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 receives 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.