THE Failing Writers Podcast LIVE is coming to The Ilkley Literature Fringe Festival.

Ilkley resident, Jon Rand began the podcast with friends and fellow voice over artists Tom Turner and Dave Baird during lockdown. “All three of us have always wanted to write, either books or comedy, but have never quite been able to take ourselves seriously. So it started as a sort of self-help group to encourage and shame each other into writing more,” he said. “Sat there at home during the height of the pandemic with voice-over studios, it seemed daft not to do something.”

The Podcast has grown quickly, gaining a loyal audience around the world. “We’ve got listeners in Singapore, The USA, Ireland, I think there’s even one bloke in Romania, who seems to quite like us,” said Yorkshireman Tom Turner.

“At first I thought it might be fun to document our inevitable rise to becoming bestselling authors, but actually we’ve just ended up spending all our time making the podcast instead. Which is sort of ironic, but very on-brand!”

At 6.30pm on August 5th, as part of The Ilkley Literature Fringe Festival, they’ll be hosting a live, outdoor podcast event, in Ilkley Manor House courtyard, billed as: The Greatest Story Ever Written In The History Of The Whole World Ever.

Bradford University Alumni Dave Baird remarked: “The plan is to write the greatest story ever, with the help of the audience, in 40 minutes. I’m excited. I mean, I just can’t see what could possibly go wrong.”

You can find all the details and the podcast at www.failingwriterspodcast.com

For tickets visit www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/events/ilkley-lit-fest-summer-fringe-5-august.

There is ramped access to the courtyard.