Ian Hislop, editor of Private Eye for four decades, has dismissed suggestions that his magazine played a significant role in bolstering Boris Johnson’s political career. Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, Hislop responded to Labour’s Baroness Hazarika’s remarks about the former prime minister’s rise, which was partly attributed to his frequent appearances on the television program "Have I Got News for You." Hislop stated that he bears no responsibility for Johnson’s success, noting that Johnson was “extraordinarily funny on the show because he was so useless.” He recalled an early indication of Johnson’s unsuitability for office, recounting that during the first show recording Johnson asked if he knew the Conservative Party’s policy on immigration and, upon learning he did not, remarked, “Damn — because I’ve got to give a speech on it later.”

At the same festival, Robert Harris, author of the historical thriller "Agrippa," drew parallels between ancient Rome and contemporary political developments in the United States. Harris pointed to the contrast between a U.S. president celebrating a birthday with cage-fighting gladiators at the White House and the Roman Emperor Augustus’ accumulation of wealth from territories like Spain and Egypt. However, Harris highlighted a critical difference, noting that the Romans “won their wars,” implying a distinction in leadership and governance outcomes.

Meanwhile, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was imprisoned in Moscow, shared a glimpse into life inside a Russian high-security prison. Gershkovich recounted interactions with a fellow inmate, a lifelong convict, who reacted with dry humor upon hearing Gershkovich’s charge of espionage, remarking, “Everyone in here is innocent, just like in The Shawshank Redemption.” This anecdote underscored the harsh realities and coping mechanisms within the prison system.

At the festival, actor and writer Meera Syal reflected on her visit to her father’s childhood home in Pakistan in 1997, marking the 50th anniversary of the partition of British India. Syal described the poignant experience of being welcomed by a Muslim family who had taken over the home after her Hindu family’s forced departure. She recalled how her father was struck by the diminished size of the rooms, only to learn from the hosts that the house had been “partitioned” by family disputes.

Author Sir Ian Rankin revealed the backlash he faced in Edinburgh following a change made to the television adaptation of his Inspector Rebus novels. The producers altered the character Rebus into a supporter of Hibernian Football Club for humor, as the actor Ken Stott, who portrayed Rebus, is a known fan of rival Hearts. Rankin noted that this led to much resentment among fans, and that Stott described filming the scenes as the “hardest job” of his acting career, even though he had portrayed Adolf Hitler in another role.