The Bath Children's Literature Festival, touted as the UK's biggest celebration of kids' books, has sparked a heated row over diversity after one of its founders attempted to silence critics with emails that bordered on bullying.
According to reports, John McLay, co-founder of the festival with his wife Gill, personally contacted authors, asking them to delete social media posts highlighting concerns about a lack of diversity in the 2026 programme. The posts had been removed, along with comment sections restricted, leaving some feeling muzzled.
Emails from Mr. McLay, who has spent nearly two decades championing children's literature as co-founder and literary scout, were blunt: authors hadn't done their research before speaking out. Gill McLay defended the move, insisting they aimed to remove "incorrect information" – a claim that seven authors of colour (including one UK-Cypriot writer) featured in nearly 100 events somehow made up for the initial omission.
Authors like Sophie Anderson felt intimidated by the emails, describing them as "quite threatening." Alexandra Sheppard, whose video on the topic went viral with over 20,000 views, fears being blacklisted for speaking truth to power within the industry. She's now rallying support for an open letter to be sent to the festival organisers.
The festival responded with a statement acknowledging the comments and claiming pride in their line-up – despite admitting they'd "listened" to critics. They pledged to work harder on representation, introducing new faces into their management team to help drive change. Gill McLay later apologised for her approach, insisting it wasn't meant to silence anyone but rather ensure factual accuracy.
This incident is symptomatic of deeper issues within the UK children's literature sector. Author Iqbal Hussain spoke out: "In 2026, we need to do better. We're not living in Regency Bath or 1950s London." The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education's Reflecting Realities survey found only 24% of kids' books feature main characters from racial minorities – a decrease from 30% in 2022. Campaigners warn that this lack of representation can alienate young readers who don't see themselves reflected in the stories they consume.
The controversy highlights ongoing challenges for the publishing industry to better reflect its diverse readership. Gill McLay confirmed the festival is committed to change – but will it be enough to regain trust with critics and readers alike?