This image: Lucy Worsley
As the box office opens, we select highlights from the latest word fest
The city’s world of words returns when Cambridge Literary Festival welcomes a host of intriguing writers in April. 
Whether its fiction, memoir, the environment, children’s tales or thinkers discussing the state of the nation (or the world) there’s always something for everyone at the twice-yearly celebration of writing.
The box office for is now open and there’s a packed programme to choose from on 13, 14 and 15 April across a handful of venues.
Highlights include chef Tom Kerridge (right) – having lost 12 stone himself – talking about Lose Weight For Good, Man Booker-shortlisted Jim Crace, with his new novel The Melody, Ruby Wax, on her well-being book How to be Human and National Theatre artistic director Nicholas Hytner’s behind-the-scenes tales in Balancing Acts.
Also appearing are Robert McFarlane, festival patron and renowned nature writer, and illustrator Jackie Morris, who he has worked with on The Lost Words: A Spell Book, all about the natural world around us, which has proved a hit with both adults and children alike.
Writing for children has proved to be a big draw for many star names (just think of all the David Walliams books in recent years), and the festival welcomes Harry Hill – who has created Matt Millz, the youngest stand-up in Britain, Adrian Edmondson, Lucy Worsley and former UK Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell, who is at a special preview event on 7 April at Anglia Ruskin University.
There’s also an appearance by Fitz and Will, the Cambridge Cats, for anyone aged three and up.
To mark 100 years since women gained the right to vote, there’s a series of events including a New Statesman debate and a panel discussion that features Harriet Harman (left), alongside Dame Athene Donald, professor of experimental physics, and Kathryn Jacob, CEO of Pearl & Dean.
Don’t take too long to plan if you can get from one event to the next, as events often sell out quickly.
www.cambridgeliteraryfestival.com
