The Cheltenham Literature Festival, (sponsored this year by The Times and Sunday Times), the oldest literary festival in the world, reveals part of its unmissable line-up for 2019 www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature takes place from 4 – 13 October when the vibrant Festival Village in Montpellier Gardens will welcome over 1000 of the very best writers, thinkers and performers for ten extraordinary days of literary revelry.
Seventy years is an anniversary well worth celebrating and the Cheltenham Literature Festival has just released its plans to do just that with a part of its line-up of writers and authors guaranteed to please everyone, from the casual reader to the most critical devourer of literature.
This year’s theme – Seven at Seventy – celebrates 70 years since Cheltenham Town Hall hosted the world’s first literature festival and started a global, cultural phenomenon.
Some of the illustrious names, drawn from the world of commentators, celebrity and academics include: Ali Smith | Ian McEwan | Richard Ayoade |Debbie Harry | Nadiya Hussain | Francis Rossi |Julian Fellowes | Philippa Gregory | Alastair Cook |Paul Whitehouse | Bob Mortimer | Tom Kerridge | Emily Maitlis| Richard Dawkins |James O’Brien, John Humphreys|William Dalrymple | Emily Chappell | Gareth Neame| Aeham Ahmad | Virginia Nicholson | Dermot O’Leary| Juno Dawson
Alongside the biggest new book releases and up to the minute political debate, there will be food, history, poetry, current affairs, art, sport, faith, fashion, lifestyle, psychology, science and business events on offer, as well as a packed family programme for toddlers to teens.
A packed Family programme has more on offer than ever before including, presenter Dermot O’Leary and illustrator Nick East with the latest escapades of Toto the Ninja Cat, and some horrendously horrid fun with Francesca Simon.
For littles ones there will be family fun with multi-award winning Oi Puppes! duo Kes Gray and Jim Field, mesmerising storytelling from Atinuke, and Elmer creator David McKee will be celebrating the 30th birthday of the much-loved patchwork elephant.
The celebration of international literature continues with 70 global book festivals each recommending one title they would like Cheltenham audiences to add to their bookshelves to form a ‘Reading the World’ reading list.
The Full Programme and Booking
The full Festival line – up will be announced on Friday 16th August at cheltenhamfestivals.com Booking for the Literature Festival opens to Cheltenham Festival Members at 10.00am on Wednesday 28th August and general booking opens at 10am on Wednesday 4 September.
The 2019 Festival will run from 4 – 13 October
Follow @cheltlitfest on Twitter and #cheltlitfest for further updates
www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature