A very merry Christmas from Cheltenham Festivals...

A Very Merry Christmas from Cheltenham Festivals...

'Tis just weeks before Christmas, and here at Cheltenham Festivals we're beginning to feel distinctly, well, Festive! To celebrate this jolliest of seasons we asked the stars of this year's Literature Festival to share with us a special Christmas Memory.

Every day of advent we'll be unwrapping a different Christmas Memory for your delight and delectation. And as an extra-special treat, every Festive-Friday we'll be hearing from our Festival Directors and giving away Festive-al prizes galore!

So sit back, grab a mince pie and unwrap a very special Festive-al memory...


Saturday 24 December 2011

24th December: 'Twas the night before Christmas...

...and all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse...

As advent draws to close, our Festive-al advent competition reaches its grand finale with an extra special prize - a luxurious stay at Lower Slaughter Manor in Gloucestershire, a Cheltenham Festivals Membership and, of course, a festival goody bag! 

Such a fabulous prize deserves a fabulously festive question.


A whole host of our guests from The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 2011 have joined together to wish you a very Merry Christmas... and we want you to name our Festive-al stars!

There's 28 in total including actors, comedians, politicians, authors, famous faces, and even a couple of well known literary characters... For your chance to win just watch the video below and identify as many Festive-al stars as you can.



To be in with a chance of winning just tell us who our festive-al stars are in the form below. The winner will be the person with the most correct answers, and in the event of a tie, will be drawn from all correct entries. 

UPDATE: The competition is now closed. The correct answer is as follows:

  1. Tony Benn
  2. Julia Donaldson
  3. Malorie Blackman
  4. Jeremy Paxman
  5. Sebastian Faulks
  6. Francesca Simon
  7. Penny Smith
  8. Grace Dent
  9. Patrick Kielty
  10. Jarvis Cocker
  11. Mr Darcy
  12. Larry Lamb
  13. Joanna Lumley
  14. Ian Hislop
  15. George Lamb
  16. Stephen Poliakoff
  17. Robert Lindsay
  18. William Shakespeare
  19. Kwasi Kwarteng
  20. Lee Child
  21. Adam Hart-Davis
  22. Mark Kermode
  23. Witi Ihimaera
  24. Duncan Bannatyne
  25. Fern Britton
  26. Celia Imrie
  27. Roger McGough
  28. Jonathan Ross

Congratulations if you got them all correct!

Friday 23 December 2011

23rd December: A theatrical treat...

We've got an extra special treat to be won today courtesy of our friends at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Just identify today's mystery festive-al star for a chance to win four tickets to the RSC's brand new play The Heresy of Love on 6th February 2012.

The Heresy of Love by Helen Edmundson is inspired by the life of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, and opens at the Swan Theatre in Stratford on 2nd February. You can find out all about it on the RSC website.

We spoke to today's mystery star at the Music Festival in July. He's a superstar pianist who played in our concert for schools - so we asked him for advice to inspire budding young musicians, press play below to hear his answer…

23 Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... James Rhodes! Listen to the full interview from Music 2011 here:

James Rhodes interview - #cheltmusicfest 2011 by Cheltenham Festivals

Thursday 22 December 2011

22nd December: Dreaming of a literary Christmas...

Just two days until Christmas, and we're taking a trip back to the Literature Festival in October.

Today's prize package includes two great books to entertain you through the winter nights. The prize includes a signed copy of The Good, the Bad and the Multiplex by Mark Kermode, a copy of Eleven by comedian Mark Watson, and a festival goody bag.


To be in with a chance of winning just identify today's mystery star who we met at the Literature Festival. We asked him what books he loves,  press play below to hear his answer…

22nd Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Jarvis Cocker! Watch the full interview from Literature 2011 here:

Wednesday 21 December 2011

21st December: Christmas with a bang!

For today's prize we take our last visit of the season into the Science Festival archives.

Today's lucky winner can make sure Christmas goes with a bang with a Festive-al Goody bag packed with explosive treats. The package includes two great books - Richard Hammond's Blast Lab and James Cracknell's Body Science - the perfect combination for any budding young inventor, explorer or scientist. To be in with a chance of winning just identify today's stellar scientific star...


Today’s mystery guest is a huge scientific star, who just loves the Science Festival. We asked him what makes Cheltenham so great, press play below to hear his answer…


21st Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Brian Cox! Listen to the full interview from Science 2011 here:

Brian Cox interview - #cheltscifest 2011 by Cheltenham Festivals

Tuesday 20 December 2011

20th December: A stocking packed with literary treats...

