A literature festival bringing in thousands of bookworms has finally announced its full line-up for 2024.

Marlborough LitFest is back and will be celebrating its 15th year with a programme full of more than 40 events and author talks.

Held in the historic market town of Marlborough from September 26 to 29, this year's LitFest will offer a mix of celebrity writers, debut authors and something for every age.

“This year feels like a bumper year for our 15th anniversary with a rich mix of interesting topics in addition to plenty of well-known names," said Genevieve Clarke, Festival Chair.

"We’re extremely grateful to all our supporters for enabling us to bring this line-up to Marlborough as well as helping us to provide lots of free reading activities for children and families across the community."

Tickets for all the events are now live and can be booked online at marlboroughlitfest.org, by calling 0333 666 3366, or in person from The White Horse Bookshop in Marlborough.

Marlborough LitFest 2024 line-up:

Fiction author talks

  • Orwell Prize nominee Linda Grant
  • Award-winning novelist Kate Mosse
  • Bestselling Sunday Times author and actor Celia Imrie
  • Author Sarah Perry
  • Political and economics reporter Robert Peston
  • Emily Howes and Harriet Constable
  • Crime novelist Feliz Francis
  • Sunday Times bestseller author Ben Kane
  • Crime writer AJ Finn

Non-fiction author talks

  • LitFest Patron Sir Simon Russell Beale interviewed by Emma Smith, Professor of Shakespeare Studies at the University of Oxford
  • Bestselling author, historian and broadcaster, William Dalrymple
  • Author and journalist Martin Sixsmith
  • Royal historian and biographer Robert Hardman
  • Broadcaster and journalist Jonathan Dimbleby
  • Award-winning broadcaster and journalist Zeinab Badawi
  • Art critic and Women's Prize nominee Laura Cumming
  • Author Ysenda Maxtone Graham
  • Entrepreneur Nigel Toon
  • Sports journalist Sam Peters
  • First-time writer Chloe Dalton
  • Best-selling author Tristan Gooley

Poetry talks and other events

  • Poet and spirituality teacher John Siddique
  • Annual open mic 'Poetry in the Pub' event returns for 2024, open to all poets of any age. This year’s theme for National Poetry Day on 3 October is ‘Counting’.
  • Poet Kate Wakeling
  • Local playwright and author Barney Norris on a walk in Savernake Forest, examining the link between place and memory when writing about fiction, followed by a trip to the pub.
  • Big Town Read - The Secret Life of John le Carre by Adam Sisman.
  • Big Book Quiz at The Parade Cinema
  • Artemis adult storytelling session by author Katy Cawkwell
  • St John's Academy sixth form debate

Children's events

  • Street Storytellers at The Parade Cinema
  • Free craft activities at St Peter's Church with Aldbourne Children's Book Group
  • Tall Tales Theatre performance for children
  • Once Upon a Trail around Marlborough High Street
  • Love Books Competition
  • Ex-St John's student talk about becoming an author with Emily Randal;-Jones and Matthew Fox.
  • Interactive storytelling with Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre