Love-rat James Hewitt is among the guests pencilled in for a speaking slot at the Oxford Union this term, writes Richard Abbott.

The former lover of Princess Diana, who spilled the beans about their relationship, is among a wide-ranging list of speakers from the worlds of entertainment, politics and science who feature in the Union's Trinity programme.

New president Jeff Bell, a 21-year-old law student from Lady Margaret Hall, denied he faced a challenge to restore the Union's credibility following accusations that it was 'dumbed down' by the last president, Lucy Aitkens. He said: "Lucy was very bad at handling the Press and I am sure she would acknowledge that. She did not present the Union in its best light. But we have been around for 117 years and she is just one of hundreds of presidents.

"Every president puts their own character into the term, Lucy perhaps more so than others. I still hear from her now and again but she is working very hard on her Internet company and doesn't spend much time in Oxford. Obviously we have got one or two celebrities in this term but the overwhelming number of speakers are from politics, literature and the media."

The exact date and time of James Hewitt's appearance is yet to be confirmed.

Other celebrity speakers include Australian Rolf Harris, the host of TV show Animal Hospital; chat show host Michael Parkinson and Countdown presenter Richard Whiteley. Mr Bell defended his choices, arguing all are "national institutions". Author Martin Amis, American feminist Shere Hite, actor Simon Callow and Labour peer Lord Winston are some of the more heavyweight guests.

Attempts to shake off the Aitkens legacy are not helped by a forthcoming Ann Summers evening, described in the programme as "an evening of fun and frolics with a selection of sexy underwear and titillating toys".

But Mr Bell, who comes from South Shields, said: "We have had Ann Summers parties before. That is nothing new. "It is just a social event and people seem to forget that we are a social club as well as a debating society. We want to keep the Oxford Union on track as the world's premier debating society an ambassador for the University as well as the city of Oxford."

The Union's first debate was held last night when Imran Khan, solicitor to the family of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence, confronted Ian Blair, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, on the motion: "This House believes that the police have not adequately responded to the findings of the Lawrence inquiry."