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Nobel winner Kazuo Ishiguro and comedian Jo Brand among speakers announced for 2019

Nobel winner Kazuo Ishiguro and comedian Jo Brand among speakers a

Nobel prize-winning novelist Kazuo Ishiguro is among a host of leading speakers announced today for the 2019 FT Weekend Oxford Literary festival.

Ishiguro will speak about his life and work and receive the Bodley medal for his outstanding contribution to literature.

Other leading speakers from the world of fiction include thriller writer Robert Harris, who gives the Chancellor’s Lecture, Chocolat author Joanne Harris, who recieves the festival’s honorary fellowship, and crime writer Val McDermid.

Comedian Jo Brand talks about her darkly funny guide to life as a woman, and explorer and adventurer Ranulph Fiennes talks about his life.

Leading journalists speaking include former BBC stalwarts Martin Bell and Kate Adie,  former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger, and the environmentalist and activist George Monbiot.

Science is represented by Astronomer Royal Martin Rees on the future of humanity, by broadcaster and fertility treatment pioneer Robert Winston, and by Nobel Prize-winning biologist Venki Ramakrishnan.

Historians Simon Schama and Diarmaid MacCulloch appear, and former ballerina now Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell talks about her life and career.

One of the world’s leading legal minds and former official in the Obama administration Cass Sunstein talks about social change, and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson makes a case for justice on climate change.

Tickets are on sale now through this website or by telephoning the box office at 0333 666 3366 (a booking fee of £1.75 applies to purchases made through the telephone box office).

Morpurgo and Kerr head children’s line-up

Michael Morpurgo and Judith Kerr head another great line-up of events for children and young people at this year’s festival.

Morpurgo talks about the creation of a children’s laureate 20 years ago, while Kerr is joined by fellow author/illustrator Benji Davies to talk about creating children’s classics.

Other authors in the children and young people programme include historian Lucy Worsley, Murder Most Unladylike author Robin Stevens, Horrid Henry creator Francesca Simon, and cultural historian Janina Ramirez with her first children’s book.

There’s also a return for the popular Harry Potter celebration show.

FT Weekend Title partner University of Oxford BBC World Service International radio partner Bodleian Libraries Festival cultural partner Oxford Martin School Festival ideas partner Worcester College Worcester College: Festival college partner Irish Embassy, London Supporters of the Irish programme MIT Press MIT Press. Sponsors of the programme of American literature and culture The Dorchester Hotels Collection Festival London hotel partner Blackwell’s Festival on-site and online bookseller Head of Zeus The Macdonald Randolph Hotel The festival hotel Italian Cultural Institute HM Government of Gibraltar Festival green room sponsor Gibunco Group Sponsor of Gibraltar Lecture British Academy BBC Four Television Broadcast media partner Earthwatch Europe Ian and Carol Sellars Emily Rose and James Marrow Jill Dunsmore George Warren New College Lincoln College Lincoln College St Cross College St Cross College Jesus College St Hilda’s College St John’s College St John's College The Queen’s College The Queen's College Exeter College Exeter College Hertford College Keble College Keble College Oxford Brookes University The Feathers Hotel Said Business School University of Oxford Mathematical Institute Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies The Oxford Times Regional media partner BBC Radio Oxford Local radio partner Bear Ram Elk Festival Digital Strategy & Web Design The Royal Society of Literature Royal Literary Fund Princeton University Press Felicity Bryan Associates University of Oxford Alumni Office Alumni Office Conference Oxford Oxford University Images Oxford University Images The Sheldonian Theatre Oxford University Press Floris of London Critchleys City Audio Visual Eynsham Hall Macdonald Bear Hotel Sloane Club Ashmolean Museum British Humanist Association The Story Museum Oxford City Council The Litmus Partnership K T Bruce Photography K T Bruce Photography OX magazine Liaison Financial Services History of War All About History Steer Oxford Botanic Garden

FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival partners & sponsors

FT Weekend Title partner University of Oxford BBC World Service International radio partner Bodleian Libraries Festival cultural partner Oxford Martin School Festival ideas partner Worcester College Worcester College: Festival college partner Irish Embassy, London Supporters of the Irish programme MIT Press MIT Press. Sponsors of the programme of American literature and culture The Dorchester Hotels Collection Festival London hotel partner Blackwell’s Festival on-site and online bookseller Head of Zeus The Macdonald Randolph Hotel The festival hotel Italian Cultural Institute HM Government of Gibraltar Festival green room sponsor Gibunco Group Sponsor of Gibraltar Lecture British Academy BBC Four Television Broadcast media partner Earthwatch Europe Ian and Carol Sellars Emily Rose and James Marrow Jill Dunsmore George Warren New College Lincoln College Lincoln College St Cross College St Cross College Jesus College St Hilda’s College St John’s College St John's College The Queen’s College The Queen's College Exeter College Exeter College Hertford College Keble College Keble College Oxford Brookes University The Feathers Hotel Said Business School University of Oxford Mathematical Institute Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies The Oxford Times Regional media partner BBC Radio Oxford Local radio partner Bear Ram Elk Festival Digital Strategy & Web Design The Royal Society of Literature Royal Literary Fund Princeton University Press Felicity Bryan Associates University of Oxford Alumni Office Alumni Office Conference Oxford Oxford University Images Oxford University Images The Sheldonian Theatre Oxford University Press Floris of London Critchleys City Audio Visual Eynsham Hall Macdonald Bear Hotel Sloane Club Ashmolean Museum British Humanist Association The Story Museum Oxford City Council The Litmus Partnership K T Bruce Photography K T Bruce Photography OX magazine Liaison Financial Services History of War All About History Steer Oxford Botanic Garden