WHAT do Pink Floyd, Ed Balls, Donald Trump and the man who created Wallace and Gromit have in common?
They'll all be featuring, in one way or another, at this year's York Festival of Ideas which kicks off next month, that's what.
Balls, the former Labour shadow chancellor turned not-so-light-footed dance master, will be in York on Saturday June 10 to talk about his life in politics and dance and to join some of the production crew of Strictly Come Dancing to give an insight into the way the popular show is made.
The surviving members of Pink Floyd won't be coming sadly - at least not in person(s). But on June 8 Victoria Broackes and Anna Landreth Strong from the Victorian & Albert Museum will be talking about the making of the museum's major Pink Floyd exhibition, Their Mortal Remains.
Trump won't be putting in an appearance himself, either: and the US president may well thankful for that once author and broadcaster Peter York gets his teeth into him.
TRUMPERY: What's the shiny tie all about, asks Peter York?
In Peter York on Trumpery, the broadcaster will put everything from Trump's clothes, houses and women under the spotlight, looking at what they tell us about the man and his attitudes to power and other people. York will also tackle questions such as just why does the president wear that bright red shiny tie all the time?
As for Wallace and Gromit, well, Peter Lord, the co-founder and creator of legendary animation studio Aardman will be in town to talk about his life. He'll also make a special Festival figure of Morph, Aardman's first creation, which is 40 years old this year. And if you want to own your own piece of animation history, this will be your chance: members of the audience will be ale to bid for Lord's Morph figure...
Feats of clay: Peter Lord, creator of Morph and Creature Comforts
More than 200 events will be held at venues across the city during the course of this year's festival, from June 6 to June 18 - 150 of them completely free.
In a sign of just how big an event the festival is becoming on the national stage, the launch night - featuring five 'new generation' thinkers talking about everything from breastfeeding to solitude and how we deal with tyrants - will be recorded for broadcast on Radio 3.
Other highlights of the festival will include a day-long discussion of the challenges facing modern democracy (among them the growth of fake news and politicians' habit of undermining real news they don't like by claiming it is fake news); a session about the future of work in an age when robots and artificial intelligence seem poised to take over from us; and NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens being put on the spot about the challenges facing health care (which might just include discussion of the recent cyber attacks and why hospitals weren't better equipped to deal with them).
Joan Concannon, director of the York Festival of Ideas
The theme of this year's festival is 'the story of things'. But that's really an excuse for a celebration of human ingenuity and invention in all its forms, says the University of York's Joan Concannon, who is the festival's director.
Above all, the festival is about ideas - good ones, bad ones, new ones, old ones.
"Ideas are for everybody!" Joan says. "We're confident our packed programme contains something to interest everyone. So please join us!"
That sounds like an invitation not to be missed...
- The seventh York Festival of Ideas runs at venues across the city from June 6 to June 18. Of the more than 200 events, 150 are free. To find out more or to book tickets, visit www.yorkfestivalofideas.com
SOME FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS...
TUESDAY JUNE 6
Launch night, 6.30pm to 8.50pm, Ron Cooke Hub, University of York
Five 'new generation' thinkers talk about solitude, breastfeeding and how we deal with tyrants. Plus choral music by The 24. The evening will be recorded for Radio 3.
WEDNESDAY JUNE 7
Peter Lord: The story of my life, 6pm, Bootham School
Peter Lord of Aardman Animation talks about his life, and about the creation of Morph, Creature Comforts, Chicken Run, Wallace and Gromit and Pirates! In an adventure with Scientists. Plus a chance to watch Peter make a new Morph figure - then bid for it...
THURSDAY JUNE 8
Is Free Will an illusion? 6pm, Ron Cooke Hub, University of York
Philosopher Julian Baggini and psychologists Christian Jarrett and Adrian Raine discuss the nature of free will and how much control we really have over our lives Thursday June 8 X-ray Art, 6.30pm, Ron Cooke Hub.Visual artist Nick Veasey uses X-rays to strip back the layers and reveal what everyday objects are like under the surface...
To Be a Machine, 6.30pm, Ron Cooke Hub
Journalist and author Mark O'Connell explores 'transhumanism' - from the 'techies' who want to enhance the human body with technology to immortalists who believe in the possibility of 'solving' death
The Pink Floyd Exhibition, 7.45pm, Ron Cooke Hub
Victoria Broackes and Anna Landreth Strong from the V&A talk about the making of the museum's major Floyd exhibition Their Mortal Remains. Includes a digital exhibition
SATURDAY JUNE 10
The Strictly Experience, 1.30pm, Department of Theatre, Film and Television, University of York
Strictly star (wasn't he once a politician?) Ed Balls joins Louise Rainbow and Chris McCluskey of the Strictly production team to give an insight into life behind the scenes on the nation's favourite dance show
TUESDAY JUNE 13
Reverend Richard Coles: The Story of my life, 6.30pm, Ron Cooke Hub
The former Communards star turned C of E vicar talks about No 1 singles, the church, and his latest book 'Bringing in the Sheaves'.
Peter York on Trumpery, 7.40pm, Ron Cooke Hub
Author and Broadcaster Peter York analyses Donald Trump and 'Trumpery', turning the spotlight on the US president's clothes, houses, close associates - and even the fashion sense of the women in his life. Not to mention that red tie...
WEDNESDAY JUNE 14
Artificial intelligence and the Future of Work, 12 noon, Berrick Saul Building, University of York
Just what will people do with themselves once robots take our jobs? Psychologist David Biggs and robotics engineer Joaquim Ferreira discuss whether Artificial Intelligence will ever be truly able to replace us in the world of work
NHS England: Simon Stevens, 1pm, Ron Cooke Hub
The Chief Executive Officer of NHS England 'in conversation' about the challenges facing the health service. He'll even take questions, we're told...
THURSDAY JUNE 15
Sergeant Pepper: Playing with words, 7.40pm, Ron Cooke Hub Sociologist Prof Colin Campbell of the University of York examines lyrics from the seminal Sergeant Pepper album to reveal the secrets of the Beatles' song-writing success
- The York Festival of Ideas is sponsored by the Holbeck Trust, UPP, Higher Education Investment Fund, Aviva, JRF, Shepherd Group, Institut Francais, French Embassy, IBM, IET, British Academy and VTec.
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