Simon Schama and Melvyn Bragg join line-up

Schama to speak at FT Lunch

Broadcaster and historian Simon Schama has joined the line-up of the 2015 FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival. Schama, pictured right, will talk about his work at a special Lunch with the FT event. Novelist and broadcaster Melvyn Bragg joins biographer Paula Byrne to talk about the healing power of literature. There is a round table panel on peace featuring former IRA activist Patrick Magee and former Middle East hostage Terry Waite, and a roundtable panel on nature and the environment featuring the well-known environmental campaigner George Monbiot. Other major new events added to the programme include the comedian, broadcaster and wildlife presenter Bill Oddie with a humorous take on his wildlife-watching world. Also new to the programme are biographer A N Wilson on Victoria – A Life; chefs and cookery writers Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi with a talk and a dinner; and founder of the Go Slow food movement Carlo Petrini. The programme is now almost complete. Events are available to book online 24 hours a day via this website or by phone and in person at the festival box office in Blackwell's bookshop, Broad Street, Oxford, 0870 343 1001, Monday-to-Friday, 10am-4.30pm.