Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants

Harrogate’s 2024 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival has kicked off to yet another successful start as the sun shines down on an audience that can't hide in the shadows.

A staggering 18,000 ticket holders over the weekend will be able to get close to their favourite authors.

Last night, Simon Theakston gave a witty and much-appreciated speech to the loyal supporters gathered for the awards ceremony.

Catching up with 2024 Festival Programming Chair Ruth Ware, she said she was ebullient about the festival, saying it was “a joyful and incredible experience to be part of it. Truly a dream come true.”

Ware's first festival was in 2023, which happily coincided with the first in Harrogate. She had been a nervous publicist, and a decade later, as a fledgling author, she admitted passing proofs of her first novel to unsuspecting readers.

She recently answered questions on BBC Radio 4's Loose Ends about why British crime is so successful and why, despite being a relatively small island, the UK frequently outperforms its cultural peers, particularly given that British authors consistently top best-seller charts worldwide.

Hence her comment about standing on the shoulders of giants from Christie, who disappeared to Harrogate's Old Swan Hotel, and other big names such as PD James, Ruth Rendall, Colin Dexter, Val McDermid, and Ian Rankin to names like Mark Billingham, who joins the throng of crime authors milling around the hotel corridors and lawns. 

"Harrogate has launched many names and stellar careers," she said.

But it is not just about the authors; festivals like the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival are for everyone, Ware said. "Whether it is making connections, looking someone in the eye as they tell their story, or hearing their voice as they chat in the bar, friendships are formed."

One of her most telling remarks came when she reminded me that books are not just a fluffy extra; they are an increasing economic driver in an uncertain hospitality sector.

The Harrogate Festival brings an astonishing £8m into the local economy.

While we all understand the fragility of festivals, Harrogate continues to thrive, and all festivals make a significant contribution to the communities they serve. An important reminder to Keir Starmer's new government that the British festival scene should not be underestimated. 

It was pleasing to hear Simon Theakston announce last night that the brewery is extending its sponsorship of the Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.

I’ll drink to that!

The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival continues across the weekend. For more details click here