There's only five sleeps until Christmas, and today's Festive-al treat is perfect for curling up with on a cold winter's night.

Today's prize package includes a signed copy of A.D. Miller's Man Booker Prize nominated novel Snow Drops, a copy of Dickens' festive classic A Christmas Carol and a Festival goody bag.

To be in with a chance of winning these literary classics just identify today's mystery star.



Today’s mystery guest is an award-winning author, who made his Cheltenham Literature Festival debut in 2010. We asked him about his year as the reigning Man Booker Prize winner, press play below to hear his answer…

20th Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Howard Jacobson! Watch the full interview from Literature 2011 here:

Monday 19 December 2011

19th December: Give a whole year of Festivals...

Today's lucky winner will be able to enjoy a whole year of festivals with today's prize of a Full Membership to Cheltenham Festivals (worth £35) and a festival goody bag.

As a member, today's winner will enjoy priority booking, exclusive festival previews and reduced ticket prices for the Jazz, Science, Music and Literature Festivals in 2012. It's the perfect gift for any fan of the festivals!  

Visit the Festival website for more on all the benefits of  Membership.


To be in with a chance of winning just identify today's mystery Festive-al star. Today's performer is an international star, who was a real hit at this year's Jazz Festival. His concert was broadcast live on BBC Radio 2, and here's what he said about making his UK jazz debut in Cheltenham....

19th Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Hugh Laurie! Congratulations if you got it right.

Credit Marilyn Kingwill

Sunday 18 December 2011

18th December

We have just one week to go until Christmas now, so don't forget to keep entering our competition each day for the chance to win Festival goodies!

Today's mystery guest was a Festival star at Literature 2011, and is a real fan of comic books and graphic novels - so we asked them why they love them so much.

Press play below to hear their answer, and tell us who they are to win a Festive-al prize and goody bag...

18th Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Jonathan Ross! Watch the full interview from Literature 2011 here:

Saturday 17 December 2011

17th December

Back to the Cheltenham Music Festival again today, and a mystery guest from our 2011 Festival...

In keeping with the classical theme, you could win a full album from one of our star performers of last year's programme - and of course a Festival goody bag.

Today's mystery guest is a rising star in the classical world. We asked them what inspires them, press play below to hear their answer...

17th Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Miloš Karadaglić! Congratulations if you got it right.

Friday 16 December 2011

16th December: With tidings of comfort and joy...

Today's prize is an indulgent treat from our friends at the Montpellier Chapter Hotel in Cheltenham. Today's lucky winner will be treated to 80 minutes of bliss in the Hotel Spa with an intense de-stress muscle massage (worth £65).

The Montpellier Chapter is Cheltenham's newest boutique hotel and a visit to their spa offers a tranquil escape from the stresses of the festive season.You can find out all about the indulgent treatments on offer on the Montpellier Chapter website.

To be in with a chance of winning this relaxing treat, and a festival goody bag, just identify today's mystery star.

Today’s mystery star was in the fastest selling event at the Literature Festival in October. We asked them how they found their way into writing, press play below to hear their answer…

16th Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.

UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Ian Hislop! See the full interview from Literature 2011 here:

Thursday 15 December 2011

15th December: Walking in a winter wonder-land...

As Christmas creeps closer, we look back to the Science Festival in June with a very scientific themed advent competition. 

Today's prize is simply out of this world - a copy of The Wonders of the Universe book by Professor Brian Cox. This beautiful book accompanies the acclaimed BBC TV series, and would be the perfect gift for any fan of outerspace. To be in with a chance of winning the book and a festival goody bag just identify today's mystery star.


Today's mystery star is a writer with a passion for science who Guest Directed this year's Science Festival. We asked him what he thinks is the most important scientific breakthrough, press play to hear his answer…

15th Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.

UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Alan Moore! Listen to the full interview from Science 2011 here:

Alan Moore interview - #cheltscifest 2011 by Cheltenham Festivals

Wednesday 14 December 2011

14th December: A treat for a cold winter's night...

Today's prize is perfect for curling up with on a cold winter's night - a signed copy of Fern Britton's new novel New Beginnings.


Warm, witty and wise, New Beginnings is a behind-the-scenes look at the ups and downs of life as a daytime TV presenter. To be in with a chance of winning this signed copy and a festival goody bag just identify today's mystery Festive-al star.


We spoke to today's mystery star at the Literature Festival when she was speaking about the joy of twitter. We asked her all about her latest gadget, press play below to hear her answer…

14th Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.

UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Grace Dent! See the full interview from Literature 2011 here:

Tuesday 13 December 2011

13th December: Jazzing around the Christmas Tree...

