Crime-fighting clergy, Victorian sex scandals, and the trailblazing Queen Victoria – London Book & Screen Week returns for vibrant 5th year

The 5th London Book & Screen Week (LBSW) will look behind the scenes of Grantchester, dive into the tumultuous lives of Oscar Wilde and Queen Victoria, and move from the YA fiction of Holly Bourne to the recipes of Honey & Co, the best of Romantic Comedy to the billion dollar business of modest fashion.

London’s biggest celebration of books and the films, TV programmes and virtual worlds they inspire – produced by The London Book Fair– today announces a wide-ranging programme that will once again bring together readers, writers, game, film and TV fans for events across the creative capital of the world.

As the much-anticipated Grantchester returns to our screens, the festival brings together LBSW Ambassador James Runcie, author of the novels behind the popular TV series (The Grantchester Mysteries) and Daisy Coulam, Grantchester’s lead script writer, to discuss the charms of crime-fighting clergy, on-set antics, and the fascinating elements of creating a popular period drama.

The acclaimed historian Lucy Worsley will discuss her major new biography Queen Victoria: Daughter, Wife, Mother at LBSW. From passionate princess to remarkably successful queen, this royal affair will explore the defining moments of Queen Victoria's life, and how she invented a new role for the monarchy.

The Oxford University historian and literary critic Dr Michele Mendelssohn and journalist and author Paul Burston will get together ahead of St Patrick’s Day to mark the enduring appeal of one of the world’s most infamous literary figures - Oscar Wilde. Mendelssohn will discuss her critically acclaimed biography, Making Oscar Wilde, offering fascinating new insights into the early career of the Irish eccentric who would become a cultural icon, and examining how he built his reputation against a backdrop of sensation-hungry Victorian journalism, sex scandals and racial controversies. This will be followed by a look at his final years, in disgraced exile, with a screening of Rupert Everett's biopic The Happy Prince.

The food duo behind the award-winning Honey & Co comes to LBSW to share a trick or two and talk about their critically acclaimed book At Home: Middle Eastern Recipes from our Kitchen. Attendees can try four dishes cooked up by Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich at this Saturday morning food demonstration and taster session at the Good Housekeeping Institute.

Straight-talking queen of YA fiction Holly Bourne will discuss mental health, feminism and female friendship, alongside her latest novel Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes?

In association with the Romantic Novelists' Association, LBSW will celebrate the very best of Rom Com on page and screen with internationally bestselling authors Sarah Morgan and Nicola Cornick. Join them for a sparkling discussion and film screening.

Polari, London’s award-winning LGBT+ literary salon, returns to Soho for LBSW. Hosted by Paul Burston, the event will feature readings and performances from VG Lee, Keith Jarrett, Angela Clerkin and Ian Elmslie.

Plus, a fascinating event on the rise of modest fashion with designer and author of Hijab Street Style and Brain, Beauty, Belief Dian Pelangi, Centenary Professor of Cultural Studies at London College of Fashion, UAL Reina Lewis, director and co-founder of Ayah – a modest fashion consultancy- Kulsum Patel, and couturier Raishma Islam.

"With James Runcie at the helm, London Book & Screen Week promises a fabulous and entertaining programme. Whether it is cookery or crime that gets you turning the page, or drama – historical or contemporary - that has you glued to the screen, there is something for everyone who is interested in the talent and the story behind these bestselling books. Come and join us in March!"

- Jacks Thomas Director, London Book & Screen Week

To find out more, and book event tickets, visit www.londonbookandscreenweek.co.uk. This year's events are sponsored by Indonesia Market Focus.

For all media enquires please contact Ashton Bainbridge and Daniel Kramb at FMcM Associates on +44 207 405 7422 or email ashtonb@fmcm.co.uk / danielk@fmcm.co.uk.