David Almond, Clare Balding, Julian Clary, Tom Fletcher, Francesca Simon, Alex T. Smith

The great and glittering from the literary world will descend on Newcastle Theatre Royal for one day only on Saturday 3rd March for The Biggest Bookshow on Earth, an exciting new event to celebrate World Book Day 2018.

World Book Day marks the world's biggest celebration of reading, where the UK and Ireland's entire book industry works proactively together to address falling literacy levels and create readers of the future. Over the past 20 years, World Book Day UK has distributed over 290 million £1 book tokens to children and young people across this country.

On Saturday 3rd March, an all-star line-up of famous authors and illustrators including Julian Clary and Clare Balding will be inspiring young people with readings and live drawing sessions at the North East's favourite theatre. In attendance will be David Almond (Skellig), Clare Balding (The Racehorse Who Disappeared), Julian Clary & David Roberts (The Bolds), Tom Fletcher (The Creakers), Francesca Simon (Horrid Henry), and Alex T. Smith (Mr Penguin and the Lost Treasure). Steve Butler (The Nothing To See Here Hotel) will be hosting the event and there will be surprise guests from Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach! Signed copies will be available to buy and the authors and illustrators will be signing after the event.