THE countdown to the 22nd Swindon Festival of Literature has officially begun after an announcement of an impressive line-up of acclaimed novelists and philosophers.

The event, a firm favourite in the region’s cultural calendar, promises to raise the bar once again this year with the likes of Patrick Gale, Jung Chang, an internationally-lauded author, broadcaster Sandi Toksvig and historian Dr Suzannah Lipscomb among its guests.

Other big names include impressionist Rory Bremmer and comedians and writers Helen Lederer and Tony Hawks.

It runs from May 4 to 16 at venues across Swindon, including the Wyvern Theatre, Arts Centre, Central Library and the festival’s headquarters at Lower Shaw Farm.

The list of performers and speakers and the festival’s programme were unveiled yesterday at the Central Library.

“The Swindon Literature Festival is famous for getting some great names but also some good surprises and this is what we’ve done this year,” said festival director and founder Matt Holland.

“We tried to bring variety and it ranges from quite intellectual things – we’ve got three philosophers – to storytelling. We are also very keen to minister not only to the mind but to the body and people’s physical well-being, so we will be starting the first day with a running and walking event at Lydiard Park.”

The gentle 5km run will be followed by talks centred around the benefits and beauty of running and walking.

The festival took nine months to plan. It will feature 50 authors, broadcasters and performers at 63 events.

Announcing the authors and thinkers sharing the bill was akin to giving birth, according to Matt.

“Organising the festival is the nearest a man gets to having a baby,” he said. “It took me nine months. I’ve had morning sickness and lots of anxiety. It feels like showing people your baby, or like a chef who cooks a meal and hopes it will be a banquet.

To book and for a full programme of events go to www.

swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk.