26 June 2017
A Twitter storm erupted last week over the lack of people of colour speaking at the Chalke Valley History Festival, with historian Rebecca Rideal pulling out just four days before it is due to begin today (26th June), in protest over the issue.
However, the festival director, historian James Holland, has defended the line up, telling The Bookseller he will not be "bullied" into changing the editorial content of the event over a "storm in a teacup".
The 148 speakers at the event include 32 women and two people of colour. Speakers include former Chancellor George Osborne, and Paddy Ashdown, journalists such as Andrew Marr and Michael Buerk and authors such as Antony Beevor and Antonia Hodgson.
