Gyles Brandreth’s readers arrive through biographies, wordplay, diaries and detective stories. Hearing him at a book festival is a chance to follow one of those interests in conversation, whether you love poetry, enjoy his mysteries or want to explore his collaborative writing about later life.
Quick facts
Best known for
Writing about words, poetry, biography and the Oscar Wilde mysteries
Genre or subject
Biography, language and practical non-fiction
Latest book
The 7 Secrets of the Hundred-Year Life, with Finola Burrell (2026), Short Books
Brandreth writes biographies, diaries, an autobiography, books about language and Victorian mysteries featuring Oscar Wilde as a detective. Broadcasting and presenting sit alongside this publishing life. A reader who knows him through conversation on screen or radio has a substantial set of books to discover beyond those appearances.
With Susie Dent, he works on the word-centred podcast Something Rhymes with Purple. His books about spelling and punctuation and his poetry anthologies share that enjoyment of language. Another strand is biography: Somewhere, a Boy and a Bear explores A. A. Milne and Winnie-the-Pooh, with original editions in 2025 and a paperback in September 2026.
Short Books published his collaborative non-fiction title about living well for longer in 2026. The other author is a physiotherapist, bringing a different professional background to the book. It belongs with his writing about life and its pleasures; readers can approach it as a book conversation, while taking individual health questions to their own clinician.
Where to start with their books
Somewhere, a Boy and a Bear
The biography explores the author of Winnie-the-Pooh and the family story around the bear. Choose it if you want to return to a much-loved childhood book through the working life that produced it, or if literary biography is the strand of Brandreth’s writing you most enjoy.
Have You Eaten Grandma?
Spelling, punctuation and the quirks of English are the subject here, with grammar treated through humour. It is a book to dip into when a sentence or a disputed comma catches your eye; readers who enjoy word-centred conversations have a clear route into this part of his publishing.
Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders
Wilde investigates a murder in Victorian London with the help of Arthur Conan Doyle. Start here for the detective fiction: literary figures become characters within a mystery, taking the reader from drawing rooms towards the darker parts of the city. It offers a different kind of reading from the biographies.
Festival appearances
For tickets, use the host festival’s official box office. Confirm the date, venue and access details before paying.
Gyles Brandreth was part of Cheltenham Literature Festival’s 2026 programme.
Where to see them next
No 2027 appearances announced yet. Check the festival guides for programme dates.
Plan your trip
Choose a book strand to make the visit your own. A poetry lover could take a few favourite lines to discuss with a friend afterwards; a biography reader might arrive with a question about how a writer brings another writer’s life onto the page.
Keep the trip comfortable if you are travelling with friends of different ages. Agree on the amount of walking and the time you want for a meal before filling the day with other sessions. Ask the box office about access needs, and check any signing plans before bringing a heavy stack of books.
The 2026 programmes featured Gyles Brandreth at Cheltenham Literature Festival, Henley Literary Festival, Ilkley Literature Festival; follow those guides for event information and practical visit details.
Does Brandreth write novels as well as non-fiction?
Yes. His mysteries imagine Oscar Wilde as a detective, alongside biographies, diaries, language books and poetry anthologies. You can follow the part of his writing that interests you without needing to read across every form.
Do I need to read his latest book before attending?
A few chapters can help you find a question or idea you would enjoy hearing discussed. You can also arrive as a reader of his other work and use the conversation as an introduction to a different subject.
How do I book a Brandreth festival visit?
Use the host festival’s official box office for tickets and access questions. Decide how much else you want from the day before booking accommodation, especially if you are making the trip with companions who prefer a slower pace.
