Bird and the Beeb – Liz returns ‘home’ for literature festival show

DJ Liz Kershaw has been added to the line-up for this year’s Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival.

Rochdale born Liz, one of the best known voices on BBC Radio over the last three decades and UK radio’s third longest serving female DJ will be returning to her hometown for the festival appearance on Sunday 26 October.

Her rich Rochdale tones have graced national and local stations and her passion for music and trademark “Hiya!” have won her millions of fans.

At the festival she’ll be talking about her life and autobiography ‘The Bird and the Beeb’ in which she lifts the lid on an amazing career, with her love of music taking her from Rochdale to prime time at Radio 1 and beyond.  After leaving a job at BT in the eighties, she teamed up with Bruno Brookes on the nation's favourite breakfast show. It was the start of a career that has seen Liz mix with some of the biggest names in the business. From startling Tom Jones on the Radio 1 Roadshow to being left red-faced by George Michael and the Bee Gees and seeing the sights with Robert Plant! She's taken girl power tips from Dolly Parton as well as interviewing a host of stars, has rubbed shoulders with everyone in broadcasting from John Peel to Jeremy Paxman.

Through campaigning to save Radio 6 Music and fighting the case for women on BBC radio, she has always tried to make her voice heard on both sides of the microphone.  In 2014 her critically acclaimed show on BBC Radio 6 Music continues to reach record audiences.

Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival runs from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 October, with a feast of events covering drama, comedy, dance, music, theatre, films, visual arts and children’s shows. 

Liz joins the line up alongside the previously announced singer/songwriter Lucy Spraggan, comedian Dave Spikey, television presenter Bill Turnbull, author Chrissie Manby, poet Ian McMillan, writer Jackie Kay and performance poet Longfella. 

Tickets are available from www.rochdaleliteraturefestival.co.uk or in person at the festival box office at Rochdale Central Library, Number One Riverside.

The festival will include guest speakers, authors, writers and local arts organisations and is aimed at encouraging more people to engage in reading and philosophy. It will include events at venues in Rochdale town centre and boroughwide, aimed at all ages.

The festival is due to the generosity of Annie and Frank Maskew, a Rochdale couple who shared a passion for reading and thinking, and originally met in Rochdale Library. They left a sum of money to be used on resources and events related to literature and philosophy to ensure classic works are available for future generations.

More authors, acts, performers and workshops will be confirmed in the coming weeks. 

For festival updates on Twitter connect with @RochdaleLitFest

The festival is organised by Rochdale Borough Council, funded by the Maskew Bequest.