TV PUNDIT Clive James is the latest recruit to the 11th Swindon Festival of Literature.

Mr James is best known these days for presenting shows exploring the strange world of overseas television programmes.

However, the Australian is also an accomplished novelist and poet, and first came to prominence in the 1970s with television reviews he wrote for the Observer.

The reviews were so popular that hundreds were later collected into a series of anthologies.

Literature festival director Matt Holland said: "He is a remarkable man an elder statesman of the world of letters and middle brow television, not to mention being an Australian writer so much admired by the English."

The festival will be held over the first two weeks of May, with Mr James set to appear on May 4 at the Wyvern Theatre.

He joins a growing roster of literary and other stars set to appear at the festival. They include:

Veteran left wing political firebrand Tony Benn, who is also an increasingly acclaimed diarist and political essayist.

Writer, broadcaster and commentator Joan Bakewell.

Legal expert Helena Kennedy QC, who will be delivering this year's Clive Brain memorial lecture at Swindon College. The lecture is named in honour of the late college principal, who died in the Paddington train disaster.

Oxford author Mark Haddon, who has won acclaim with The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time, a mystery novel set in Swindon

Mr Holland added: "It is hard to say whether the 11th festival will be the best yet, because the last one was quite remarkable.

"This one is two days shorter than the last but so far it is looking promising."