Chiswick Book Festival Pays Tribute to Edward Stourton
Tickets for his appearance in September had already sold out
Edward Stourton. Picture: BBC
July 20, 2026
The Chiswick Book Festival has paid tribute to veteran broadcaster and writer Edward Stourton, who died this week. He had been scheduled to appear at the Festival in September and his session at Hogarth’s House — already sold out weeks in advance.
In a statement, the Festival said: “We are very sad to hear of the death of Edward Stourton, who was due to speak at the Chiswick Book Festival in September. His BBC colleagues have paid tribute to his many qualities and wide knowledge and expertise. Ed was as fine a writer as he was a broadcaster and such was his popularity that his Festival session at Hogarth’s House in Chiswick had already sold out. We are contacting those who had bought tickets and will consider whether to hold a replacement session in due course.”
Stourton was due to appear on Monday 14 September, discussing his latest book Made in America: The Dark History that led to Donald Trump in conversation with Father Kevin Morris, vicar of St Michael & All Angels Church. His death brings a poignant note to this year’s programme, particularly for the many local readers who had hoped to hear him speak in person.
A Edward Stourton was one of the most respected voices in British broadcasting. Over more than forty years, he presented flagship current affairs programmes on TV and radio including The World at One, The World This Weekend and Sunday, and spent a decade as one of the main presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Today. His career took him from Washington during the Reagan presidency to Paris, Lebanon, Afghanistan and New York in the aftermath of 9/11.
Born in Nigeria in 1957 and educated at Ampleforth and Trinity College, Cambridge, Stourton combined journalism with a deep interest in faith due to his Catholicism, fronting BBC documentaries such as Absolute Truth and writing widely on Catholic history. His books included John Paul II: Man of History and, most recently, Made in America, published to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
In his 2023 memoir Confessions, Stourton revealed he had been living with prostate cancer for nearly a decade. Though later told the illness was incurable, he continued working until very recently.
Run by St Michael & All Angels Church, Bedford Park, the Chiswick Book Festival is a cornerstone of the area’s arts and community outreach. Since 2009 it has raised more than £170,000 for reading and community charities, including Read for Good, Read Easy Ealing and Koestler Arts, as well as supporting the church itself.
Programme updates and mailing-list sign-ups are available at www.chiswickbookfestival.net.
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