The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 2007

5 to 14 October – The world renowned celebration of writing comes to Gloucestershire once again this October, with tickets for The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 2007’s events selling in their thousands.

Some of the book world’s biggest names are confirmed, the line-up of more than 350 events is set in stone and tickets are selling-fast for Cheltenham Literature Festival 2007.

Started by a small group of friends in 1949, the world’s very first literature festival is now home to the greatest celebration of writing in the world, with tens of thousands of book lovers flocking to Gloucestershire for the annual event.

Now in its 58th year, for 10 days in October the Literature Festival 2007 will play host to hundreds of talks, debates, readings and workshops all provided by a cast of literary legends, powerful politicians, and stars of the stage and screen.

This year intrepid explorers will be sure to find their way to Cheltenham to hear tales of globe-trotting from Michael Palin, Bruce Parry and Sir Ranulph Fiennes; lovers of modern fiction will undoubtedly be booking up to hear what Yann Martel, Alexander McCall Smith, Terry Pratchett and Roddy Doyle will be discussing; while comedy connoisseurs will be taking a front row seat for Russell Brand, Julian Clary and Harry Hill.

Film fanatics will find Ken Loach and Helen Mirren’s insight fascinating, the scientifically minded will be dissecting discussions from Stephen Hawkings and Sebastian Faulks, while politicos are spoilt for choice with Alastair Campbell, Tony Benn, Naomi Klein and Paddy Ashdown all making an appearance.

Don’t miss this year’s literary highlights with SoGlos.com’s guide to the must-do events:

Friday 5 October at Cheltenham Literature Festival

Booker Prize-winning author Michael Ondaatje discusses The English Patient and his new novel Divisadero, at Cheltenham Town Hall from 6pm.

Tony Blair’s former spin doctor Alistair Campbell dishes the dirt in his talk on The Blair Years, at The Centaur from 8.45pm.

Canadian author Yann Martel gives an insight into his surreal award-winning novel Life of Pi and his latest work, at The Everyman Theatre from 8.45pm.

Saturday 6 October at Cheltenham Literature Festival

Master of fantasy Terry Pratchett discusses the Discworld series after celebrating almost 25 years of phenomenal success, at The Everyman Theatre from 12pm.

Monty Python Michael Palin will be taking the audience on an intrepid journey as he tells a few tales from his latest BBC television show Palin’s New Europe, at The Centaur from 1.30pm.

The audience should expect nothing less than outrageous confessions from shocking comic Russell Brand, at The Centaur from 8.45pm. Unfortunately this event has had to be cancelled.

Sebastian Faulks, acclaimed writer of Charlotte Gray and Birdsong, will be talking contemporary culture, at The Everyman Theatre from 8.45pm.

Sunday 7 October at Cheltenham Literature Festival

Stephen Hawking and his daughter Lucy Hawking will be spanning A Brief History of Time and their new combined work George’s Secret Key to the Universe, at The Centaur from 11.30am.

Award-winning actress Helen Mirren will be making her only appearance at a literature festival to talk about her new autobiography In The Frame, at The Centaur from 2pm.

Literature Festival Guest Director, Armando Iannucci, will be joined by a cast of actors to share some of his literary favourites, at The Garden Theatre from 4.15pm.

Monday 8 October at Cheltenham Literature Festival

One of Britain’s most renowned directors Ken Loach will be discussing his life behind the lens on films such as Kes and Cathy Come Home, at Cheltenham Town Hall from 6pm.

Royle Family star and the nation’s favourite Nana Liz Smith will be talking about her on- and off-screen life, at Cheltenham Town Hall from 7.30pm.

Tuesday 9 October at Cheltenham Literature Festival

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the first man to travel to both poles by land, will be taking a trip down memory lane and discussing his adventurous life, at The Everyman Theatre from 6pm.

In a rare UK appearance No Logo author Naomi Klein will be sharing her life, work and new controversial book The Shock Doctrine, at Cheltenham Town Hall from 6pm.

Acclaimed food critic A.A. Gill will be assessing his greatest and most disastrous dining experiences of the last decade, when he discusses his book Table Talk, at Cheltenham Town Hall from 8.45pm.

Wednesday 10 October at Cheltenham Literature Festival

Lily’s dad and Sherwood Forest villain Keith Allen will talk about his extrovert life and his new memoir Grow Up, at Cheltenham Town Hall from 7.30pm.

Camp comedian Julian Clary will be discussing his humorous debut novel Murder Most Fab, to anticipated roars of laughter, at Cheltenham Town Hall from 8.45pm.

Thursday 11 October at Cheltenham Literature Festival

Tribe TV-explorer Bruce Parry will be convincing the audience that he doesn’t have the most enviable job on the planet when he talks about the pleasures and pains of his adventures, at Cheltenham Town Hall from 6pm.

In a live video-link from her home in Canada acclaimed author Margaret Atwood will be discussing her fiction and poetry, as well as virtually signing book, at Cheltenham Town Hall from 8.45pm.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown will be debating peace in the 21st century, at The Everyman Theatre from 8.45pm.

Friday 12 October at Cheltenham Literature Festival

Gloucestershire’s very own speed freak, Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond will be revving the audience up with tales of his high speed adventures, at Cheltenham Town Hall from 6pm.

The BBC’s World Affairs Editor John Simpson will be discussing the globe’s current situation and his latest book Not Quite World’s End, at The Everyman Theatre from 6pm.

Alexander McCall Smith will be bringing his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series to life, at Cheltenham Town Hall from 8.45pm.

Saturday 13 October at Cheltenham Literature Festival

Britpop Blur band member Alex James will be talking about life on tour and making cheese on his Gloucestershire farm, at the Drawing Room from 3pm.

Booker-winning novelist Ian McEwan and psychologist Steven Pinker delve into human nature, at The Everyman Theatre from 12pm.

Weird and wonderful comic Harry Hill adds a dose of humour to the day with his discussion of his latest book Further Adventures of the Queen Mum, at The Garden Theatre from 7pm.

Sunday 14 October at Cheltenham Literature Festival

Best-selling children’s writer Jacqueline Wilson and illustrator Nick Sharratt will be talking about how they work together and their new book The Kiss, at The Main Hall from 10am.

Irish author Roddy Doyle talks about his latest collection of short stories The Deportees and Other Stories, at The Garden Theatre from 8pm.

River Cottage’s resident hunter gatherer Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall reveals what life is like behind the scenes of his fascinating television show, at The Main Hall from 8pm.

Read a preview of Cheltenham Literature Festival 2008

Event: Cheltenham Literature Festival 2007
Venue: Locations across Cheltenham
Dates: Friday 5 to Sunday 14 October 2007
Times: Vary according to individual events
Tickets: Vary in price and are available from the Literature Festival box office on (01242) 227979.

SoGlos.com
21 September 2007