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Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2022 announce huge names for lineup

The full lineup has been announced.

Sophie Smith Sophie Smith - 27th April 2022

Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2022 has unveiled its full programme of panels and keynotes- tickets are now on sale.

Christopher Wylie, Gail Porter, David Harewood, Mary Beard, Rosie Jones, Simon Jordan and Gareth Thomas amongst new names announced joining Yotam Ottolenghi, David Olusoga at this year's Leeds International Festival of Ideas.

Tackling some of the most crucial questions of our time, Leeds International Festival of Ideas (LIFI) has just launched its full panel and keynote speakers for 2022. From the future of technology, to climate justice and the social duty of sports professionals, this will be an international festival to remember.

Consisting of four keynote talks and six panels from Thursday 22 September - Sunday 25 September 2022, LIFI will take place in Leeds’ new premier venue, Howard Assembly Room and Howard Opera Centre.

FIFI in 2021. / Image: Tom Martin for Chapter 81

At each event, a host of household names and industry experts will debate and discuss thought-provoking subjects, and more, at length in expertly chaired panels.

Joining the previously announced chef and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi and British-Nigerian historian and broadcaster David Olusoga OBE in delivering the festival’s keynote addresses, an array of speakers have been added to this exciting line-up.

Award-winning stand-up, writer and actor, Aisling Bea, and classicist and national treasure Mary Beard have been added to the keynote line-up, whilst Christopher Wylie, best known for his role in setting up - and taking down - the cyberwarfare firm Cambridge Analytica, will join the Sonia Sodha-chaired panel ‘Is social media ruling the world?’.

Aisling Bea
Aisling Bea, Speaking at LIFI22 / Image: Supplied

Sodha, chief leader writer and columnist at the Observer and Guardian, will also be joined on the panel by Dr Al Baker, editorial director at misinformation-fighting tech start-up Logically and consultant, speaker, writer and podcaster Africa Brooke. 

Award winning journalist, author and mental health campaigner Bryony Gordon will host ‘How do we talk about mental health?’, where her panel will discuss if there is still more to be added to the conversation, or if it has now been normalised.

Environmental activist, and honorary president of Black Environment Network, Judy Ling Wong CBE will also be joining the LIFI panel alongside policy and advocacy expert Pauline Castres, president of Swedish youth organisation Sáminuorra Sara-Elvira Kuhmunen, climate justice activist Dominique Palmer, Miami-based artist Lee Pivnik and wildlife cameraman and photographer Hamza Yassin.

David Olusoga, speaking at Leeds International Festival of Ideas says: "The world is in a strange place right now and having festivals like this, bringing people together to discuss topics is exactly what is needed. I will be talking about the history of great inventions and the inventors and can they ever be separated." 

Headline names include Yotam Ottolenghi, David Olusoga and Lara Lewington. / Image: Supplied

Read More: The Great British Sewing Bee is back- here’s everything you need to know about its new Leeds home

Over the four days, each household name will chair a panel of events, with headline questions like: 'is the metaverse our future reality?' hosted by Lara Lewington, and 'how do we talk about mental health?' with mental health campaigner, journalist and author Byrony Gordon.

With the full programme now revealed, tickets are on sale now. Explore the full line-up and buy tickets from the Leeds International Festival of Ideas.

Feature Image- Supplied

News

Kevin Sinfield will return to Leeds for his final 7 in 7 challenge in honour of Rob Burrow

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Leeds legend Kevin Sinfield is set to take on his seventh and final 7 in 7 challenge this month.

The former Leeds Rhinos captain will begin 7 in 7: The Grand Finale next Sunday 27 September.

Wondering what on earth that is? Allow us to fill you in.

Sinfield will be running an ultra-marathon every day for seven days, and this time it's across the north of England including a special stop off right here in Leeds.

Not only that, but the challenge will bring Sinfield back to some of the places that have played a huge part in his rugby league career.

The route will visit all 12 English Betfred Super League grounds, starting at Hull KR before travelling through Yorkshire and eventually crossing the Pennines towards Manchester where Sinfield is from.

Here in Leeds, we can expect Sinfield to arrive at Headingley Stadium on Wednesday 30 September at 11:14am, before leaving towards Pudsey Civic Hall at 11:40am.

The challenge will then finish at Old Trafford on Saturday 3 October, where Sinfield will arrive ahead of the Super League Grand Final.

Since the first annual challenge back in 2020, Kevin Sinfield and his team have raised over £11 million for the MND community with six charities set to benefit once again from this years fundraising.

It's an amazing challenge for an amazing cause, and you can donate and find out more about the challenge here.

Good luck Kevin and the team, we know you'll smash it.

Read more from The Hoot Leeds:

Featured image - Wikimedia Commons

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Channel 4 needs people from Yorkshire who think they can survive the apocalypse for a new TV series

Lydia Mastrolonardo Lydia Mastrolonardo

Have you always wondered how long you’d last in an apocalypse?

Well now's your chance, as Apocalypse is potentially coming back to Channel 4 for a second series, with producers having put out a nationwide casting call for contestants willing to take part. 

The casting call simply reads: "Do you think you have what it takes to survive the end of the world?"

Described as a dystopian series designed to test the creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience of our nation, Apocalypse sees players are pushed out of their comfort zones and put to the ultimate test.

In the series, ordinary people are tasked with surviving for 28 days in an abandoned city - used previously only for the military to practice urban warfare - with no food, running water, electricity or heat. 

Produced by The Garden - which is part of ITV Studios - for Channel 4, the show’s creators are now calling on people from Yorkshire with the 'courage and ingenuity' to compete, to get in touch and apply for the potential second series.

Does your mate always bang on after watching a post-apocalyptic film that they would’ve done things differently? Or is the news at the moment freaking you out and you want to give the end of the world a bit of a practice run? Either way, sign up, test that plan you’ve built in your head, and see if you’ve really got what it takes.

Applications are now open, and all you need to do is fill in a short application form and one of the production team will get back to you if they would like to proceed. Come on, let's prove what we're made of.

Applications close on Sunday 4 October 2026 at midnight, and you must be 18 or above, with a valid UK or ROI passport, to enter. 

Find out more and apply here.

Featured Image - Matthew Salacuse / Channel 4

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