24th December... a festive treat

Over Christmas the Festival teams will be putting the finishing touches on the 2013 programmes and we’ll be making some big announcements early in the new year.

As a festive treat two of our confirmed artists for next year have recorded their own very special Christmas videos for us. So grab a mince pie, pull on your best Christmas jumper and sit back and enjoy some festive cheer from Jazz Festival favourite Joe Stilgoe, and Music Festival headliners a cappella group The Swingle Singers…

Joe Stilgoe

The Swingle Singers

We look forward to seeing you for a whole year of Festivals in 2013!

23rd December: Tom Hollander

Today's festive-al Christmas memory comes from popular actor Tom Hollander.

Tom was interviewed in Cheltenham, discussing his career, and the inspiration for the Bafta award-winning series Rev .

22nd December: David Suchet

David Suchet provides today's advent entry, with what is so special about his own Christmas.

David joined us at the Literature Festival to reflect on his 43-year-long career - from humble beginnings as a spear-carrier at the RSC, to playing Agatha Christie’s suave Belgian super-sleuth.

21st December: WIN Literature Festive-al goodies!

It's our final Festive Friday! For a very literary celebration we have a special Cheltenham Literature Festival themed prize package up for grabs.

Today's prize package includes fourteen superb books from festival favourites including Michael Palin, David Mitchell and Victoria Pendleton - and even a signed copy of Mark Haddon's new novel The Red House.

To help the winner enjoy the best of the festivals in 2013 the prize package also includes a £50 festival voucher and a full Cheltenham Festivals Membership, which offers advance booking for all four festivals.

To be in with a chance of winning just watch today's Christmas memory from Literature Festival Manager Charles Haynes, and answer the question in the form below...

20th December: Andy Parsons

Comedian Andy Parsons told us all about a memorable Christmas when we met him backstage at the Festival before he joined Marcus Brigstocke, Larry Lamb and Sarah Churchwell onstage...

19th December: Paul Hollywood

Today's festive-al Christmas memory comes from Paul Hollywood.

Paul was at the Literature Festival for a delicious afternoon tea, straight from the Great British Bake-Off - along with finalist Miranda Gore Browne and 2011 winner Edd Kimber.

18th December: Patricia Hodge

Today on the advent calendar: Patricia Hodge.

Patricia joined us in Cheltenham to discuss her life on screen and on stage, and also to read letters of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in an event with William Shawcross.

17th December: Pam Ayres

Today's festive-al Christmas memory comes from Pay Ayres at the Literature Festival.

Pam was in Cheltenham to discuss her life and writings, and her roundly entertaining memoir, The Necessary Aptitude.

16th December: Michael Palin

Discover Michael Palin's Christmas memory with today's advent entry.

Michael was at the Literature Festival with an illustrated talk about the subject of his vibrant new BBC series, and accompanying book: the pulsating land of Brazil.

15th December: Nigella Lawson

Today's advent calendar entry comes from renowned broadcaster and cook Nigella Lawson.

Nigella was at the Literature Festival to talk about her return to our screens and her accompanying recipe book - Nigellissima.

14th December...

It's our third Festive Friday! To celebrate the festive season with a bang we have a very special Cheltenham Science Festival themed prize package up for grabs.

As it's the fourteenth day of December, today's mind-expanding prize package includes fourteen outstanding science books from festival favourites including Robert Winston, Ben Fogle and Ben Miller - and even a signed copy of Jim Al-Khalili's Pathfinders.

To help the winner enjoy the best of the festivals in 2013 the prize package also includes a £50 festival voucher and a full Cheltenham Festivals Membership, which offers advance booking for all four festivals.

To be in with a chance of winning just watch today's Christmas memory from Science Festival Manager Ashley Kent, and answer the question in the form below...

13th December: Stephen Mangan

Comedian and actor Stephen Mangan provides today's festive-al Christmas memory - he was in Cheltenham to talk about his approach to acting, working with Matt le Blanc, and what it is like to play a pregnant man on stage.

12th December: Kevin McCloud

This Christmas memory comes from designer and writer Kevin McCloud.

Kevin was at the Literature Festival looking back at some of the best of Grand Designs, as celebrated in his new book.

11th December: Julia Bradbury

Today's festive-al Christmas memory comes from Countryfile presenter Julia Bradbury, at the Literature Festival.

Julia joined us at the Literature Festival with an illustrated account of her experiences following in the footsteps of famous fell-walker and guide writer Alfred Wainwright.

10th December: John Simm

Today's Christmas Memory comes acclaimed actor John Simm.

We met John backstage at the Forum just before he went on stage to tell all about his incredibly varied career - from his stage roles in Hamlet and Betrayal to TV work including Van Gogh in The Yellow House, Crime and Punishment and Life on Mars.

We still have a fabulous Jazz Festival prize package up for grabs to one lucky winner. Just watch our Jazz Festival Director Ian George's Christmas comment and answer a simple question by Thursday 13th December to enter...

9th December: Jenny Agutter

Today's christmas Memory comes courtesy of film and television actress Jenny Agutter.

Jenny joined us in Cheltenham to talk about her remarkable career, as well as her starring role in the hit BBC series Call the Midwife.

We still have a fabulous Jazz Festival prize package up for grabs to one lucky winner. Just watch our Jazz Festival Director Ian George's Christmas comment and answer a simple question by Thursday 13th December to enter...

