The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival is thrilled to reveal this year's unmissable full programme of events, setting the scene for an international literary celebration like no other.

From Friday 8 to Sunday 17 October, the world's foremost writers, thinkers and performers will descend on the vibrant spa town when the Festival village returns to the heart of regency Cheltenham.

The world's first literature festival continues to blaze a trail with unique experiences and the unparalleled line-up, announced today, is set to create even more unforgettable memories for book lovers this autumn.

Showcasing literary legends, fresh new voices and the biggest books of the year, there is something on offer for everyone: from stars of the stage and screen to incisive political debate. The programme spans history, food, travel, poetry and spoken word, art, sport, faith, philosophy, fashion, psychology, science, nature, business and much more.

Internationally renowned writers rub shoulders with many well-known faces as this year's line-up includes Richard Coles, Joan Bakewell, Robert Peston, Skin, Rob Beckett, Joan Collins, Hayley Mills, Julian Clary, Michael Murpurgo, Lenny Henry, Ed Balls, Dawn French, Bob Mortimer, Shirley Ballas, Ruby Wax, Peter Schmeichel, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Joe Wicks, Jed Mercurio, Jack Dee, Raymond Blanc, Will Young, Jacqueline Wilson and Tom Daley.

The lively Festival village is the perfect setting for a family day out with a bumper programme of events, free activities, workshops, and story trails featuring the greatest storytellers and illustrators, sure to inspire a love of reading in children of all ages and stages. The Literature for Schools programme, featuring Cheltenham Festival's flagship education programme Reading Teachers = Reading Pupils, will also give thousands of school children the chance to meet their literary heroes.

The Festival is harnessing digital technology as part of its drive to create a world in which everyone can explore culture. Cheltenham Festivals' YouTube channel will broadcast highlights from each day of the Festival, including filmed talks with international writers as part of the Read The World theme. In addition, recordings of over 140 events will be available on demand until 31 December 2021 via the #CheltLitFest Player.

Charging into its sixth year in Cheltenham, for one night only Lit Crawl sees the town's bars, record stores, cafes, tattoo parlours and barbershops packed with literary revellers until late into the night sampling everything from flash fiction to ghost stories, music to comedy, pop-up readings to spoken word.

An immersive and visually striking new venue and programme lands this October at the Literature Festival. VOICEBOX will bring youth voices to the forefront through a completely free programme of talks, workshops, panels, DJ sets and more, shining a light on the topics and trends that matter to young adults.

Events will feature the best established and emerging local and national young writers, artists and creatives and digital audiences will be encouraged to join in the conversation through the Festival's social media channels, continuing discussion and debate beyond the 10-day event.

Booking for the Literature Festival opens to Cheltenham Festivals Members on Friday 3 September and general booking opens on Friday 10 September.

For more information, go to The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival (cheltenhamfestivals.com)