THE Judges

Neil Gaiman is the bestselling author of the novels Neverwhere, Stardust, American Gods, Anansi Boys and Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett); the Sandman series of graphic novels; and the short story collections Smoke and Mirrors and Fragile Things. He is also the author of books for readers of all ages including the Newbery Medal winning novel The Graveyard Book, in addition to the bestselling novels Coraline and Odd and the Frost Giants. He is the winner of numerous literary honors, including the Hugo, Bram Stoker, and World Fantasy Awards.

Neil Gaiman’s Story- The Sweeper of Dreams

A.L. Kennedy is a writer of novels, short stories and non-fiction. An Associate Professor in Creative Writing at University of Warwick, her novels include Looking for the Possible Dance, So I Am Glad, Paradise and 2007’s Costa Book of the Year, Day. Kennedy has produced eight short story collections including Tea and Biscuits, Original Bliss and What Becomes, and three non-fiction publications: Life & Death of Colonel Blimp, On Bullfighting and Luwak Care and Breeding. In addition, her screenwriting credits Stella Does Tricks and Dice received critical acclaim, as did her selected radio plays, notably Confessions of a Medium which was broadcast as the Saturday Play on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.

A.L. Kennedy’s Story - On Paper

Journalist, critic and fiction writer, Will has penned both novels and short fiction including the critically acclaimed The Quantity Theory of Insanity which won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize; How the Dead Live which was shortlisted for the Whitbread Book of the Year; and 2010’s Walking to Hollywood. During his career he has pursued a career as a cartoonist for the New Statesman and has even tried his hand at stand-up comedy. He has made many appearances on British television, notably as a panellist on Have I Got News For You and a regular on both Shooting Stars and Grumpy Old Men. Will was appointed Professor of Contemporary Thought at Brunel University in February 2012.

Will Self’s Story - The Death of a Government Inspector

The music of New York–based composer Nico Muhly has been played by eighth blackbird, the Britten Sinfonia, the Chicago Symphony, and the New York Philharmonic, and sung by soloists including David Daniels, Mark Padmore, and Jessica Rivera. In addition to numerous recordings of his own music, Nico has collaborated on projects with Antony and the Johnsons, Björk, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Grizzly Bear, Jónsi of Sigur Rós, and Teitur Lassen. His first opera, Two Boys, premiered at ENO in June 2011. 2012 premieres include commissions from the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and a new collaboration with choreographer Benjamin Millepied for New York City Ballet.

Terry Gilliam’s long and colourful career took shape in 1969 when he formed Monty Python’s Flying Circus, producing cartoons before taking up the task of co-directing Monty Python and The Holy Grail. From there, Terry established himself as a renegade filmmaker, working on a whole host of titles such as: Jabberwocky, Time Bandits, The Fisher King, Twelve Monkeys and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Terry has been made a Fellow of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and, most recently, directed his first opera for the ENO: Berlioz’s The Damnation of Faust.