Joanna Lumley, Jo Brand, and Maxine Peake are among the stars who will appear at this year's Hay Festival.
Joanna Lumley
Organisers have confirmed the line-up for the 11-day literature and arts extravaganza, which will take place in Hay-on-Wye, Wales, from May 23rd to June 2nd, and will also feature the likes of Stephen Fry, Sandi Toksvig, Jimmy Carr, and Bill Bailey.
Peter Florence, director of Hay Festival, said: "Hay Festival is a space to think, and to think again, and to put the great issues of the day in a context of global history.
"Empires fall, technology empowers and enslaves us, faiths are shaken, orthodoxies disrupted and still we come together and talk and sing and dance, break bread and tell stories. Minds change.
"Government is fiendishly hard, democracy is vulnerable, and living together, the 'Convivencia' is a precious dream.
"The good news is that our potential is limitless, and friendship is our pleasure. Let's talk. Let's listen."
Author Ken Follett - who has written numerous New York Times Best Sellers, including 'Edge of Eternity', 'Fall of Giants' and 'A Dangerous Fortune' - will speak at the spectacle on June 2nd, three days before he turns 70, and he is delighted to have been invited to the event.
Speaking in a video shared on his Twitter account, he said: "I've never been to the Hay Festival before, so I'm eagerly anticipating my first visit on Sunday June 2nd, three days before my 70th birthday.
"I'm going to show a short film about my research, and talk about my latest book, 'A Column of Fire', then I'm going to invite you to ask me anything you like, within reason.
"So please come armed with questions. I look forward to seeing you."
Jacqueline Wilson will also make an appearance at the event, as will Germaine Greer, Fintan O'Toole, Dustin Lance Black, Dolly Alderton, Monty Don and Greg James.
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