During World War Two, thousands of black American troops arrived in the Westcountry. Many were treated appallingly by the US Army. Kate Werran is in conversation with Jo Durrant, discussing her book Black Yanks and the case of Leroy Henry, and the impact on the civil rights movement.

In an age of Generative AI and relentless digital news, artist and reporter George Butler offers a powerful alternative: slowing down to truly see. This visually rich, thought-provoking talk challenges audiences to look beyond headlines and photography, and to view the world through an artist’s eyes: with empathy, compassion, and creativity.

Monsters have thrilled and chilled us for thousands of years. From the dragon of Bavaria to the vampires of the Balkans, from the ferocious oni of Japan to Mary Shelley’s invention of Frankenstein’s monster and the movie monsters that fill our screens today, award-winning author Nicholas Jubber takes us on his journey into the origins and continuing resonance of monster stories: a journey that shines a light on the stories that connect communities all around the world.

Winston Churchill- The Making of a Warlord is a vivid journey through the life of one of history’s most iconic leaders. Acclaimed military historian and former intelligence officer, Anthony Tucker Jones will give a talk on how Churchill’s formative years- marked by adventure, ambition, and relentless self-belief- shaped the warlord ​he would one day become. 

Best-selling true crime author Mark Bridgeman discusses his research into an unsolved murder on Jersey.

Faith will talk about her humorous, Dorset-based crime cosy novels, The Body on the Roundabout and Death by Canape, which were inspired by her career as a news reporter in the county. She’ll explain why, after accidentally leaving journalism for PR, she missed her old newsroom so much, she created one of her own, the stories behind her characters and locations, and why she didn’t initially want to include a crime in her novel!

Best-selling true crime author Mark Bridgeman will be returning to the festival this year with another infamous real-life Dorset murder trial – in which YOU the audience will become the jury.