North's literary scene 'overlooked' - Gyles Brandreth

Gyles Brandreth described Ilkley Literature Festival as 'pioneering'

The literary scene in the North of England is overlooked "all the time" despite its wealth of talent, broadcaster and writer Gyles Brandreth says.

Brandreth is one of the guests at this year's Ilkley Literature Festival, with others including actor Hugh Bonneville, former deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, novelist Irvine Welsh and broadcaster Michael Palin.

Discussing the strength of writers in the North, the 77-year-old said: "People think the literary capital is London or Edinburgh or Dublin, but that's all changed."

The festival takes place in various venues across the West Yorkshire town from Friday to 15 October.

Discussing his connections with the event, the former MP said: "I've been coming since the first one - more than 50 years ago.

"I started coming because I was a friend of the daughter of Enid Blyton and she lived in Yorkshire with her husband."

Brandreth, also known for his TV appearances on shows including Countdown, The One Show and Good Morning Britain, said: "What's great about Yorkshire is it has got everything.

"It's all happening in the north these days - it's the heart of where it all happens."

The event will take place over 17 days in October

"My great grandfather John Leech was the keeper of the poor house in Bradford - so I love that part of the country," he said.

"I have a painting of him by an artist who was a great friend of the Bronte family."

The annual event will cover themes ranging from the dangers of big tech to cooking and the Post Office scandal.

Other big ideas up for discussion include how to save the planet in a climate crisis, explorations in philosophy and the science of politeness.

Brandreth's new book, Somewhere, A Boy and A Bear, marks the centenary of the publication of Winnie the Pooh.

"What I love about Winnie the Pooh is that the stories work for grown-ups as well as children," he said.

Brandreth, 77, will be discussing his book Somewhere, A Boy and A Bear, at the festival

"A.A. Milne was a beautiful writer, but one of the fascinating things about his own story was that he was not always very pleased to have a worldwide success with Winnie the Pooh."

A.A. Milne's fictional boy Christopher Robin was based on his own son, but the fame it brought the real-life Christopher eventually led to the family falling out.

He added: "It's a fascinating story about childhood and family dynamics, but it does have a happy ending - because somewhere at the top of the forest, a boy and his bear will always be playing. It goes on forever."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.