripped, but also stood up naked to write.

"Indeed, when faced with writer's block the great Victor Hugo was said to have ordered his manservant to take all his clothes and leave him with only a pen and paper, so he would have nothing left to do except sit and write."

Bournemouth Writing Festival runs from 25 to 27 April

Poet Jon Seagrave, who will be leading the workshop, said: "Delivering a workshop unclothed will also be a first for me, but sharing my love of writing and encouraging a new group of people to explore their writing is always a fantastic experience.

"Another plus point of course, is that I won't need to worry about what to wear."

Andrew Welch from British Naturism said "social nudity" was on the rise in the UK.

"The number of nude events now available is wide-ranging, from hotel weekends to naked dining, and boat trips to museum visits, with hundreds of opportunities around the country," he added.