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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

New BBC TV drama starring Bel Powley and Harley Squires to be filmed in Leeds this spring

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

The BBC has announced a brand-new crime drama set to be filmed in Leeds and Hull.

We all love a BBC drama, and luckily for us one is about to be filmed right here in Leeds.

The new drama will be titled Shy & Lola, starring Harley Squires from The Night Manager and Bel Powley from The Diary of A Teenage Girl.

The six-part series has been described as a "dark comedy" about two women caught up in a murder in the criminal underworld.

The plot follows an unassuming pair in a small coastal town in northern England where the pair both realise they have a hidden talent for crime.

The series synopsis states: "As they build an operation that threatens to blow the local bad guys out of the water, opposing futures beckon – using their earnings to fund a fresh start, or becoming the new bosses in town."

The show is based on a popular French TV series and is written by Amanda Coe, an acclaimed English screenwriter and novelist.

Amanda Coe spoke about the announcement: "With such a rich and spiky central relationship at its core, Shy & Lola is a dream of a show to write, full of fun, action and emotion. I can't wait to see our hugely exciting cast and director bring it to life."

Rachelle Constant, executive Producer for Clerkenwell Films, said: "Amanda has written a brilliantly bold series centred on a dynamic female duo, which blends dark comedy with propulsive storytelling.We’re thrilled to have Hayley and Bel as our leads, alongside an exceptional cast and crew."

The new series will begin filming in Leeds and Hull this spring and will air on BBC One and iPlayer and we'll absolutely be tuning in.

Read more: Yorkshire actor Robert Aramayo scoops BAFTA alongside other ‘surprise’ northern winners

Featured image - BBC

News

Turnstile to play their only UK headline show this year at Halifax Piece Hall

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Turnstile will headline the Halifax Piece Hall this summer, their only UK headline show.

The Grammy-winning hardcore group have just announced a very special show at historic venue the Halifax Piece Hall.

As part of the venue's huge summer season, Turnstile will take to the stage on Wednesday 26 August marking a whopping 41 shows at the Piece Hall's calendar so far.

The group pulled huge crowds at Glastonbury festival last year and scooped up two Grammy Awards earlier this month, using their platform to thank fans who "swung in the dark" with them. 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by TURNSTILE (@turnstileluvconnection)

Nicky Chance-Thompson MBE DL FRSA, CEO of The Piece Hall Trust, says: “2026 will see Turnstile playing at some of the world’s most iconic festivals and then here in Halifax at UK’s most iconic heritage venue.” 

“We always aim to deliver for the full spectrum of music lovers in Calderdale and knowing how passionate our rock and metal community is, this gig will be off the scale – truly unmissable!”

Alongside Turnstile, Halifax Piece Hall will welcome the likes of Hollywood Vampires, Paul Weller, Bowling For Soup, Skunk Anansie, Garbage, Empire of the Sun, Sex Pistols, Mcfly, CMAT and Jimmy Eat World this summer. What a season it's going to be.

Baltimore’s hardcore heroes will head to West Yorkshire to play TK Maxx presents Live at The Piece Hall on Wednesday August 26.

Tickets go on sale this Friday 27 February at 10am, and you can get your tickets here.

Find out more about what's going on at the Halifax Piece Hall this summer here.

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Featured image - Press image

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