Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) was an Irish writer, poet, and playwright. His novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, brought him lasting recognition, and he became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era with a series of witty social satires, including his masterpiece, The Importance of Being Earnest.

Jack Zipes is a preeminent fairy-tale scholar who has written, translated, and edited dozens of books, including The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm and Complete Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde. He is a professor emeritus of German and comparative literature at the University of Minnesota.

Gyles Brandreth is a writer, speaker, broadcaster, and former Member of Parliament. His years as a government whip were chronicled in Breaking the Code: Westminster Diaries, which the Times described as “by far the best political diary of recent years." His other works include the bestsellers Philip and Elizabeth: Portrait of a Royal Marriage, Charles & Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair, and The 7 Secrets of Happiness. Brandreth has also appeared as a reporter on BBC One's The One Show and is a regular on BBC Radio 4's Just a Minute.