RENOWNED authors have been booked to speak at the Sheldonian Theatre for this year’s Oxford Literary Festival.

The festival runs this year from Saturday, March 17, to Sunday, March 25, and the theatre will be the main venue for high-profile speakers.

These include novelists Anthony Horowitz and Ian McEwan, biograoher Claire Tomalin and historian David Olusoga.

Children’s author Judith Kerr will also speak at the venue, and TV chef Rick Stein is making an appearance.

ITV’s Robert Peston will give the latest update on British politics and former Labour Home Secretary Alan Johnson, who has written a series of acclaimed memoirs, is also attending.

Author Joanne Harris, who will be speaking on Monday, March 19, said: “Every year since the publication of Chocolat, I have been to the Oxford Literary Festival.

“Over that time, I’ve watched it grow; I have become a patron.

“I have met hundreds of fascinating people, both readers and writers.”

One of Ireland’s most acclaimed writers, Sebastian Barry, will give this year’s Chancellor’s Lecture, on Thursday, March 22, at 6pm when he will be interviewed by Oxford University Chancellor Lord Patten.

The festival website said: “Mr Barry became the only novelist to win the Costa Book of the Year award twice when his latest novel, Days Without End, won the 2017 award.

“He has just been named the new laureate for Irish fiction. Mr Barry has twice been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for A Long Long Way and The Secret Scripture.

“He is also author of more than a dozen plays and two volumes of poetry. Days Without End is the story of an Irishman who fights in the American civil war and cross dresses so he can marry a man.”

The marquee bookshop outside the Sheldonian will be the main hub for the festival.

Ian McEwan is returning to the city where he lived for many years.

His latest novel is murder story Nutshell and he will speak at the Sheldonian on Friday, March 23.

Visit oxfordliteraryfestival.org