Speakers including Robert Webb, Cariad Lloyd, Patrick Vernon and Julia Samuel MBE, will join artists, writers, performers and academics to lead sessions as part of this weekend’s free, online Good Grief Festival.

The initiative – originally planned as a week-long festival in Bristol to help people talk, think and learn about grief – was moved online in response to Covid-19 and has since attracted an audience of thousands from around the world.

People can still sign up for events and talks taking place as part of ‘Good Grief: A Virtual Festival of Love and Loss’, which will begin on Friday 30 October and run over the weekend.

Among over 70 live events, the actor and comedian Robert Webb will discuss grief within his new novel ‘Come Again’, Professor Alice Roberts with Dr John Troyer from Bath consider our relationship with dead bodies, and psychotherapist Julia Samuel MBE will reflect on coping with grief and crisis.

In addition, people can sign up for specific ‘grief school’ events, which look at topics including grief during covid-19 and delayed grief; as well as ‘grief chats’, intimate conversations between two guests and hosted by writer and broadcaster Mark Lemon who is behind the podcast ‘Grief is my Superpower’.

Centre for Death & Society Director, Dr Troyer, said: “The Good Grief Festival is an excellent opportunity for people from all backgrounds to reflect upon and discuss the death of a loved one. The impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt by many people and now is a crucial time to talk about how the pandemic is impacting how people remember the dead. The Centre for Death and Society is honoured to be participating in an event filled with so many excellent speakers and colleagues.”

You can catch John at four events over the weekend: