Ben Macintyre captivates readers with true stories.

He expertly unravels complex historical events, explaining sharp subplots and side characters while artfully deploying dry humour to make the true stories he tells digestible.

His most recent non-fiction work is The Siege – a story of how in April 1980, six men stormed the Iranian embassy in London and took 26 hostages they held for six days.

Macintyre told Jack Tame he was 17 when the situation took place, and since that point he’d always wanted to write about it.

“It was the most dramatic thing I’d ever seen on television,” he said.

“It was one of those stories that entered mythology very quickly – it became a sort of story of, sort of SAS daring do, and kind of you know, fighting against the odds, and you know, the story itself is much more complicated than that.”

“I've really enjoyed writing this one.”

Macintyre is coming to New Zealand for the Auckland Writer’s Festival, delving into his work at three different events across the festival.

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Prominent businessman, author and former politician Sir Bob Jones has died in Wellington after a brief illness - aged 85.

Jones formed the New Zealand Party in 1983, which stood for 10 years.

He received a knighthood in 1989 for services to business management and the community.

Kevin Milne told Jack Tame he will be remembered as a terrific writer.

He says Wellington already feels all the more grey for his passing.

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One of New Zealand’s most treasured musical acts, Sir Dave Dobbyn, will perform at Auckland Town Hall, the first time he has hit the stage there solo.

The 68-year-old has previously performed at the prestigious venue with his band Th’ Dudes, but has never showcased his own set. That will change on June 4, when he and his touring band look to cover songs from his 45-year recording career.

Announced as part of the Auckland Winter Concert Series lineup, Dobbyn and his band will perform everything from his celebrated anthems to “an extraordinary catalogue of deeper cuts”.

Estelle Clifford joined Jack Tame to discuss the event.

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