The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival October 4, 2012

This autumn The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival will welcome over 600 of the world's finest creative and political minds in 10 days of thought-provoking discussion and debate. Now in its 63rd year, Cheltenham welcomes an extraordinarily varied line-up of writers, actors, poets and politicians including Nobel Peace Prize winner Kofi Annan, screen icon Roger Moore, author Ian McEwan and exploring legend Michael Palin. Inspired by the theme People:Power the programme is a feast of debate, discussion and entertainment – led by three outstanding Guest Directors: Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, journalist and writer Joan Bakewell and historian Peter Hennessy.

At its heart the Festival celebrates the power of the written word, and the pure joy of discovering a new favourite book. Some of the country’s most celebrated writers will be revealing their latest books including Man Booker prize winners Ian McEwan, Pat Barker and Salman Rushdie; best-selling authors Sebastian Faulks, Paul Auster, Mark Haddon, Iain Banks and Alexander McCall Smith; and popular crime writers PD James, Val McDermid, Kathy Reichs and Ian Rankin. For younger readers, Book It! offers fun, exciting and surprising events every day of the Festival. Fireman Sam, Peter Rabbit, Elmer and Spot will all be making appearances alongside outstanding children’s authors Jacqueline Wilson, Terry Pratchett, Anthony Horowitz, Eoin Colfer and Judith Kerr.

The Festival offers an opportunity to see some of the country’s most popular personalities in intimate and exclusive events. Festival-goers can go behind the scenes of some outstanding TV dramas with a look back at Olympic comedy Twenty Twelve, a focus on the Women of Downton Abbey and an insider’s view of Poirot from David Suchet himself; meet home and garden gurus Nigella Lawson, Kevin McCloud, Kirstie Allsopp and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall; and discover secrets of the stage and screen with actors Rupert Everett, Stephen Mangan, Tom Hollander, Christopher Eccleston, Jenny Agutter and Ruthie Henshall.

The Festival village in Imperial Square and Montpellier Gardens will be the perfect location to unwind between events, with a feast of cafes and bookshops on both sites. So, whether you want to debate the merits of Dickens, learn how to write your first novel, hold hands with Peter Rabbit, or get the backstage scoop on your favourite TV drama – you’ll find a world of words at The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival.