A Sandi Toksvig book event can suit someone who enjoys a story told aloud and wants to follow a familiar broadcasting voice back to the page. She writes novels, memoir and books for children. In 2026, Hay and Cheltenham gave readers two settings for an evening with her.
Toksvig’s writing sits alongside a career in theatre, radio and television. Her books reach different readers: there is fiction for adults, memoir, and writing for younger audiences. A reader can begin with the form they love, then follow the same voice into a different part of the bookshelf.
Friends of Dorothy was first published by Virago in September 2024 and appeared in paperback in September 2025. It is a comic novel about a family formed beyond biological ties. Hearing a passage in its author’s voice can give someone who has already read it another way to enjoy the writing.
Her earlier books include a memoir and historical fiction, with stories for children among the work too. Readers who know her mainly through broadcasting have several ways to discover the writer behind the voice. There is no need to make a choice between listening and reading: a live evening can send you home curious about a book, just as a favourite book can make you want to hear its author.
Where to start with their books
Between the Stops
A journey on London’s number 12 bus becomes a way of moving through memories and the history along the route. Choose this memoir if you enjoy a voice that can turn an ordinary journey into a chain of stories and observations.
Valentine Grey
A young woman takes her cousin’s place in uniform when the Boer War begins, leaving him behind in London. This historical novel is an entrance for readers interested in the lives people can lead when the roles expected of them are unsettled.
Hitler’s Canary
In Nazi-occupied Denmark, a family becomes involved in resistance and rescue as two boys find that trouble cannot simply be avoided. It offers younger readers a story of courage during war, told from a child’s viewpoint.
A Slice of the Moon
Slim and her family leave Ireland for America when hunger overturns their lives. This is a choice for a young reader who enjoys a journey story, with the hope of a new home and the challenge of keeping a family together.
Festival appearances
For tickets, use the host festival’s official box office. Confirm the date, venue and access details before paying.
Hay’s An Evening with Sandi Toksvig had the subtitle A Passion for Books and sat within the Barrel of Laughs strand. It ran from 8.45pm to 10pm on 25 May, on the Global Stage, with stories, facts, readings from her latest novel and quick-fire questions about writers and books.
Where to see them next
Sandi Toksvig is announced for WOW London, 5–7 March 2027, at the Southbank Centre. Her individual appearance day has not been announced yet. 2027 dates and event information.
Plan your trip
For a late book evening, decide on the journey home before you buy a ticket. An overnight stay can leave time to enjoy the last story without watching the clock for a connection. Keep a meal and a relaxed arrival in the plan, so the evening has room to unfold.
A friend who mainly knows her broadcasting can share the outing with a reader of the novels. Swap recommendations afterwards and let each of you bring a different point of recognition. If a younger reader is coming, check the festival’s age guidance and choose an event intended for them.
The 2026 programmes featured Sandi Toksvig at Cheltenham Literature Festival, Hay Festival; follow those guides for event information and practical visit details.
What was the Hay evening like?
It combined storytelling, facts, readings and questions around writers and books. The appeal was the chance to hear a reader as well as a novelist. A fan could enjoy recognising passages while also following the conversation beyond one story.
Should I read a novel or the memoir first?
Start with the kind of reading you want. A memoir offers a first-person voice; a novel gives you characters to spend time with. The suggestions above span several forms, and you can enjoy a festival evening without completing them all.
How should I plan a late event?
Use the festival links on Sandi Toksvig’s profile for the event’s own ticket and audience guidance.
Are these events suitable for children?
Use the festival links on Sandi Toksvig’s profile for the event’s own ticket and audience guidance.
