Leeds International Festival of Ideas announces incredible new speakers with 80% of tickets already sold

The Hoot Leeds is excited to be a media partner for Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2024.

29th July 2024

3 minute read

The countdown is on until one the Yorkshire’s biggest festivals of culture kicks off – and the line-up just keeps getting better and better.

If you haven’t got your tickets yet for the Leeds International Festival of Ideas, then there’s no time like the present as a whopping 80% of tickets are already sold.

And it comes as no surprise, as this year’s festival boasts a fantastic lineup presenting a diverse array of topics and discussion.

This year, conversations span from addiction, artificial intelligence, care, neurodiversity, and the impact of reality TV on our perception of reality amongst other exciting topics.⁠

LIFI 2024 will see the likes of Kate Adie, Stacey Dooley, Kate Garraway, Goldie, Paterson Joseph, Nile Rodgers, Rebecca Lucy Taylor aka Self Esteem, Tim Spector, Carol Vorderman and many more take to the stage.

If you’re not sold quite yet, then allow the four new speakers tempt you to get your ticket and join the discussions.

Jazz Boatswain, a former contestant on the second series of the BBC hit show The Traitors, will delve into reality television and ask ‘How is TV Distorting our Reality?’.

Taylor Little, a plaintiff in the ongoing U.S. lawsuit In Re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation, joins the panel on addiction along side Chris Sylvester, founder of Getting Clean CIC – an innovative project that aims to change the perception of addiction while addressing environmental issues.

Last but not least, renowned jewellery designer Daniella Draper will be hosting an engaging afternoon session with Grace Beverley, discussing everything from the gender pay gap to what it truly takes to be an important business woman.

When is LIFI24?

Taking place from Wednesday 2 October – Saturday 5 October 2024, the full event timetable for 2024 is as follows:⁠

	Courtyard Theatre	Quarry Theatre
Wed 2 Oct
Wed 2 Oct	7pm – How do we talk about addiction?	7:30pm – The evolution of creativity with Nile Rodgers (hosted by BEKA)
Thu 3 Oct	12pm – How to break moulds and influence people with Grace Beverley
Thu 3 Oct	7pm – Could AI be humanity’s saviour?	7:30pm – Trust your gut with Tim Spector (hosted by Dr Amir Khan)
Fri 4 Oct	7pm – How is TV distorting our reality?	7:30pm – Does the media need to grow a pair? With Carol Vorderman and Self Esteem
Sat 5 Oct	2pm – We’re all neurodiverse aren’t we?
Sat 5 Oct	7pm – Who really cares?	7:30pm – This means war with Kate Adie (hosted by Stacey Dooley)

Martin Dickson, Festival Manager, says, “The power of LIFI to bring the people of Leeds together and have a courageous, open, and honest conversation about major issues affecting us all in society today is one of the unique elements that sets this festival apart. There’s nothing as bold, confident, or influential in the UK today as a people-focused festival.”

“LIFI aims to shout louder about the city, confidently and boldly projecting an innovative, creative, exciting place to be and amplifying that to the world; that is what makes it the ultimate place-marketing festival of its type, not only in Leeds but the UK. The heartbeat of the festival lies in the experiences and sentiments shared by the people who came to witness it. After last year’s sell-out, we are super proud of this year’s line-up and hope many people join the conversation!”