Uploaded October 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Alan Johnson’s thriller, The Late Train to Gipsy Hill, finds the former Home Secretary and bestselling memoirist reinvented as a debut novelist, with a fast-paced, warm-hearted story that begins with an unremarkable young man making his unremarkable London commute. But when a beautiful woman he’s been too shy to approach holds up a mirror bearing the message “HELP ME” scrawled in mascara, a terrifying chase ensues. Along the way there are hair-raising encounters with Russian mobsters, the FSB, and even the Metropolitan police. Johnson, a Labour MP for 20 years, is the author of three award-winning memoirs. He hosts a podcast called How To Change the World, and writes an Agony Uncle column for Saga Magazine.
About the author: Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson is the author of three award-winning memoirs. He hosts a podcast called How To Change the World, and writes an Agony Uncle column for Saga Magazine.
Alan Johnson’s thriller, The Late Train to Gipsy Hill, finds the former Home Secretary and bestselling memoirist reinvented as a debut novelist, with a fast-paced, warm-hearted story that begins with an unremarkable young man making his unremarkable London commute. But when a beautiful woman he’s been too shy to approach holds up a mirror bearing the message “HELP ME” scrawled in mascara, a terrifying chase ensues. Along the way there are hair-raising encounters with Russian mobsters, the FSB, and even the Metropolitan police. Johnson, a Labour MP for 20 years, is the author of three award-winning memoirs. He hosts a podcast called How To Change the World, and writes an Agony Uncle column for Saga Magazine.
About the author: Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson is the author of three award-winning memoirs. He hosts a podcast called How To Change the World, and writes an Agony Uncle column for Saga Magazine.
![Joanna Nadin || The Worst Class in the World [AGES 5-8]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CXaChHjpguk/mqdefault.jpg "Joanna Nadin || The Worst Class in the World [AGES 5-8]
According to Miss Bottomley-Blunt, 4B is the worst class in the world, but Stanley and Manjit didnt mean to make their whole class sick, or for Manjits dog to eat their teacher’s shoes, or for the rat to escape. These things just seem to happen, even when they have a foolproof plan. They might be the worst class in the world, but where else would you want to be?
Join Joanna Nadin as she talks to Vivian French about the hilarious adventures in her new laugh-out-loud series.
SEND YOUR QUESTIONS
You or your teacher can send questions before or during the show for a special Q&A at the end. Submit to questions@wigtownbookfestival.com.")
![Abi Elphinstone || Everdark || [AGES 7-12]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F0D4sqTsDVQ/mqdefault.jpg "Abi Elphinstone || Everdark || [AGES 7-12]
A world of magic and adventure awaits. Join Abi Elphinstone as she leads you into a whole new world in her latest title Everdark, the prequel to her mesmerising Unmapped Chronicles series.
It is midnight in Crackledawn - a midnight full of magic. Sea dragons stir in the depths of the ocean, silver whales surface beneath the moon and sand goblins line the shores. Everyone is waiting for the phoenix, the guardian of the kingdoms magic, to rise up from the forests of Everdark. But there is no sign of the phoenix tonight. Can eleven-year-old Smudge and a grumpy monkey called Bartholomew sail beyond the legendary Northswirl to stop the harpy stealing Crackledawns magic, before it’s too late?
Grab your compass, roll down your sail and join the adventure.
SEND YOUR QUESTIONS
You or your teacher can send questions to Abi before or during the event [questions@wigtownbookfestival.com] for a Q&A session at the end of the event.")
