Richard Dawkins and Alice Roberts confirmed for 2014

Tickets for 2014 festival will go on sale on July 1

World-famous scientist and author of The God Delusion Richard Dawkins and BBC science presenter Alice Roberts are among a host of top names already confirmed for this year’s Blenheim Palace Literary Festival.

Dawkins, pictured right, will talk about his early life and influences and his musical loves, featured in his new autobiography An Appetite for Wonder: The Making of a Scientist, at a special event that will also see the Orchestra of St John, conducted by John Lubbock, perform some of his favourite music.

Roberts, presenter of the BBC’s The Incredible Human Journey, will talk about her new book, The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us.

Other names confirmed for this year’s festival, which takes place between Wednesday, September 24, and Sunday, September 28, include the American opera singer Jessye Norman, actress Maureen Lipman and Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes.

Former Conservative cabinet minister Liam Fox will join a panel on Russia, in particular to discuss President Putin, globalisation and possible threats to world peace.

Tickets will go on sale on on July 1 when full details of this year’s events will be announced.