A good celebrity profile is a rare thing. Those that walk the line between quality writing, respect for the subject, and honouring the reader’s desire for a glimpse behind the curtain – while avoiding the murky depths of rumour mongering – are few and far between.

Some have made history, for good and bad reasons. Take the recent cringe-worthy profile of Brad Pitt in GQ (which in turn inspired the excellent companion piece by Marina Hyde in the Guardian), or the ones that created their own zeitgeist, such as Vanity Fair’s profile of Caitlyn Jenner, or profiles that become classics through the combination of celebrity of author and subject, such as Richard Flanagan’s analysis of David Walsh in the Monthly.

This meeting of the Longform Society will discuss and dissect the writing that celebrates our ongoing fascination with celebrity, and some of the most memorable pieces by, or about, the superstars of our times.