THE annual Cheltenham Literature Festival starts on Friday (October 9) for a ten-day 60th anniversary celebration.

With its usual blend of award-winning writers, world-renowned thinkers and international names the festival regularly attracts 100,000 visitors.

This year’s programme is packed with talks by famous faces from television like Jeremy Paxman and comedians Mitchell and Webb, top children’s authors like Michael Morpurgo and Anthony Horowitz and award-winning writers like Chimamanda Hgozi Adichie and Jonathan Coe.

There are also talks from the biggest names in current affairs including journalist Evan Davies and Rageh Omaar and topical discussions with Alastair Campell and Bertie Ahern.

You can join PR guru Max Clifford for a discussion of celebrity, listen to a talk about life at Number 10 by Cherie Blair, or learn more about ecomomics, the banking crisis and the credit crunch with Vince Cable.

Audrey Niffenegger, author of the best-seller The Time Travellers Wife will be discussing her writing as will best selling authors Kate Mosse, Sarah Water, Sebastian Faulks and crime writers Ruth Rendell and PD James.

Heart-throb Robert Vaughn, star of The Man from UNCLE, actress Judi Dench and film director Richard Eyre all put in an appearance and there will be plenty of laughter with appearances from comedians Jo Brand, Jack Dee, Alan Davies and Alistair McGowan.

There are talks, discussions and workshops on a wide range of literary topics, designed to appeal to a wide range of literary tastes and special events for children and families, including Julia Donaldson reading from her much-loved books about The Gruffalo and events featuring three previous Children’s Laureates Michael Morpurgo, Anne Fine and Michael Rosen.

For the full line-up request a brochure by calling 0844 5767979 or visit www.cheltenhamfestivals.com.