Robbie Paul's a science fiction fan, Christa Ackroyd is passionate about the Brontes, and the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Allan Hillary, just loves adventures.

Their favourite reads were revealed to coincide with the launch of the Bradford Book Festival tonight.

They spoke out about the virtues of a good book as a packed month of literary events was unveiled featuring stars such as comedian Sean Hughes, Chocolat author Joanne Harris and trendy poet John Hegley.

Stand-up comic and football fan Dominic Holland will start the festival tonight at the Alhambra Studio. He will be talking about his comic novel The Ripple Effect, which tells the story of a struggling football club, at the Alhambra Studio at 8pm.

Mr Holland has already given £800 to the Telegraph & Argus Save Our City appeal for Bradford City Football Club after carrying out a book-signing at Valley Parade.

The main character of his book is a baker who forgets to put jam in some of his doughnuts which starts the ripple effect.

And, in keeping with the theme, jam doughnuts, supplied by Asda supermarket, in Rooley Lane, Bierley, will be on offer along with other refreshments at tonight's festival opening.

Jane Glaister, Bradford Council's director of arts, heritage and leisure, said the aim of the festival was to bring people together to enjoy reading and literature.

She rates Philip Pullman's Dark Materials Trilogy as her favourite because it is a "delightful story with compelling characters."

"It transformed the way I think about the world," she said.

But she added: "You don't need to have read a book to enjoy listening to them read it and talk about it."

Among the festival events looking at the venues where the books were set is a Bronte walk around Haworth, where the sisters lived and based most of their work.

It is an area close to TV presenter Christa Ackroyd's heart as her favourite book is Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights.

"It's wild, romantic, dark and deep and yet written by a spinster from Yorkshire with what surely has to be the best imagination ever," said Christa, who will open the festival.

"The author is more inspiring than the characters. Heathcliff is a bully, Kathy spoilt and selfish and the others weakened by the cruel circumstances they find themselves in.

"As Haworth is within ten minutes from where I was born, it is a sentimental choice."

Bradford Bulls captain Robbie Paul prefers science fiction to Bronte novels.

"David Gemmell is a science fiction fantasy writer in the JR Tolkien style," he said.

"He's a no-nonsense writer, straight to the point and all his heroes have a humanistic fault about them."

And the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Allan Hillary, is an adventure and history fan.

"I enjoy Birdsong as it discusses the reality of human relationships in wartime and the tragedies of war in general," he said.

Bradford Book Festival runs until Thursday, June 17.