Stars line up for literary festival

Former London mayor Ken Livingstone, comedienne Julie Walters and West End and TV star John Barrowman all feature in a varied and colourful line up at this year's Cheltenham Literature Festival, revealed by organisers. Former deputy prime minister John Prescott, actress and comedienne Dawn French and TV host Richard Madeley will also appear in a range of events in the Gloucestershire town from October 10 to 19. With more than 450 writers and over 350 events, org anisers have promised "an exhilarating 10-day celebration of the written word". Journalist Kate Adie and author Ian Rankin are the guest directors at this year's festival, which centres around the theme of "family". Novelist Jilly Cooper will take a "candid" look at sex on the page, novelist and journalist Will Self will discuss the final taboos in writing and artist... [read full story]