Plus a comic look at identity theft

Sara Pascoe has joined the line-up for the Chortle Comedy Book Festival – along with a disturbing and funny look at identity theft.

Mock The Week regular Pascoe joins Phill Jupitus and Robin Ince on a panel about the workings and psyche of stand-up.

Inspired by the new book Off The Mic, the session examines the what in someone's mind drives them to comedy – and what it then takes to make that into a career.

Also joining the book festival – which takes place in Crouch End, North London, over the weekend of November 7 and 8 is comic Bennett Arron, who will be presenting his comic account of becoming the victim of identity theft.

Some years ago, he was surprised to find himself in serious debt, owing thousands of pounds to mobile phone companies, catalogues and department stores. Only it wasn't him. Bennett had become one of Britain's first major victims of identity theft, which left him penniless and homeless.

He later made a documentary on the subject, in which he stole the identity of the Home Secretary. As a result of the programme, Bennett was shortlisted for a Bafta and arrested in a dawn raid by Scotland Yard.

Arron has now written a memoir about his experience. Heard The One About Identity Theft?, described as 'not only a true, disturbing and very funny account of what it's like to have your identity stolen but also shows the devastating consequences of proving a point in the public interest.'

Pascoe and Arron join an impressive line-up at the festival, which also includes Nicholas Parsons, Isy Suttie, Jon Holmes, Bob Servant, Helen Lederer, The Story Beast and David Baddiel, presenting his new children's book.

Tickets are available here, including a limited number of early bird tickets as cheap as £20 (£15 concs) per day. Tickets for individual shows are also available.

Published: 20 Oct 2015