It's the season for meeting up with old friends and listening to great music, so to celebrate we've got a Jazz Festival treat in today's advent stocking...

As well as a Festive-al goody bag, today's prize package includes three inspiring jazz CDs. Identify our mystery star for the chance to win CDs by British jazz stars the Portico Quartet, Norwegian quintet Farmers Market and jazz pianist Tord Gustavsen. 



Today’s mystery star is one of the nation's favourite personalities with a real passion for jazz. We asked him what makes Cheltenham Jazz Festival so great, press play below to hear his answer…

13th Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Michael Parkinson! Congratulations if you got it right.

Credit Jules Beresford

Monday 12 December 2011

12th December: A very literary Christmas...

Today's prize is a special treat for all lovers of award-winning literature - a signed hard-back copy of The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson.

This Man Booker prize-winning novel has quickly become a modern classic and Howard Jacobson's humour, talent and wit have made him a real Cheltenham favourite. This is the perfect gift for any literary aficionado, especially when accompanied by a festival goody bag....


To be in with a chance of winning just identify today's mystery Festive-al star.

Today’s mystery star is another award-winning writer who is a real Cheltenham favourite. We asked him what it is like to see your novel adapted for the stage and screen, press play below to hear his answer…

12th Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Sebastian Faulks! See the full interview from Literature 2011 here:

Sunday 11 December 2011

11th December: Pianists playing...

It's just two weeks to go until the big day,and today's Festive-al prize comes from the Music Festival.

Today we are giving away a copy of Razor Blades, Little Pills & Big Pianos by pianist James Rhodes. James was a huge hit at this year's Music Festival, and this CD features captures that brilliance with pieces by Bach, Chopin and Beethoven. To be in with a chance of winning this stunning CD and a festival goody bag, just identify today's mystery star.

We spoke to today's Norwegian star at the Music Festival in July. He's played all over the world, so we asked him what makes Cheltenham so special. Press play below to hear his answer…

11th Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Leif Ove Andsnes! Listen to the full interview from Music 2011 here:

Leif Ove Andsnes interview - #cheltmusicfest 2011 by Cheltenham Festivals

Saturday 10 December 2011

10th December: Unwrap the perfect gift...

Today's lucky winner will be able to enjoy a whole year of festivals with today's prize of a Full Membership to Cheltenham Festivals (worth £35) and a festival goody bag.

As a member, today's winner will enjoy priority booking, exclusive festival previews and reduced ticket prices for the Jazz, Science, Music and Literature Festivals in 2012. It's the perfect gift for any fan of the festivals!  

Visit the Festival website for more on all the benefits of  Membership.


Today’s mystery star is a children's favourite who has previously Guest Directed the Literature Festival. This year he starred in both family and school events, so we asked him how he made each event unique, press play below to hear his answer…

10th Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Roger McGough! See the full interview from Literature 2011 here:

Friday 9 December 2011

9th December: Christmas with a bang...

Today we're celebrating the festive season with a Science Festival treat - a  copy of  Do Try This at Home! produced by the Science Museum.

The book features a feast of spectacular experiements for scientists of all ages. Packed with fun, and a free DVD, this is the way to celebrate Christmas with a bang. For a chance of winning the book and a Festive-al goody bag, just identify today's mystery star of the Science Festival.

 
Today’s mystery guest is one of the nation's favourite scientists. We asked him what keeps the world so fascinated by Science, press play below to hear his answer…

9th Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Robert Winston! Listen to the full interview from Science 2011 here:

Robert Winston interview - #cheltscifest 2011 by Cheltenham Festivals

Thursday 8 December 2011

8th December: A Christmas cracker...

We've got a real comedy cracker for today's lucky winner - a signed copy of Frank Skinner's latest book The Collected Wisdom of Frank Skinner: Dispatches from the Sofa (and, of course, a festival goody bag!).

Frank was a huge hit at the Literature festival - and this book packs in all the wit and wisdom of two years worth of weekly columns in The Times. It's the perfect gift for comedy fans! To win this signed copy, just identify today's mystery star.


We caught up with today’s Literature Festival star before he went on stage to do a live Q&A with his father. We asked him what it's like to interview your dad, press play below to hear his answer…

8th Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... George Lamb! Congratulations if you got it right.

Wednesday 7 December 2011

7th December: Jingle bell jazz...

On the seventh day of advent, Cheltenham Festivals gave to you... a goody bag bursting with Jazz festival treats!

As well as Festive-al treats, today's prize package includes three outstanding jazz CDs. Identify our mystery star for the chance to win CDs by jazz supremo Denys Baptiste, Norwegian starlet Susanna and the outstanding Nigel Kennedy Quartet.



