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Leeds Festival of Ideas reveals full September line-up

Guests for all five panels have been announced today, as have the topics they will be discussing.

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 2nd July 2021

Leeds International Festival of Ideas is set to make a storm in the city this September when it presents an ambitious program packed with inspirational speakers

Formerly known as Leeds International Festival, highlights include thought-provoking panel debates and inspirational keynote speeches, aiming to explore and challenge the ways in which we view the world.

Some big-name speakers like Lenny Henry and Katherine Ryan have already been teased out, but now organisers have finally revealed the full 2021 lineup and there are some brilliant names on there.

These include Guilty Feminist podcaster Deborah Frances-White, multi-award-winning Parliamentary sketch writer Matthew Parris and Dazed columnist Bolu Babalola.

Organisers have also given insights into what the debates will be on this year, revealing that questions like 'Can we ever be who we want to be? Does the future have enough food? Are we more lonely? Is the UK media broken and finally Green or Growth?' will take center stage at the event.

This year, the festival runs from Monday 13th to Monday 27th September and will take place at three key venues: City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds Town Hall and Leeds Corn Exchange.

The festival aims to provide a platform for the exploration of new ideas and innovation while confronting the challenges of our time and discussing the world of tomorrow.

Leading the line-up this year are four famous figures: actor, comedian and campaigner Sir Lenny Henry CBE, comedian and presenter Katherine Ryan, architect and campaigner George Clarke and founder of the MOBO organisation Kanya King CBE.

Others due to attend includ economic expert and BBC presenter Evan Davis, award-winning writer and broadcaster Alix Fox, Tony Blair’s former Communications Strategist and Chief Spokesman Alastair Campbell, campaigner, speaker and writer Gina Martin, Masterchef Judge, Guardian food critic and Author Grace Dent.


“After a long time planning we are so pleased to reveal the plans," said Martin Dickson, Leeds International Festival of Ideas Lead.

"From Sir Lenny Henry headlining and talking at Leeds’ premier venue to chatting over why the UK media is broken with some of its best journalists, to the important chats around businesses growing whilst being sustainable after a pandemic with hot topics in Leeds around the airport, to what does the future of food hold for us.

"Imagine, in just 6 of the days sitting in the Corn Exchange watching such a calibre of acts like George Clarke, Kanya King, Katherine Ryan and culminating with Sir Lenny Henry.“

Tickets for Leeds International Festival of Ideas and the full program will go live and on sale at 9am on Friday 2nd July 2021 via the festival's website.



The full list of events taking place as part of this year's festival:

Are we more Lonely?
13th September - 19:00
City Varieties Music Hall
Featuring Deborah Frances-White, Dr Melrose Stewart, Alix Fox, Emilia Van Hauen, Bolu Babolula

The MOBOS and Me with Kanya King CBE
Leeds Corn Exchange
September 19th - 16:30

Does the Future have enough food?
City Varieties Music Hall
September 20th - 19:00
Featuring: Grace Dent, Dr Morgaine Gaye, Mike Lee, Ben Davy (Meatless Farm), Ness Knight

Living in a Future City with George Clarke
Leeds Corn Exchange
September 21st - 19:00

In Conversation with Katherine Ryan
Leeds Corn Exchange
September 22nd - 19:00

Can we ever be who we want to be?
Leeds Town Hall
September 23rd - 19:00
Featuring: Amrou Al-Kadhi, Hashi Mohamed, Caroline Criado Perez, Anne-Marie Imafidon, Gina Martin

Is the UK media Broken?
Leeds Town Hall
September 24th - 19:00
Featuring: Evan Davis, Amol Rajan, Alastair Campbell, Matthew Parris, Robyn Vinter

Who am I, again? With Sir Lenny Henry CBE
Leeds Corn Exchange
September 25th - 19:00

Green or Growth?
City Varieties Music Hall
September 27th - 19:00
Featuring: Michaela Strachan, Henri Murison, Paul Chatterton, Noga Levy-Rapoport

News

Get Baked’s viral ‘Bertha’ cake has a sister on the way – and she sounds just as cheeky

Danny Jones Danny Jones

She's big, she's green and she's ready to ruin your figure.

