Bridport’s 21st literary festival was a brilliant success.

From poetry to politics and nature writing to bestselling fiction, the festival – affectionately known as BridLit – was a fitting tribute to its director, the late Tanya Bruce-Lockhart, who died suddenly earlier this year.

Speakers included acclaimed writer Andrew O’Hagan, broadcaster John Suchet, Slow Horses creator Mick Herron and actor Martin Clunes.

BridLit chairman Stuart Rock said: “This year’s BridLit was the largest in its 21-year history, holding 43 events over seven days in seven venues around the town.

“It has been a triumph of teamwork and has shown Bridport at its very best.”

BridLit administrator Joanna Jacobson said: “It was our privilege to put on BridLit in Tanya’s name this year, as this would have been her final festival.

“It was a fantastic and varied programme and really well attended, and more than anything there was a palpable spirit of enjoyment and community which is so much part of Bridport, and very much what Tanya wished for BridLit.

“We are so grateful that people came out to show their support for the festival by buying tickets for events and proving that books and literature are still of value.”
Adrian Turpin takes up the role of director in the new year. He said it had been a privilege to be at events throughout this year’s BridLit, to see at first-hand what Tanya Bruce-Lockhart built and how ‘brilliantly the festival team, volunteers and trustees have stepped up to the mark in her absence’.

“As someone coming in fresh, the sense of ownership and connection to the town is very clear.

“You could hear the buzz of excitement at events.

“Personal highlights were James Fox on craft, Andrew Graham-Dixon on Vermeer, Robert Macfarlane and the utterly inspirational Mary Portas, who had so much to say that was relevant about how we can continue to make the whole community part of the festival.

“It was also a delight going out to the Sir John Colfox Academy and seeing some of the smaller but no less special events, for example at Sladers Yard, West Bay, and Human Nature in the town.

“I couldn’t be more excited about working with the team and with partners across Bridport to build on Tanya’s huge legacy. Roll on BridLit 2026!”

In December, journalist Paul Lashmar is in conversation with Alan Smith, First Church Estates Commissioner, about his recently published book Drax of Drax Hall.

The Dorset-based Drax family is the only colonising family to still own a plantation in the West Indies.

The event will be chaired by David Olusoga. It takes place at the Bull Hotel, Bridport, on Friday 12 December at 4.30pm. Tickets from Bridport Tourist Information Centre 01308 424901.