FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival opens on Saturday

Speakers include James Naughtie, Robert Harris and Philip Pullman

James NaughtieThe nine-day FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival opens this Saturday with a host of headline speakers promising to make it one of the biggest and best events for years. First on the stage at the Sheldonian Theatre on Saturday is James Naughtie of BBC Radio 4's Today programme, pictured left, talking about how his life as one of our top journalists influenced his debut novel, The Madness of July. Thriller writer Robert Harris talks about his new novel, An Officer and a Spy, while Sunday sees a rare UK appearance by the bestselling US novelist Anita Shreve. Former cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken also appears on Sunday to talk about Margaret Thatcher. Topping the bill in this weekend's children's programme are Guardian journalist Lucy Mangan and Roald Dahl Funny Book prize winner Philip Ardagh with their Roald Dahl Mischief Mayhem and Music. Actress and cookery writer Madhur Jaffrey and ex-BBC journalist Mark Tully head Monday's programme with a talk on the Magic of India while acclaimed travel writer Jan Morris receives the 2014 Honorary Fellowship of the Oxford Literary Festival at the Sheldonian on Tuesday. Philip PullmanOn Wednesday, renowned novelist Philip Pullman, pictured right, discusses his life and musical loves, as members of the outstanding Orchestra of St John, conducted by John Lubbock, perform his favourite pieces. Away from the Sheldonian Theatre, you can enjoy a 'Lunch with the FT' while hearing about some classic FT interviews from editor Lionel Barber and columnist Lucy Kellaway.

Visit your new festival marquee

A new festival marquee housing a box office, Blackwell's festival bookshop, café, talks, book-signings, stalls and evening music will be located outside the Sheldonian Theatre. The marquee will provide a new social hub for the festival and is sure to be buzzing all nine days. More than 30 events have already sold out and we advise festival-goers to book early to avoid disappointment or long queues in the marquee box office. Book via this website or by visiting the festival box office in Blackwell's, which remains open until Friday. Alternatively, call the box office on 0870 343 1001. This year's festival is a 'ticketless' event. You can book online up to two hours before each event and your booking will be recorded at the door. The festival box office will be open in the marquee next to the Sheldonian Theatre for bookings and for any last-minute purchases.

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The Oxford Literary Festival sponsors, donors & partners

The Telegraph Festival media partner University of Oxford Netflix European Union Supported by the Delegation of the European Union to the UK Cultural Relations Platform Supporter of the festival's Voices of Europe programme BBC World Service International radio partner Owen Mumford Supporter of programme of science and medicine and annual science and innovation award Bodleian Libraries Festival cultural partner Oxford Martin School Festival ideas partner Oxford Mathematics Spanish Embassy The Spanish Embassy: supporters of the programme of Spanish literature and culture Cervantes Institute, London The Cervantes Institute, London Italian Embassy The Italian Embassy: supporter of the programme of Italian literature and culture The Dorchester Hotels Collection Festival London hotel partner International Literary Properties Festival literary heritage partner Blackwell’s Festival on-site and online bookseller The Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels Festival hotel Old Bank Hotel Five-star hotel partners of The Oxford Collection Old Parsonage Hotel Five-star hotel partners of The Oxford Collection Jim Mellon John Roberts Lady Hatch Patron donor for the programme of Irish literature and culture Tim and Marion Stevenson Martin and Elise Becket Smith Miles Young Masumi and Jonathan Dobson Pank Koria CEO of Project People Carole and John Allen David Isaac Mary and Cecil Quillen Supporters of the programme of American literature and culture Anna Hunter Rhys and Kerry Phillip Yale University Press London Exeter College Exeter College: college home of the festival. Founded 1314 New College New College founded 1379 Worcester College Worcester College founded 1714 Lincoln College Lincoln College founded 1427 St Cross College St Cross College founded 1965 Trinity College Trinity College founded 1555 Magdalen College Magdalen College founded 1458 New Dutch Writing Critchleys Accountants to the festival Pasture to Plate Compassion in World Farming Human Ecology Project MACROVegan Symington Wines of the Douro Valley Princeton University Press Prestige publishing partner. Celebrating 25 years in Europe in 2024 European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Sponsor of the EBRD Literature Prize since 2018 ROOMS Georgia's leading lifestyle hotel brand since 2012. Supporters of the programme of Georgian literature and culture Jewish Book Week Partner of Oxford Literary Festival Foodbuy Thje Menu Partners Institute of Hospitality Goldmoney Properties Project People Oxford Brookes University Oxford International Centre for Publishing Confucius Institute Pusey House British Academy Festival academic partner Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies Oxford United Football Club Racalia Olive Oil Olive oil from Sicily BBC Radio Oxford Local radio partner Bear Ram Elk Festival Digital Strategy & Web Design Paul Bloomfield Ltd University of Oxford Alumni Office Alumni Office Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Conference Oxford Felicity Bryan Associates CAV Oxford The Sheldonian Theatre Oxford University Images Oxford University Images Oxford University Department for Continuing Education Oxford Georgian Translation Project Supporter of the programme of Georgian literature and culture Force4Good Consultancy Corporate communications Voltaire Foundation OX magazine Ox in a Box K T Bruce Photography K T Bruce Photography The Litmus Partnership Schoolreaders Windrush Group James Currey Society