Range of well-known authors to appear at this year's Morpeth Book Festival

Television journalists and celebrity presenters Steph McGovern and Sally Magnusson, former Labour Party ‘Big Beast’ and ex-Home Secretary Alan Johnson, Alistair Moffat, legendary Scottish broadcaster and prolific writer of books about his beloved home country, and multi-million selling thriller writer T M Logan head the line-up of authors taking part in the festival on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22.

Prior to the festival weekend, former Newcastle United footballer Paul Ferris will talk about his 18-year involvement with the club that he writes about in his latest book ‘Once Upon a Toon’. Paul can be seen at 7.30pm on Thursday, March 19 at Morpeth Rugby Club.

All the other talks for the festival – organised by the Greater Morpeth Development Trust and Northumberland Libraries – take place either at Morpeth’s St George’s United Reformed Church, Morpeth Library or the historic Chantry building.

Thanks to Maximize Education, children in schools across the Morpeth area will receive copies of a story called The Seed Who Wanted to Sprout written by the winner of a recent competition along with sunflower seeds they can plant and watch grow.

In addition, Fiona Powell’s winning entry will be read by well-known Northumberland storyteller Chris Hudson during the festival on Saturday, March 21 in Morpeth Library at 10am.

People will also be able to donate children’s books they no longer need via a collection point. They will be distributed by the Children North East charity.

Tickets are still available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/morpeth-book-festival or https://gmdt.net/morpeth-book-festival-2026 or in person at The Chantry.