IMAGINE having Mary Berry and Will I Am as your parents.

That was the thought of comedian David Baddiel after coming face-to-face with some of his younger fans in Oxford on Saturday.

The Mary Whitehouse Experience star and children's author was appearing at the first day of the Oxford Literary Festival in front of a packed crowd at the Sheldonian Theatre.

Speaking about his book The Parent Agency - in which a schoolboy ends up in a fantasy land where he can pick his own parents - Mr Baddiel asked children who would be their ideal guardians.

Aside from the chef-singer combo, other potential parents included sprinter Usain Bolt, footballer Lionel Messi and American pop singer Taylor Swift.

On the inspiration for the book, released last year, Mr Baddiel said he had dreamt up ideas after talking to his computer game loving son Ezra.

He said: "I am always saying to Ezra that he should read my books but he just winds me up and says he's reading the Diary of a Wimpy Kid instead."

Last year the actor also wrote another children's book, the Person Controller, about twins Fred and Ellie who get given a magic video game controller which allows them to control each other.

The Oxford Literary Festival, sponsored by the Oxford Mail's sister paper the Oxford Times, will be on until April 10.

Other speakers include actor Ian McKellen and children's author Jacqueline Wilson.