FUNNYWOMAN Katy Brand, Gold Cup-winning racehorse trainer Henrietta Knight and drag queen Crystal Rasmussen are among the big names heading to Oxfordshire for a star-studded literary festival.

The Wantage Literary Festival will take place between October 26 and November 2, and bring stars of stage, screen and page to venues around the town.

Also appearing are travel writer Nicholas Jubber and espionage author Henry Hemming who will a talk on how the British used ‘fake news’ to help bring the United States into the Second World War.

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His talk is the true tale of the exploits of William Stephenson, sent by MI6 to be ‘our man in New York’ in 1940. Hemming explains how this spy’s work changed the course of the war – and history.

Oxford Mail:

Henry Hemming.

Mr Hemming, whose book has now been optioned by a major film company, will give his talk on Saturday, October 26.

On the same day historian and broadcaster Tracy Borman returns to the festival to discuss the Gunpowder Plot.

Crystal Rasmussen is a Northern drag superstar and will set out to dazzle with funny and moving tales of being ‘queer’ on the drag scene at The Beacon on Friday, November 1.

Based on the recollections detailed in ‘Diary of a Drag Queen’, Crystal will chart the day-to-day adventures over one tumultuous year, which often involve sprinting from one problem to next with a full face of make-up.

Oxford Mail:

Henrietta Knight. Picture: Damian Halliwell

Horse trainer Henrietta Knight’s talk on Monday, October 28, is about the part played by jockeys in racing.

Award-winning travel writer Mr Jubber highlights the great European epic poems and their continuing relevance today in his talk on Friday, November 1.

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The tales of dragons, gods, emperors, knights and feisty princesses he discusses were shaped by their times and have helped shape modern Europe.

Mr Jubber explores how honour, fate, fundamentalism, nationhood, class, sex and politics have preoccupied Europeans across the millennia.

Comedian Katy Brand will explain her life-long obsession with Dirty Dancing and how it has influenced her own attitudes to sex, love, romance, rights and responsibilities. She appears on Saturday, November 2.

Oxford Mail:

Katy Brand.

Her book I Carried a Watermelon – a quote from the film – is part memoir and part homage to the movie.

It explores the legacy of the film, from pushing women’s stories to the forefront of commercial cinema, to its fresh and powerful take on the classic ‘coming of age’ story told from a naïve but idealistic 17-year-old girl’s point of view.

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There are also events for children including creative writing workshops and a train your own dragon themed day, inspired by Viking history and the books of Cressida Cowell.

The Wantage Literary Festival is held in venues throughout the town, including the Beacon Theatre and The Methodist Church on Newbury Street and the town library.

The festival was originally created as a celebration of the former poet laureate and town resident John Betjeman. It was rebranded the Wantage (not just) Betjeman Festival and now has a wide range of events covering the arts and sciences.