Writeidea

Now in its fifth year, the free WRiteIdea Festival returns to the East End for a weekend of literary wonders. Deborah Moggach, the bestselling author of 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel', kicks things off on Friday at 7pm with her daughter Lottie. The two will be presenting their respective books, ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ and Kiss Me First’. Saturday sees former ‘Eastenders’ executive producer Diederick Santer and ‘The Archers’ scriptwriter Keri Davies come together in discussion about the biggest soaps on TV and radio (2pm); historian/historical novelist Melanie Clegg explores the ins and outs of Cockney culture (5pm); and award-winning comedian Robin Ince takes a look at his favourite scientists (7pm). Then to bring proceedings to a close on Sunday, celeb chef and food critic Jay Rayner talks about his book, ‘A Greedy Man in a Hungry World: How (Almost) Everything You Thought You Knew About Food is Wrong’ (2pm); The Pepys Players read poems, diary extracts, monologues and perform songs to detail the life of seventeenth-century London diarist Samuel Pepys (3.30pm); Stella Duffy reads from her work and discusses a life in writing (5pm); and to end, broadcaster Andy Kershaw brings his one man show, ‘The Adventures of Andy Kershaw’, to Whitechapel (7pm).