THOUSANDS of book fans and authors are set to descend on the city again for the annual Oxford Literary Festival.

The 15th Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival will include more than 250 events between Saturday, April 2, and Sunday, April 10.

Last year’s event attracted more than 25,000 people to the city centre, but organisers promised this year’s event would be even bigger.

Festival director Sally Dunsmore said: “Over 500 speakers are attending this year’s Oxford Literary Festival talking about and debating a wide range of subjects including science, food, biography, history, fiction and politics.

“We have a wonderful programme for children and our Sheldonian programme of events includes HM King Abdullah of Jordan, Kazuo Ishiguro, Tim Smit and many more.”

Other speakers will include children’s writer Jacqueline Wilson, Lord Melvyn Bragg and creator of Inspector Morse, Colin Dexter.

Mr Dexter said: “I have spoken every year at the festival, and I very much look forward to it.

“I think we are becoming one of the biggest literary festivals in the country, and certainly one of the most widely supported.”

Mr Dexter, who lives in North Oxford, will be running a discussion on fictional detectives and, in particular, their sidekicks. He said: “The festival is extremely popular and especially in the past two or three years.

“There’s not many people who would turn it down.

“I think it is a bit ironic that just at the time people are organising a literary festival, we have this dark cloud of the closing libraries hanging over us.”

The events will be centred on Oxford University colleges, the Sheldonian Theatre and The Bodleian Library.

Alongside talks from poets and historians, critics and artists, there will also be a series of debates, workshops, readings and sessions in creative writing. Children can also get involved, with events about Roald Dahl and Doctor Who as well as getting the chance to come face-to-face with the world’s biggest book.

news@oxfordmail.co.uk For more information, see oxfordliteraryfestival.com or call the box office on 0870 343 1001.