A British Childhood with Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Join us for the 2026 Liverpool Literary Festival Award-winning author and screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce joins us for his fourth time at Liverpool Literary Festival to discuss his latest book A British Childhood: How Our Children Live Now. Best known for his children’s fiction, his latest book draws on his Merseyside upbringing and reflects on the role literature played in his early life, alongside the profound changes to childhood in Britain. Shaped by his time as Children’s Laureate, it is informed by visits to under‑resourced schools, encounters with children affected by the prison and asylum systems, and conversations with those working to improve young people’s lives. Frank Cottrell‑Boyce is an award‑winning author whose debut novel Millions won the Carnegie Medal. His cultural impact extends far beyond publishing: he co‑devised the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony with Danny Boyle, has written for Doctor Who, and scripted films including 24 Hour Party People and The Railway Man. In 2023, he received a BAFTA as part of the creative team behind Paddington meeting the Queen. Click here to book a festival pass. All passes will include reserved seating in the lecture theatre, plus a host of other exclusive VIP benefits. Please note, the weekend pass does not include the launch event with Roger McGough on Friday 16th October. There are a number of FREE University of Liverpool student tickets at all festival events. Students who sign up to receive their free ticket will need to add the code STUDENT26 when ordereing and show their student ID when they arrive at the venue. To visit the festival website and take a look at the rest of the programme please click here We are committed to maintaining your privacy and you can view our data protection policy and privacy statements online. Data protection policy Corporate Events Privacy Notice