John Crace and Viv Groskop

John Crace is the Guardian's parliamentary sketch writer and one of the paper's most loved columnists. He is the author of several books, including Taking the Lead: A Dog at Number 10, Depraved New World, Decline and Fail, and I, Maybot. In January 2024 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Bath Spa University in recognition of his literary satire. His new book and latest serving of political satire, The Bonfire of the Insanities, looks at the recent years of governmental absurdity, with his trademark mordant wit and caustic humour.

Viv Groskop is a writer, critic, broadcaster and stand-up comedian. She has presented Front Row and Saturday Review on BBC Radio 4, is a regular on BBC1’s This Week and has hosted book tours for Graham Norton, Jo Brand and Jennifer Saunders. Groskop’s books include The Anna Karenina Fix: Life Lessons from Russian Literature, and How to Own the Room: Women and the Art of Brilliant Speaking. She is currently writing a self-help memoir titled Au Revoir, Tristesse: Lessons in Happiness from French Literature due out in 2020.