From Jihadi John to Brexit...fascinating topics at the first Winchester Speakers Festival

The event takes place at Winchester Discovery Centre in Jewry Street on May 14-15.

Celebrated BBC presenter Dan Cruikshank discusses the history of architecture through 100 buildings. Former Minister for Europe, Denis MacShane and MEP Daniel Hannan contest a potential Brexit from the EU. The liberal-minded philosopher Anthony Clifford 'A C' Grayling traces the enlightened thinking that emerged out of the 17th Century, and the world’s oldest working supermodel, Daphne Selfe, recounts her life. Guardian journalist, Luke Harding, gives a definitive account of the poisoning of Russian secret agent Litvinenko in London and Azi Ahmed speaks about her time as a Muslim girl in the SAS. Celebrated writer Yasmin Alibhai-Brown gives insight into Britain’s exotic history and culture and Andrew Lownie recounts the story of double agent Anthony Burgess in a story which won Times’ Biography of the Year. Robert Verkaik speaks about his meeting with ISIS front-man ‘Jihadi John’ and Michael Griffin recounts Islamic State’s history. Diane Darke also gives a personal insight into what it is like to own a house in Damascus in the light of President Assad’s civil war. Finally, best-selling author Alison Weir tells the story of Katherine of Aragon and Rosa Prince gives an account of Jeremy Corbyn’s unlikely rise to power. To book tickets and for more information, please go to www.winchesterspeakersfestival.com or ring the Booking Line on 0333 666 3366