Julian Fellowes, Maureen Lipman and Nicholas Parsons complete festival line-up

September programme of Blenheim Palace Literary Festival complete

A host of new names have been added to the Blenheim Palace Literary Festival, including Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, much-loved actress Maureen Lipman, comedian and TV and radio host Nicholas Parsons, pictured right, and the lead singer of progressive rock band Marillion, Steve Hogarth. The September line-up of the festival is now complete and tickets are selling fast.

Fellowes will introduce the premier of his new ITV documentary, Blenheim Palace: Great War House, as part of a new partnership between the festival and the ITV network.

Lipman will be reading the poetry of Jeremy Robson and some of her own monologues. The event will also feature live music from renowned jazz singer Jacqui Dankworth accompanied by Butterfly Wing.

Comedian and host Parsons talks about the history of Radio 4’s hugely popular Just a Minute, a show he has hosted since it first started six decades ago.

Marillion lead singer Steve Hogarth will take to the piano and sing for festival-goers and will talk about his recently published diaries.

Other big names recently added to the programme include former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey talking about moral dilemmas of the 21st century including assisted dying, and multi-talented actor, writer, presenter, and doctor Sir Jonathan Miller, pictured left, who is guest speaker at this year’s literary dinner.

Britain’s foremost scholar of world religion Karen Armstrong debunks the argument that religion has been the cause of all major wars in history, and world authority on the history of the Church Diarmaid MacCulloch will be joined by fellow historian and writer Anna Whitelock to discuss the roles played by Henry VIII and his daughter, Elizabeth I, in the creation of the Church of England.

All events can be booked through this website or in person at The Feathers hotel in Woodstock. A telephone box office is operated by The Feathers on 01993 812291 between 11am and 2.30pm.