Frank Cottrell-Boyce is the Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2024-2026 and leading “Reading rights: Books build a brighter future”

Join Frank for an insightful chat about how libraries have inspired and shaped his creative life at the newly refurbished Leigh Library.

Frank is a passionate advocate for the difference that reading can make to a child’s life and the vital role that libraries play in their communities.  He is using his role as Children’s Laureate to raise awareness of the urgency of children having access to books and the value of reading.  Frank will be joined by a number of well-known figures who will be in conversation at libraries across Greater Manchester sharing their stories and passions.  Previous speakers have included Simon Armitage, Radzi Chinyanganya, Christopher Eccleston, Guy Garvey, Cheddar Gorgeous, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Stuart Maconie, Maxine Peake, Michael Rosen and Gary Younge.

Frank is an award-winning author and screenwriter. Millions, his debut children’s novel, won the CILIP Carnegie Medal. He is also the author of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again, Cosmic, Framed and The Wonder Brothers. His books have been shortlisted for a multitude of prizes, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, the Whitbread Children’s Fiction Award (now the Costa Book Award) and the Roald Dahl Funny Prize.

Frank is a judge for the BBCs 500 Words competition. He also Co-hosts the award winning podcast The Island of Brilliant with fellow children author Nadia Shireen. Frank guest edited the Christmas Eve episode of The Today Programme 2024.

Along with Danny Boyle, he devised the Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics.

He has written for the hit TV series Dr Who and wrote the ITV drama Steven. He has written many hit films including 24 hour Party people, The Railway man and The Beautiful Game and Kensuke’s Kingdom. Frank received a BAFTA in 2023 for being part of the team that brought to life Paddington meeting the queen.