Larry Lamb, Celia Imrie And Mary Portas Join Star-Studded Isle Of Wight Literary Festival Line-Up

TV favourites, bestselling authors and leading public figures are among the latest names confirmed for this year's Isle of Wight Literary Festival.

A host of well-known names from television, literature, journalism and public life have been added to the line-up for this year's Isle of Wight Literary Festival.

The festival returns to Northwood House in Cowes from 8th to 11th October, with organisers unveiling another wave of speakers for the 15th annual event.

Among the latest additions is Larry Lamb, the actor best known for his roles in EastEnders and Gavin & Stacey.

He will reflect on his life and career through his memoir Mummy's Boy, sharing personal stories and poetry spanning the highs and lows of his journey.

Retail expert and broadcaster Mary Portas OBE will also appear at the festival to discuss her latest book, I Shop, Therefore I Am.

Best known for her television series Mary Queen of Shops, Portas describes the book as both a memoir and a manifesto for doing business with creativity and purpose.

Former Isle of Wight resident Celia Imrie CBE returns to the Island to talk about The Elegant Hustler – Adventures From a Life on the Move.

The much-loved actress, whose screen credits include The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Calendar Girls, Bridget Jones's Diary and Dinnerladies, will share stories from her travels around the world, told with her trademark warmth and humour.

Joining them is veteran journalist Stephen Sackur, best known as the long-time presenter of HARDTalk.

Drawing on nearly four decades with the BBC, he will discuss his latest book, Hard Truth: Investigations That Shook the World and Why They Matter, which explores the importance of holding governments, criminals and powerful corporations to account.

Former RAF fast jet pilot Mandy Hickson will appear alongside her husband, helicopter pilot Craig Hickson, to discuss An Officer and Her Gentleman.

Their joint memoir recounts their experiences serving in the military and follows Mandy's earlier bestselling autobiography, An Officer, Not a Gentleman.

Readers with an interest in history, travel and the natural world will also be able to hear from Merlin Hanbury-Tenison, whose book Our Oaken Bones tells the story of restoring Cornwall's temperate rainforest after returning from military service in Afghanistan with PTSD.

Also joining the programme are author Robert Winder, discussing the influence of Europe's great rivers in Three Rivers; Ben Robinson, exploring Britain's coastal heritage in Coastline; and Jon Woolcott, whose book Tattooed Hills examines England's famous chalk figures.

The latest announcement also includes distinguished barrister Geoffrey Robertson KC, military leader Field Marshal Lord David Richards, historian A.N. Wilson and acclaimed Bob Dylan expert Michael Gray, who will explore the musician's links to the Isle of Wight.

They join an already impressive line-up featuring Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Sophie Raworth, Clare Balding and football commentator Clive Tyldesley.

Maggie Ankers, Chair of the Isle of Wight Literary Festival, said:

"After our original announcement, these names show the enormous breadth of topics covered in the four days of the festival.

"We are sure there is something for everybody, from fans of the royals to lovers of our nation's geography, and from football supporters to military strategists."

Tickets for the 15th Isle of Wight Literary Festival are expected to go on sale in mid-August. More information about the festival and its full programme is available at isleofwightliteraryfestival.com.