The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival in Association withWaterstone Books (Official Festival Bookseller)

What? One of the oldest and best loved literature festivals in the world… lectures, poetry readings, children’s events, interviews, storytelling, book groups, writing workshops, education projects, live literature… Over 100,000 tickets sell or the ten day event. Over 400 writers in attendence. Big as it gets.

When? October 8-17, 2010

Where? Cheltenham & surrounds - AA Route Planner | multimap

Who? 2010 Artistic Festival Director: Sarah Smyth - Guest Directors: Kevin McCloud, Will Hutton, China Miéville, Mary Beard,Owen Sheers

Fiction - Great literature is at the heart of this year's programme, writers, include Salman Rushdie (left), Jostein Gaarder, Bernhard Schlink and A S Byatt. (extended list below)

Politics - Reflecting on a year of political turmoil, Cheltenham hosts a series of political debates and discussions. Roy Hattersley and former politicians Douglas Hurd, Andrew Rawnsley and Matthew Parris.

Stage & Screen - Taking centre stage, Martin Jarvis for an exclusive Jeeves in Manhattan performance, or hear Stephen Fry, Jerry Hall and critic Mark Kermode discuss their lives in the limelight.

Lifestyle - From architecture and design to horticulture and beekeeping, the Great British home and garden has never been more beautiful. Kirstie Allsopp and George Clarke and many more to consider the inspirations behind our design and lifestyle choices.

Children's Festival goes from strength to strength, with over 80 events to delight, stimulate and entertain young readers. Join bestselling authors Jacqueline Wilson, Judith Kerr and Jeremy Strong, or party with Spot the Dog, and Charlie and Lola.

Sport - English cricketing legend Ian Botham to discuss his new memoir Botham's Book of the Ashes and, straight from the Ryder Cup in Wales, join Sam Torrance and consider the life of a sportsman at the top of his game.

Food - Rachel Allen and Olly Smith and a whole host of gourmet gurus join us to provide you with culinary inspiration. How do they find the inspiration for new dishes and, more importantly, what are their secrets for achieving culinary perfection?

Art - Illustrated talks and insightful lecturers delivered by some of the UK's leading curators and artists. Discover the genius behind the brushstrokes with Maggi Hambling, Andrew Graham-Dixon and the Royal Academy's Ann Dumas.

Download 2010 Festival Brochure

Booked to appear in 2010

Peter Ackroyd - Liaquat Ahamed- Naomi Alderman- Rachel Allen- Kirstie Allsopp - Martin Amis - Armstrong & Miller - Karen Armstrong - Iain M Banks - Steven Berkoff - Fatima Bhutto - Ian Botham - John Boyne - A S Byatt - Michael Burleigh - Antonio Carluccio - George Clarke - Giles Coren - Richard Dannatt - Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire - Louise Doughty - Roddy Doyle - Stella Duffy - Ann Dumas - Jenny Éclair - James Ellroy - Sebastian Faulks - Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall - Niall Ferguson - Amanda Foreman - Antonia Fraser - Michael Frayn - Stephen Fry - Jostein Gaarder - Andrew Graham-Dixon - Jerry Hall - Maggi Hambling - Robin Hanbury-Tenison - Willie Harcourt-Cooze - Jeremy Hardy - Max Hastings - Roy Hattersley - Stephen Hawking - Peter Hennessy - Harry Hill - Simon Hoggart - Bettany Hughes - Douglas Hurd - Martin Jarvis - Dom Joly - Sadie Jones - Jackie Kay - Fergal Keane - Mark Kermode - Judith Kerr - Hanif Kureishi - Toby Litt - Ellen MacArthur - Ben Macintyre - Stuart Maconie - Alberto Manguel - Alexander McCall Smith - Don McCullin - Jekka McVicar - Thomasina Miers - Michael Moorcock - Andrew Motion - Tiffany Murray - James Naughtie - David Nicholls - Audrey Niffenegger - Joseph O'Connor - Maggie O'Farrell - Michael Parkinson - Matthew Parris - Philip Pullman - Sarah Raven - Andrew Rawnsley - Salman Rushdie - Alexei Sayle - Prunella Scales - Bernhard Schlink - Adam Sisman - Olly Smith - Peter Snow - Stephen Sondheim - Hilary Spurling - Peter Stothard - Jeremy Strong - Deyan Sudjic - Stuart Tootal - Sam Torrance - Rose Tremain - Bill Turnbull - Mark Urban - Arabella Weir - Timothy West - Jacqueline Wilson - Simon Winchester - Michael Wood - Lucy Worsley -

How much? Tickets for individual events cost from £5 upwards.

Festival Website: www.cheltenhamfestivals.com

Past Festivals? Kate Adie (B), Melvyn Bragg , PD James (B), Cherie Blair (B), Michael Morpurgo(B), Libby Purves (B), Alain De Botton (B), Jeremy Paxman (B) Humphrey Hawksley, Jo Brand ( early TV performance below), Ruth Rendell , Sebastian Faulks,Richard Eyre, Martin Bell, Michael Palin, Mitchell & Webb, Robert Vaughn, John Humphreys, Marcus Chown, Stephen Fry, Judi Dench, Jo Shapcott,Diana Quick, Kevin McCloud, Jackie Kay, Kate Mosse, Richard Hammond, William Dalyrymple, Tony Parsons, Sophie Dahl, Stella Rimington, Vince Cable, Tony BennVictoria Glendinning & many many more.

A video taster below of some of the guests who you might not have gotten in to see!

Download 2009 Festival Brochure Tel: 0844 576 8970