Celebrated actress, author, and star of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and the upcoming Thursday Murder Club film, Celia Imrie, is set to headline Maidstone LitFest this October. Now in its third year, the festival has fast become a key date in Kent’s cultural calendar – and this year’s lineup is the most exciting yet.

Appearing alongside co-author Fidelis Morgan, Imrie will take to the stage at The Hazlitt Theatre (5 October) for a captivating discussion about their latest novel, Meet Me at Rainbow Corner. The uplifting wartime story draws on true events from WWII and explores courage, camaraderie, and romance on both sides of the Atlantic. In this exclusive headline event, the duo will reveal the real-life inspiration behind the book, their creative process, and their deep shared passion for storytelling rooted in history.

Celia Imrie
Image by: Chris Floyd

But that’s just one of the many literary treats in store. This year’s LitFest delivers a vibrant and varied programme designed to entertain, inspire, and provoke conversation — all set in the heart of Maidstone.

What’s on at LitFest 2025

Claire Douglas, Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author, brings her trademark suspense to Maidstone in an evening filled with dark secrets and chilling twists, as she introduces her brand-new thriller The New Neighbours.

Beloved novelist Freya North, author of 16 bestselling books, joins the festival to discuss her emotionally rich new work, The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne — a moving story about identity, grief, and the resilience of friendship.

Harriet Evans, bestselling author of sweeping contemporary fiction, joins us to talk about her richly layered new novel, The Treasures — a captivating tale of family secrets, love, and the echoes of the past.

Bishop Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Church of England’s first Black female bishop, takes to the stage at Maidstone Town Hall with her memoir A Girl from Montego Bay. She’ll share her extraordinary personal journey from a Jamaican childhood to one of the highest positions in the Anglican Church.

The packed programme also features:

• A poetry open mic night hosted by acclaimed poet and author Maggie Brookes-Butt
• A hands-on memoir writing workshop with Marnie Summerfield-Smith
• A hilarious evening with stand-up comic and writer Cally Beaton
• Former hostage negotiator Scott Walker, sharing behind-the-scenes insight into high-stakes conflict resolution
• Guardian journalist and author Sam Parker, exploring modern masculinity and mental health in Good Anger

This year, the festival expands into new spaces with the Hazlitt Theatre and The Exchange Studio joining a list of town-centre venues that includes Waterstones, Maidstone Museum, Kent History and Library Centre, The Village Hotel, and Maidstone Town Hall.

The Maidstone LitFest runs from 4–11 October, 2025. For the full programme, event details, and tickets, visit: maidstonelitfest.org