The festival continues today and tomorrow with a stellar line-up which includes Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, novelist Sarah Perry, comedy and podcast star Adam Buxton and distinguished art historian TJ Clark.

Adam, Buxton(Image: Olivia Hemingway)

But new for this year is Mini Mannington. To increase the local impact of the Bash, 400 local primary school pupils will be brought to the festival site at Mannington Hall for a morning of their own events. And Simon Armitage will perform a special show for students at Aylsham High School. Both events are free of charge to the children, their families and schools.

‘On this third outing of The Mannington Book Bash we are fulfilling one of our first intentions – to bring literary events to all people in rural areas,’ says Henry Layte, festival organiser and owner of The Book Hive shops in Norwich and Aylsham.

Henry Layte, organiser of Mannington Book Bash.(Image: Sonya Duncan)

‘To that end, not only have we got another fantastic line- up of speakers across art, politics, fiction and entertainment, but we have also programmed events for younger people. The renowned children’s author Guy Bass will give one of his hilarious shows for seven local primary schools, who will be bussed to the festival for a morning’s entertainment.

‘In addition, Poet Laureate Simon Armitage will visit Aylsham High School to perform especially for the students there. This is all being laid on by us at no charge to the schools or the pupils.

‘If anyone would like to sponsor these events there is Back the Bash scheme running on the festival website where people can donate £100 to help make it possible.’

Historic Mannington Hall, the venue for the Book Bash.(Image: Mark Bullimore)

Here we take a closer look at who is performing at Mannington Book Bash

Simon Armitage

Poet Laureate and friend of the festival and shop, Simon Armitage, will be opening the Book Bash with an event marking the publication of his new book New Cemetery, which was originally published, in part, by The Book Hive’s imprint Propolis.

Thursday September 25, 7-8pm

Ben Youngs

The most capped England scrum-half of all time is coming to the Book Bash -a stone’s throw from where he grew up – to discuss his new book Beyond the Line.

Having recently retired from the professional game at Leicester Tigers, Ben has now moved back to Norfolk. He’ll discuss his life and career – the lows as well as the many, many highs – with Alex Lowe, chief rugby correspondent for The Times.

Friday September 26 7-8pm

Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason

Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason’s seven children have all become internationally acclaimed classical musicians, playing concerts around the world, including Royal weddings, and releasing numerous recordings of their work.

But as a family from Nottingham of mixed heritage, their rise to success has not been without challenges. To Be Young, Gifted and Black is a mother’s account of leading her prodigiously talented children through the elitist, monocultural world of classical music while learning how to live with the pressure of online racism and abuse.

She will be in conversation with Josh Rivers, the presenter of the Busy Being Black podcast.

Saturday September 27, 10-11am

Esther Freud

Esther Freud shot to fame with her autobiographical novel Hideous Kinky, which was made into a film starring Kate Winslet, and has since written a further eight bestselling novels. My Sister and Other Lovers, just released, catches up with the two sisters from that first book, Lucy and Bea. Esther will be in conversation with award winning Norwich-based novelist and short story writer Naomi Wood.

Saturday September 27, noon-1pm

Pete Brown: Beer Man!

Norfolk-based author, broadcaster and writer of the only regular beer column in a national newspaper, Pete is truly an authority on beer and brewing…

…and music. In this very special event to mark the release of his new book, Tasting Notes, he couples those two loves in a mass beer-and-music-pairing tasting extravaganza.

Says Pete: ‘Your brain is lying to you. You have more than five senses and they don’t work the way we have always been taught to think they do…you’ll never think about beer or music the same way again.’

This event is for ages 18-plus as the ticket includes a flight of tasting beers.

Saturday September 27, 2-3pm

Adam Buxton

Norfolk-based broadcaster Adam Buxton returns to the Book Bash after his appearance as an interviewer in the first festival year to mark the publication of his second volume of memoir – I Love You, Byeee.

He will be having a ramblechat with Henry Layte about his career spanning radio, TV and film and his hugely successful podcast — as well as the personal challenges that are part of becoming that complicated thing, a middle-aged man.

Saturday September 27, 4-5pm

Nigel Planer and Adam Buxton in conversation

Nigel Planer’s role as a founding member of The Comedy Store and The Comic Strip, alongside such stars and French and Saunders, Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson, Robbie Coltrane and Lenny Henry, was followed by his career-defining turn as Neil in The Young Ones.

To celebrate the launch of his autobiography Young Once: A Life Less Heavy – published the weekend of the festival – he will reflect on those heady days with Adam Buxton.

Saturday September 27, 6-7pm

Monica Feria-Tinta

The pioneering barrister advocates not only for people, but also for those who have no voice: for rivers, forests and endangered species.

In A Barrister for the Earth, she takes us behind the scenes as she fights the destruction of cloud forests. Her landmark cases signal that we are at an important juncture, in which the law can be a powerful tool for lasting change.

She will be discussing her work with Book Bash regular Patrick Barkham.

Sunday September 28, 11am-noon

Natalie Haynes

Natalie Haynes returns to the Bash for an event mid-way through the national tour for her brand-new book No Friend to This House – a reimagining of the myth of Medea.

Natalie is a beloved classicist and some-time comedian, whose Radio 4 show Stand Up For The Classics has won her millions of fans. Her previous books, including Divine Might and Stone Blind regularly top the bestseller charts.

Sunday September 28, 1-2pm

TJ Clark

TJ Clark is widely recognised as one of the world’s most distinguished art historians and now calls Norfolk his home. A teacher for many years at universities including Berkeley and Harvard, he is a regular contributor to the London Review of Books.

In his latest influential work, These Passions: On Art and Politics, Clark asks: is art obliged to engage with politics? If so, how? Written over the course of 25 years, these radical, provocative essays rethink issues central to art-making and political life today.

Sunday September 28, 3-4pm

Sarah Perry

The Norwich-based writer of The Essex Serpent and Enlightenment will be launching her first full length non-fiction title Death of an Ordinary Man.

Her father-in-law, David, died at home nine days after a cancer diagnosis and having previously been in good health. The speed of his illness outstripped that of the NHS and social care, so the majority of nursing fell to Sarah and her husband.

She will be in conversation with Henry Layte to round off the festival with a poignant celebration of life.

Sunday September 28, 5-6pm

Mannington Book Bash at Mannington Hall runs from September 25-28. All the speakers will have books for sale and will be doing signings after their appearance. For more information, bookings and details about how to ‘Back the Bash’, visit manningtonbookbash.co.uk. Tickets also include entry to Mannington’s grounds for all of the weekend. Find out more about what’s on offer at manningtongardens.co.uk