Matt Cain MBE In Conversation

We are delighted to welcome Matt Cain to the Lit & Sci for what promises to be a truly enchanting and inspirational evening.

A novelist, broadcaster, activist and storyteller of rare warmth and wit, Matt has a gift for finding the extraordinary in ordinary lives – and for making audiences laugh, reflect, and feel deeply connected. This will be an evening of generous conversation, rich storytelling and good-humoured insight.

Matt is the author of much-loved novels including The Madonna of Bolton, The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle, Becoming Ted and One Love – books celebrated for their humanity, humour, and their ability to speak across generations and identities.

Beyond fiction, Matt is widely admired for his cultural leadership and advocacy within the LGBTQ+ community, work recognised by the award of an MBE. His career spans acclaimed work for Channel 4 and ITV, alongside roles as Manchester Pride ambassador, patron of LGBT History Month, and ambassador for the Albert Kennedy Trust, supporting LGBTQ+ young people facing homelessness.

In 2025, Matt wrote movingly in The Guardian about being diagnosed with autism and ADHD – adding a new, thoughtful dimension to his reflections on identity, creativity and belonging.

Expect a night of stories, laughter and deep-rooted kindness – with one of Britain’s most generous literary voices.