This year’s Hay Festival includes appearances from The Archers Podcast, What’s Up Docs?, Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley, Unspeakable, Human Intelligence and Take Four Books.
Taking place in the Exchange Marquee, set in the centre of the free-to-enter Hay Festival, BBC events from 22nd May – 27th May will offer a blend of live show recordings and other events from Radio 4, Radio 3, BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Wales.
Many programmes are making their Hay Festival debut this year. Emma Freud brings her weekly podcast, The Archers Podcast, to Festival for the first time. There will be behind-the-scenes insights into the latest events in Ambridge, with members of the cast and the production team, along with some classic archive moments and the chance to ask questions.
Doctors Chris and Xand van Tulleken present their brand-new BBC Radio 4 health podcast, What’s Up Docs? in its first appearance at Hay Festival. They’ll be debating everyday health and wellbeing dilemmas, with the help of a guest expert.
Phil Wang and Susie Dent will host Unspeakable, their hit comedy panel series adding new words to the English language.
True crime meets literature with Lucy Worsley and the team from hit Radio 4 series Lady Killers in conversation with historian Professor Rosalind Crone and a guest to discuss infamous murderesses from history.
Naomi Alderman dissects the minds of brilliant thinkers from the past in her Radio 4 series Human Intelligence. James Crawford is joined by author Andrew Miller for Radio 4’s new book programme, Take Four Books. Newscast, one of the UK’s biggest podcasts, makes its Hay Festival debut, hosted by Adam Fleming.
Other popular favourites will return to Hay Festival this year, including the BBC’s hit ghostly podcast Uncanny with host Danny Robbins, plus experts Evelyn Hollow and Ciaran O’Keeffe. Gabriel Gatehouse presents a special behind-the-scenes edition of the hit podcast The Coming Storm, and Dr Sian Williams speaks to people who have experienced life-changing events in Life Changing.
Mohit Bakaya, Director of Speech & Controller, Radio 4 & Radio 4 Extra, says: “Both the Radio 4 and Hay audiences are driven by an insatiable desire for interesting ideas and people, so we’re looking forward to bringing the BBC’s very best radio and podcast offerings to the festival again this year.
“Some of our best new programming will sit alongside returning favourites. From the brand-new health podcast What’s Up Docs? with Doctors Chris and Xand van Tulleken, the new Archers podcast with Emma Freud and Naomi Alderman’s brilliant Human Intelligence series, to special editions of the Today Programme, Loose Ends and Lucy Worsley’s hugely popular Ladykillers podcast there will be something for everyone.
Hay Festival Global CEO Julie Finch says: “This year the BBC brings the best of Hay Festival to the world. With a fantastic line up of live recordings in our BBC Marquee, audiences can experience Hay Festival inspiration wherever they may be, free and open to all.
“Alongside Festival favourites from BBC Sounds, Radio 4, Radio 3 and Radio Wales, there are some exciting new shows to enjoy, mixing great British talent with major global names. Join us on site or from afar; everyone is welcome.”
Find out more by visiting the Hay Festival website.
