Hugh Bonneville: Rory Sparkes and the Spy Who Loved Tea

From Downton Abbey and Paddington Hugh Bonneville is one of Britain’s best-loved actors.

We’re thrilled to welcome Lord Grantham himself, in his latest role – bestselling children’s author.

Hugh introduces Whitby to the latest adventures of his unlikely young hero, Rory Sparkes. In Rory Sparkes and the Spy Who Loved Tea, Rory discovers a series of secret coded messages hidden inside a neighbour’s recipe book and becomes convinced the mysterious La Brucette family are involved in a covert conspiracy.

Then things get even stranger. His mum, his teachers and seemingly every adult around him suddenly become obsessed with drinking a new — and frankly disgusting — brand of tea. Could Rory finally have stumbled across a genuine spy plot?

Packed with mystery, mischief and laugh-out-loud moments, Bonneville’s new book is illustrated by Loretta Schauer and is perfect for young fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Horrid Henry and stories where children are considerably more switched-on than the grown-ups.

Join Hugh for a lively family event, interviewed by festival author Jack Mackay, full of storytelling, spies, secret codes and suspicious cups of tea, as he talks about creating Rory’s world, brings the story to life and answers questions from the audience.

For Paddington fans, Marmalade sandwiches optional.

Recommended for ages 7–11 and their families.