31/08/2026
Downton Abbey and Paddington star Hugh Bonneville announced for Whitby Lit Fest 2026. 📚
Whitby Lit Fest has revealed a surprise headline guest for this November, with Hugh Bonneville joining an impressive 2026 line-up.
Best known as Robert Crawley in Downton Abbey and Mr Brown in the Paddington films, Bonneville will show audiences a different side to his career when he arrives in Whitby as a children’s author.
He will appear at Whitby Pavilion on Saturday 21 November at 1pm, introducing his latest book, Rory Sparkes and the Spy Who Loved Tea.
Aimed at readers aged seven to 11, the story follows young Rory Sparkes as he discovers coded messages, suspicious neighbours, and a very British spy conspiracy involving an unpleasant new brand of tea. ☕🕵️
The special family event will include storytelling, secret codes, and mischief. Bonneville will also discuss how he created the world of Rory Sparkes and take questions from younger audience members and their families.
His late addition strengthens a four-day programme for Whitby Lit Fest, running from Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 November 2026.
Other headline names heading to Whitby include Ann Cleeves, John Boyne, Joanne Harris, Si King, Elly Griffiths, Mark Billingham and Greta Scacchi, while Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae will host a special family event inspired by her picture book Put Your Records On.
The wider programme spans crime, fiction, history, politics, poetry, food, film and children’s literature, with events taking place at venues across Whitby.
Festival chair Lois Kirtlan described Bonneville’s appearance as a fantastic surprise addition and encouraged visitors to book early, especially for headline events and smaller venues.
📍 Hugh Bonneville – Whitby Pavilion, Northern Lights Suite
📅 Saturday 21 November 2026
🕐 1pm
Whitby Lit Fest officially begins on Thursday 19 November, kicking off four days of talks, performances, workshops, family events and literary encounters across the town.
