‘Creativity is contagious, pass it on’ said Albert Einstein.  Join four award-winning authors for the return of the Great British Creative Challenge and ‘catch’ the creative bug from them. What sparks their imagination? Were they creative as a child? What are their tips for nurturing creativity? The panel will discuss all this and more, and, when chair for the event, Jonathan Stroud, sets them timed creative challenges, they’ll have to prove their creative flair live on stage (with the help of you, the audience).

Robin Stevens was born in California and grew up in Oxford. On her first introduction to Hercule Poirot at the age of 12, she decided she’d like to be Agatha Christie. Her detective fiction series for young readers, Murder Most Unladylike, has won awards and critical acclaim across the globe.

Katherine Rundell’s books, including Rooftoppers and The Wolf Wilder, combine magical fantasy with exotic locations in an irresistible mix. She is currently a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford.

Tony De Saulles is best known as the illustrator of the award-winning Horrible Science books, now a major television series on CITV starring Ben Miller. He started his career as a book designer, before moving to full-time illustration and writing.

Stroud is the author of award-winning fantasy adventure books for children, including the Lockwood & Co series and the Bartimaeus Sequence. He is also the founder of the creativity campaign, Freedom to Think.

Age 7-12