Today’s mystery guest is an American jazz star. He's performed all over the world, so we asked him what makes Cheltenham such a great place to perform, press play below to hear their answer…

7th Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Kyle Eastwood! Congratulations if you got it right.

Credit Lisa Wynn

Tuesday 6 December 2011

6th December: A theatrical treat...

Christmas is creeping closer, and we're on to day six of our advent extravaganza! Today we've got a festive theatrical treat - as well as a festival goody bag, we're giving away two tickets to see Operation Greenfield at the Parabola Arts Centre, Cheltenham this Friday 9th December.

The Little Bulb Theatre Company bring Operation Greenfield to Cheltenham following an award-winning run at the Edinburgh Festival and three weeks at Soho Theatre. This is a gem of a show not to be missed! Visit the Parabola Arts Centre website for all the details.

To be in with a chance of winning, just identify today's mystery star. Our Literature Festival Star is a real children's favourite, so we asked her about the books she loved as a child. Press play below to hear her answer…

6th Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Julia Donaldson! Watch the full interview from Literature 2011 here:

Monday 5 December 2011

5th December: A classical Christmas time...

Today's prize is a real classical treat courtesy of the Music Festival. 

Identify today's mystery star for the chance to win a festival goody bag and a copy of Debussy: Complete Works for Piano (volume 2) performed by Jean-Efflam Bavouzet.

The pianist's Cheltenham performance left audiences spellbound this Summer - recapture the magic with this stunning CD.


Today’s mystery guest is a classical music superstar. We asked them what makes Cheltenham such a brilliant Music Festival, press play below to hear their answer…

5th Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Evelyn Glennie! Listen to the full interview from Music 2011 here:

Evelyn Glennie interview - #cheltmusicfest 2011 by Cheltenham Festivals

Sunday 4 December 2011

4th December: A Winter's Tale...

We've got an extra special treat to be won today courtesy of our friends at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Just identify today's mystery festive-al star for a chance to win four tickets to the RSC's brand new play The Heresy of Love on 6th February 2012.

The Heresy of Love by Helen Edmundson is inspired by the life of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, and opens at the Swan Theatre in Stratford on 2nd February. You can find out all about it on the RSC website.

We spoke to today's mystery star at the Literature Festival in October. We asked our fabulous starlet about her lifelong love of books, press play below to hear her answer…

4th Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals
 

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Joanna Lumley! See the full interview from Literature 2011 here:

Saturday 3 December 2011

3rd December: The most Wonder-ful time of the year...

It's the third day of Advent, and we've come over all scientific.

Today's Festive-al prize is simply out of this world - a copy of The Wonders of the Solar System book by the brilliant Professor Brian Cox. To be in with a chance of winning this beautiful book and a festival goody bag just identify our mystery star.

Today's star is a really stand-up guy, determined to bring the funny side of science to the masses.


We asked him why Cheltenham Science Festival is so bloomin' important, press play to hear his answer...

3rd Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was... Robin Ince! Listen to the full interview from Science 2011 here:

Robin Ince interview - #cheltscifest 2011 by Cheltenham Festivals>

Friday 2 December 2011

2nd December: A Christmas Carol...

And so to day two of our Festive-al Advent Competition.

Identify today's mystery festival star for your chance to win a copy of the suitably festive classic - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and a Festival goody bag.

We've been reading A Christmas Carol to get us in the mood for Christmas, and in readiness for the Bonne Maman Big Read book group next week. It's definitely one to cheer even the biggest Scrooge! 

To win, just tell us who today's mystery star is. We asked our mystery Literature Festival star about their favourite books, press play below to hear their answer…

2nd Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals

The competition is now closed.


UPDATE: the mystery festive-al star was - Jeremy Paxman! You can watch the whole interview from the Literature Festival here...

Thursday 1 December 2011

1st December: It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas….

It’s the 1st day of December, and that can mean just one thing- our advent calendar competition is go!

Every day until Christmas we’re giving you the chance to win festival goodies - all you need to do is identify the mystery festival star! We’re kicking the competition off with a swing, and a prize from the Jazz Festival – a copy of Madeleine Peyroux’s Half the Perfect World and a bag of festival goodies.


Today’s mystery guest is a real Cheltenham favourite. We asked them what makes Cheltenham Jazz Festival so great, press play below to hear their answer…

1st Dec - who said that? by Cheltenham Festivals


This competition is now closed.



UPDATE: The answer was, of course, Jamie Cullum! Well done to those that got it right, check the blog each day for another question...
Credit Marilyn Kingwill