HYDE, BALDING AND A BLOODY BUSY BOOKSHOP

The Heath Bookshop continues its frankly rather showing-off run of author events with two very different national treasures heading to Birmingham stages.

First up is Guardian columnist and professional cutter-through-of-nonsense Marina Hyde, bringing What a Time to Be Alive! to The Alexandra, September 23. Hyde will be in conversation with comedian, author and Infinite Monkey Cage co-host Robin Ince, picking through the political and celebrity fever dream of recent years – from Liz Truss and Starmer to Trump, Bezos and the Gwyneth Paltrow ski trial. There’ll be audience questions and a signing afterwards.

Then broadcaster Clare Balding heads to The Crescent Theatre, September 24, to discuss her debut novel Pastures New, newly out in paperback. Best known for everything from Wimbledon and the Olympics to Ramblings and, more recently, The Traitors, Balding turns novelist with the story of Alex, an almost-40 responsibility-dodger who unexpectedly inherits a crumbling Welsh sheep farm.

Balding will be in conversation before an audience Q&A and book signing.

Both events are organised by brilliant Kings Heath indie The Heath Bookshop, both will be BSL interpreted and tickets are on sale now. Birmingham’s bookshelves are having quite the year.