Express & Star

Express & Star columnist to reveal industry secrets at Wolverhampton Literature Festival

Secrets behind headlines which have hit the Express & Star over the past three decades are set to be revealed.

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Peter Rhodes will be at the event

Express & Star columnist Peter Rhodes will expose the inner workings of Britain's biggest selling regional newspaper at Wolverhampton Literature Festival.

The blogger is preparing to take to the city's art gallery to reflect on his 30-year stint at the paper next weekend.

The father-of-one said: "I will be talking about my time at the Express & Star, looking at some of the more exciting assignments I had and how we covered them, and the stuff that happened in the background.

"I think it comes as quite a surprise to people, including readers of the Express & Star, how far we actually go to report what's happening in the world.

"Some of the assignments I got sent on were exciting, some of them were quite dangerous. But they do leave you with stories - anecdotes that don't get in the paper but are amazing."

Peter Rhodes will be at Wolverhampton Literature Festival

Mr Rhodes, who joined the Express & Star in 1985, will delve into his time covering events including the First Gulf War, Siege of Sarajevo and the end of British rule in Hong Kong.

The journalist will be at Lichfield Street's Wolverhampton Art Gallery for the free 'Hacking It' talk at 11am on Sunday, January 28.

It will be the second time Mr Rhodes will feature at the city's literature festivities after giving guests an insight into his book 'For a Shilling a Day' last year.

He said: "The good thing about the festival is that you are among friends, everyone knows who you are. They know what the Express & Star is all about, they have a great fondness for it. It's like playing at home.

"It's been absolutely brilliant at the Express & Star, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I've been around the world several times, seen some wonderful things, met people you wouldn't even imagine meeting."

More than 80 artists and performances will entertain people from across the city when the festival returns to Wolverhampton for the second time.

Three themes - music and literature, politics and journalism and community voices - are set to run throughout the three-day celebrations.

Literature fans will have the chance to indulge in workshops, theatrical performances and debates, as well as events for children, at venues across the city.

Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Newhampton Arts Centre, The Slade Rooms, Bantock House and The Grand Theatre are just some of the venues playing host to the packed line-up.

The Express & Star is supporting the festival, which will run from Friday, January 26, until Sunday, January 28.