It is just 4 weeks to go before the festival gets into full swing.  Join us for some political weather, punchy murder mystery in South Yorkshire, an exploration of our best loved books and the Secret Intelligence Service.

A fascinating exploration of six post-war politicians who changed the political weather, including Nigel Farage, who claims he will be in Downing Street by 2027.

 Each of the six made fundamental contributions to the debate about Britain’s future and to the vibrancy of our democracy. From immigration to Europe to the NHS, the issues and causes that brought these men to prominence are still of considerable contemporary relevance.

Vernon Bogdanor’s cast includes three from the political Left – Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan, Roy Jenkins, and Tony Benn – and three from the Right – Enoch Powell, Keith Joseph, and Nigel Farage.

SUPPER AT OCKENDEN MANOR 

FRIDAY 3RD OCTOBER

Steve Richards, highly regarded political columnist, journalist, author and presenter, will be joining us for Supper at Ockenden this year, on Friday 3rd October.

When Steve came three years ago he had his audience enthralled with his amusing and pertinent session.  In fact, after his last visit, people enjoyed it so much that a group of festival-goers hired a mini bus and drove through a blizzard to hear him at an event in Hove.  

Once again, he will be delighting us as he shares political gossip, reveals the plots and intrigues, and throws in in a few choice impressions along the way. 

This year’s menu includes Braised Sussex Venison, Poached William Pear Eclair and Homemade Truffles.

SIMON MASON

SATURDAY 4TH OCTOBER 

Mason packs more into 200 pages than many writers do at twice the length’  Sunday Times.

Award-winning fiction writer, Simon Mason, joins us on stage to talk abut his latest book The Woman Who Laughed, which explores a city where the past and present merge, where cameras close-in on the people and streets, and where the lost and the found can coexist.



Early in 2020, there was a spate of murders in northern cities. Five years later, another sex worker is murdered in the same district and South Yorkshire Police call in the Finder.  As fear grips the city, our Finder must court danger to discover the truth.  The Finder also has an unexpected Jane Austen connection in this year of the 250th anniversary of her birth – he has a much loved copy of Persuasion in his pocket to read when he needs comfort.

LUCY MANGAN


Join us on Sunday to hear columnist Lucy Mangan, discussing Bookish, her highly anticipated sequel to Bookworm about how books of all kinds delight, guide, comfort and strengthen us throughout our adult lives.

Bookish is a coming-of-age in books.

It’s an ode to our favourite bookish spaces – from the smallest second-hand bookstalls to libraries, glorious big bookshops and our very own book rooms – and a love story to how books not only shelter our souls through hard times and help us find ourselves when we feel lost, but also help us connect with the people we love through shared stories.

VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB

HELEN FRY & ALAN JUDD

18TH SEPTEMBER

Join us in conversation with festival favourites Helen Fry and Alan Judd to discuss their new, respective books centred on the SIS (Secret Intelligence Service) at our free virtual book club event.



Following Helen’s acclaimed book Women in Intelligence, named Waterstones Best Book of 2023, she is back with The White Lady – the true story of the most important SIS / MI6 intelligence networks behind enemy lines in Belgium in World War One and World War Two.  The White Lady will be published in Autumn 2025.



Alan’s latest novel is a First World War spy thriller set in the early days of MI6, No 2. Whitehall Court, a gripping novel following the life of a young female Cambridge graduate, recruited into the newly-formed Secret Service.

We hope to see many of you at the festival

Best wishes

Cuckfield Bookfest Team