A lot of you will have seen the viral ‘Bertha’ cake by Leeds born beloved sweet treat specialists Get Baked.

They recently opened another site in Manchester's Northern Quarter, where queues literally formed round the block of hungry punters wanting to get their hands on the infamous sugary treats.

And now it's going to happen all over again, as they've recently unveiled their newest flavour which is sure to go down a storm.

We’ll give you a hint: it’s a current food and drink trend that’s about as big as Bertha herself – it’s not matcha, it’s not hot honey (duh), and it’s not Guinness…

Images: Get Baked

Yes—scratch that; HELL YES! Get Baked is set to welcome Bertha’s equally beautiful twin sister, and she’s officially a pistachio girlie.

Having started out life simply as ‘Bruce’, after taking inspiration from the iconic scene from Matilda, this thing has become a phenomenon in its own right, and who doesn’t like more flavours of a good thing?

Probably one of the biggest foodie crazes going at the minute, thanks to the popularity of pistachio cream, cookies, lattes and the similar social media sensation that is the ‘Dubai Pistachio Bar' people are rather fittingly going nuts for this particular flavour of almost absolutely anything.

With that in mind, the Leeds-born bakery and dessert shop – founded by Rich Myers over in Headingley back in 2011 – have shown no hesitation in hopping on the bandwagon and creating a new twist on their own viral menu item.

Teasing the full details in a post on their Instagram this week, they wrote: “What’s big, green, and is going to destroy your life in a couple of weeks’ time? Pistachio Bertha. Strictly limited to 5,000 slices. Coming oh so soon. GB.”

In case you were wondering just how mad those with a sweet tooth could possibly go for a slice of cake, just look at the recent queues when they finally launched in Manchester city centre:

@the.manc @GET BAKED® are giving away 1000 slices of Bertha right now at their new store in Northern Quarter and Manchester, you turned up 👏 #themanc #manchester #getbaked #giveaway #newopening #bakery #queue #manchesterfood #manchestereats #cake ♬ original sound - The Manc

Speaking on the grand opening here on our turf and his partner Amy’s hometown, Myers said simply: “Manchester, what a launch. Thanks for much for the warm welcome. Stay baked.”

Read more: The Swine That Dines announces the official opening date of its brand new restaurant

Featured image - Get Baked

News

Leeds Tattoo Expo to return to the First Direct Arena for 10th anniversary

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

The tenth annual Leeds Tattoo Expo will showcase some of the best in tattooing both local and internationally.

If you fancy getting yourself a fancy new bit of ink, then look no further than the iconic Leeds Tattoo Expo that will be returning to the First Direct Arena this June.

Taking place on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June 2025, over 200 tattooists and 70 traders will be flocking to the city to show off their skills.

And not only that, but there’ll also be a whole host of market traders for you to browse as well as live music to have a boogie to.

The artists will be tattooing with options for both pre-booked appointments and walk ups available throughout the weekend.

Image: Leeds Tattoo Expo

There will also be a piercer, tooth gems and a henna artist ready to adorn your body.

Alongside getting tattooed, there’s plenty to do and to see over the whole weekend; there'll be an alternative drawing class, an illustrators market with kids’ workshops provided by Art Gecko, an art fusion event on the main stage, burlesque performances and competitions, a small vintage clothing pop-up, fire breathing and break dancing demonstrations in the square outside the arena.

The annual tattoo competitions will also be taking place each evening, where tattooists showcase their work to a panel of judges, sponsored by Killer Ink!

To celebrate Leeds Tattoo Expo's tenth anniversary, they'll be hosting a Pre-Party at Belgrave Music Hall on Thursday 5 June which is a completely free entry event complete with live music and free pizza.

You can find out more about the event and book your tickets here via the First Direct Arena's website.

Read more:

Featured image - Leeds Tattoo Expo

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