It was created and developed in 2013 by independent publishing house Canongate Books in partnership with production company SunnyMarch.
[2] Initially intended to be a one-off, the event received very positive feedback from attendees, and Byng decided to host more.
The event, in addition to promoting the two Canongate Books publications, raised money for UK charity The Reading Agency.
[8] Other performers have included Oscar Isaac,[9] Russell Brand, Ian McKellen,[10] Caitlin Moran, Tom Hiddleston,[4] and Carey Mulligan.
[11] At a 2019 event at the Royal Albert Hall, Rory Stewart read a critical letter by Boris Johnson's former Eton housemaster to announce his resignation from the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom.