Mary Berry and Alan Titchmarsh join list of Chalke History Festival speakers

Tuesday, 24 March 2026 14:01

More speakers have been added to the line-up for this year's Chalke History Festival, with Alan Titchmarsh and Mary Berry joining a host of other stars.

The speaker lineup now includes further big household names, including a number of national treasures and personalities from the film and TV world. Legendary food writer, chef, and former presenter of The Great British Bake Off, Mary Berry, will join the hugely popular gardener, bestselling author, and broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh for a fascinating talk about gardens for the National Garden Scheme.

Award-winning actress and star of iconic TV series such as Downton Abbey, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, and Killing Eve, Harriet Walter will be making her debut at Chalke when she talks about visibility and representation of older women in the arts.

Bestselling author and co-host of 'The Rest is History' podcast, Tom Holland, will be sharing his passion for cricket when he is joined by former England spin bowler Vic Marks and commentator Simon Hughes as they debate the best England team captains from 1979 to 2025.

History fans with a particular fascination with the Second World War, and the lead-up to it, are in for a treat this June. Bestselling author and an expert on the world’s most infamous special forces unit, Damien Lewis, will be sharing tales of high-stakes operations and undercover rescues undertaken by the SAS.

Finally, co-hosts of the hugely popular podcast 'We Have Ways of Making You Talk', Al Murray and James Holland, will be discussing the sinking
the Bismarck in May 1941.

The hugely popular and informative Chalke History Festival for Schools runs from Monday 22nd June to Wednesday 24th June, with Wednesday being solely a SEND day for all school ages. On this day, the site will be much quieter than on normal mainstream school days, with no loud or sudden noises. Further information and details on how to book can be found on the festival website, with the already impressive programme being announced in full very soon.

Three and seven-day tickets are on sale now. The full programme and day tickets for the Chalke History Festival will be available from 22 April 2026.