8th December: Ben Fogle

Today's Christmas Memory comes from a real festival favourite - writer and TV presenter Ben Fogle. It's a suitably adventurous tale of Christmas on the high seas...

We met Ben just before an action-packed talk to celebrate the publication of his autobiography, The Accidental Naturalist.




We still have a fabulous Jazz Festival prize package up for grabs to one lucky winner. Just watch our Jazz Festival Director Ian George's Christmas comment and answer a simple question by Thursday 13th December to enter...

7th December: WIN Jazz Festive-al goodies!

It's the second Festive Friday of our Festive-al Advent Calendar - so we're celebrating with a special Jazz Festival themed competition for you all to enjoy!

This week's prize is an exclusive framed Cheltenham Jazz Festival poster - signed by some of the Festival's biggest stars including Paloma Faith, Gregory Porter and Melody Gardot.

To help the winner enjoy the best of the festivals in 2013 the prize package also includes a £50 festival voucher and a full Cheltenham Festivals Membership, which offers advance booking for all four festivals.

In the spirit of all things jazzy, today's Christmas comment comes from Jazz Festival Director Ian George. To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic festive prize just watch Ian's Christmas Memory and answer the question below before midnight on Thursday 13th December - Good luck!

6th December: Tom Chambers

Today's Christmas memory comes courtesy of Strictly Come Dancing champion and stage and screen star Tom Chambers.

Currently starring in the West End revival of Top Hat, Tom joined actress Ruthie Henshall and director Julian Woolford in Cheltenham to talk about the secrets of musical theatre.


We still have a fabulous Music Festival prize package up for grabs to one lucky winner. Just watch our Music Festival Director Meurig Bowen's Christmas Memory and answer a simple question by the end of today to enter...

5th December: Marcus Brigstocke

Today's Christmas Memory comes from actor and comedian Marcus Brigstocke.

After taking to the helm as our Science Festival Guest Director back in June, Marcus took to the Literature Festival stage for two hugely entertaining events including his stand-up show The Brig Society.


We still have a fabulous Music Festival prize package up for grabs to one lucky winner. Just watch our Music Festival Director Meurig Bowen's Christmas Memory and answer a simple question by Thursday 6th December to enter...

4th December: The Fabulous Baker Brothers

Today's Christmas Memory comes from baking duo Tom and Henry Herbert - otherwise known as The Fabulous Baker Brothers!

Tom and Henry joined us at the Festival for a special lunch time treat in the beautiful Spiegeltent. Over lunch the brothers shared their culinary inspiration and introduced The Fabulous Baker Brothers cookbook.

We still have a fabulous Music Festival prize package up for grabs to one lucky winner. Just watch our Music Festival Director Meurig Bowen's Christmas Memory and answer a simple question by Thursday 6th December to enter...

3rd December: Jacqueline Wilson

Our third Christmas Memory comes from one of the country's best loved children's writers - Jacqueline Wilson.

We spoke to Jacqueline when she was in Cheltenham to talk about her latest book Emerald Star. Always a firm favourite with our younger festival-goers, Jacqueline spoke to a packed audience of young fans in the Main Hall.


We still have a fabulous Music Festival prize package up for grabs to one lucky winner. Just watch our Music Festival Director Meurig Bowen's Christmas Memory and answer a simple question by Thursday 6th December to enter...

2nd December: Andrew Marr

Today's Christmas Memory comes from journalist and festival-favourite Andrew Marr.

We met Andrew in the Montpellier Gardens writers room before he took to the Forum stage for a completely sold-out talk on his BBC series and book A History of the World.



We still have a fabulous Music Festival prize package up for grabs to one lucky winner. Just watch our Music Festival Director Meurig Bowen's Christmas Memory and answer a simple question by Thursday 6th December to enter...

1st December: Roger Moore

 

Today's Christmas Memory comes courtesy of Hollywood superstar Roger Moore.

Roger joined us at The Centaur to celebrate 50 years of James Bond and the publication of Bond on Bond.

Press play to enjoy a festive slice of 00 heaven...

We still have a fabulous Music Festival prize package up for grabs to one lucky winner. Just watch our Music Festival Director Meurig Bowen's Christmas Memory and answer a simple question by Thursday 6th December to enter...

Christmas is coming... WIN Festive-al Goodies!

We just love Christmas here at Festival HQ. So much so in fact that this year we can't wait until the 1st December to open up our very special Festive-al Advent Calendar. As a special treat for you all (and us) we hereby announce the 2012 Festive-al Advent Calendar open!

Our very first Christmas Memory comes from Director of the Music Festival Meurig Bowen - and to celebrate the start of the Festive season we've also got a fantastic Music Festival themed Prize Package to give away to one lucky winner.

The prize includes two tickets to see the amazing Swingle Singers in concert at Birmingham Town Hall on Monday 10th December. In this special festive concert the vocal super-group will perform a mix of holiday favourites in outstanding a cappella style.

To top it all off - the winner will be able to enjoy the best of Cheltenham Festivals next year with a £50 festival voucher and a full Cheltenham Festivals Membership. And speaking of 2013... we're delighted to announce that the Swingle Singers will be playing at Cheltenham Music Festival in July - and we can't wait to see them!

To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic festive prize just watch Meurig's Christmas Memory and answer the question below before midnight on Thursday 6th December - Good luck!




This competition is open from Friday 30th November - midnight on Thursday 6th December. Come back next week for another Festive-al Friday treat...