A VARIETY of top guests have been announced for the 25th Swindon Festival of Literature.

The festival’s quarter-century is set to be its biggest year yet, with a wide array of well-known writers from the worlds of sport, politics, music and philosophy heading into town in May to discuss their books and meet local literature lovers.

Prize-winning authors Will Self and Ben Okri, longest-serving female MP Harriet Harman, popular poet Pam Ayres, children’s author Michael Rosen, and tennis champion Andy Murray’s mum Judy are some of the headliners for this year’s festival.

Songwriter Peggy Seeger, former punk musician Viv Albertine, the oldest gold-medal winning runner Jo Pavey, controversial carer Camila Batmanghelidjh, and author of best-seller Why Mummy Drinks, Gill Sims, will also be attending.

As always, the festival will also feature a number of professors and academics hoping to inform and entertain audiences with talks on all sorts of subjects.

Dr Helen Pankhurst will discuss her Suffragette great grandmother Emmeline’s legacy, Professor Alan Winfield will talk about artificial intelligence, philosopher AC Grayling will explore the nature of 21st century democracy, family and relationships researcher Dr Anna Machin will chat about the role of dads in modern society, and Kate Raworth will talk about economics.

Outspoken broadcaster and writer Afua Hirsch will reveal all about her book on what it means to be British, international authority on urban change Charles Landry will explain how a town can be both creative and civic, and the chief executive of Arts Council England Darren Henley will make a persuasive case for why money should be invested into culture and the arts.

Old Festival of Literature favourites including the opening Dawn Chorus in Lawn Woods, the unique Swindon Think Slam, the Children and Families Weekend, the thought-provoking Poetry Slam, the story-walk in Lydiard Park, and the grand Poems, Pints and Music finale will all return for another year.

Festival organiser Matt Holland was said: “I’m really looking forward to it, not just because it’s the 25th year but because this year we really do have something for everyone.

“I don’t mean to be boastful about it but I’m amazed, I feel like a chef who’s cooked a great meal and wants to eat it.

“It’s all about quality and range, not just big names.

“We like to unearth hidden treasures and sniff out interesting authors you’ve never heard of who write well and have something of interest to say - people like Trevor Cox and Anna Machin.

“This festival represents a wide range of interests and I can hardly wait to show to the people of Swindon and the world.”

The full programme with details of all 57 events will be unveiled at midday on Thursday March 22 in the Central Library’s courtyard.