The Sydney Writers’ Festival has been so overwhelmed with demand for Vince Gilligan that it’s putting on a second event with the Breaking Bad creator.

Organisers revealed last week that Gilligan, who also produced the hit TV series, would be one of the main attractions during the week-long festival which kicks off on May 19.

On Friday they said the first Gilligan event broke festival records with the 1800-seat venue at the Sydney Town Hall selling out in two days.

“Due to an avalanche of interest in Vince Gilligan, we’ve released a second Sydney Town Hall event,” festival organisers said.

The second event on May 1 will be an in-conversation with Gilligan and Sydney columnist and commentator Benjamin Law.

Internationally celebrated novelist Alice Walker will also headline this year’s festival, which showcases more than 40 international writers and over 300 Australians.