YORKSHIRE stage legends Alan Bennett and Barrie Rutter bookend this year's Ilkley Literature Festival, respectively opening and closing the17-day festival.

The packed programme of 250 events features novelists, broadcasters, poets and performers.

One of Britain’s most notable playwrights, Alan Bennett will be at the King’s Hall to discuss his most recent diaries, published together in Keeping On Keeping On.

Others festival guests include comedy actor and regular panellist on BBC Radio 4’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, Tim Brooke Taylor; former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen; professional tennis coach and perhaps sport’s most well-known mum, Judy Murray, telling the story of her life bringing up two champions; biologist and provocateur, Richard Dawkins, calling for a return to reason over bad science; and Brendan Cox, celebrating the life and legacy of his wife, human rights campaigner and Labour MP Jo Cox, through his book More In Common.

Best-selling writers appearing at the festival include Apple Tree Yard author Louise Doughty with her new work Black Water, set in Cold War Europe, California and Indonesia; Natasha Pulley, presenting her new historical novel The Bedlam Stacks; and Alan Hollinghurst with The Sparsholt Affair, his sixth novel.

The 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death is marked with events and readings, and there's a special festival strand on European literary fiction. Leading figures from the arts are profiled, including poet and artist Ian Hamilton Finlay - the subject of this year’s festival exhibition at the Manor House Museum. One of the world’s leading Shakespearean actors, Michael Pennington, will explain what it takes to play King Lear, while Yorkshire poet, playwright, novelist, lyricist and broadcaster, Simon Armitage, will read from his newest collection, The Unaccompanied.

Familiar names and faces from TV and radio include satirist and writer Armando Iannucci, discussing his love of classical music, Pointless creator and co-presenter, Richard Osman will attempt to answer questions like ‘what is the nation’s favourite biscuit?’ posed in his book The World Cup Of Everything. Also appearing are Jeremy Vine, June Sarpong, exploring the importance of diversity in society and foreign correspondent Fergal Keane on the years of conflict in rural West Ireland.

* The festival runs from September 29 to October 15. Visit ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk or call (01943) 816714.