Carol Ann Duffy, David Starkey, Bonnie Greer and Lemn Sissay added to Literature Festival line-up

Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy

The three-day Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival in October will include appearances from the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, television historian David Starkey CBE, playwright, novelist and critic Bonnie Greer plus acclaimed poet Lemn Sissay.

It will be a Rochdale return for Carol Ann Duffy who headlined the town’s first literature festival in 2013. She will be reading accompanied by musician John A Sampson and international poet, Imtiaz Dharker. The first female Scottish Poet Laureate in the role's 400-year history, Carol Ann’s combination of tenderness and toughness, humour and lyricism and unconventional attitude has won her a large audience of readers and listeners.

Bonnie Greer studied theatre with David Mamet before moving to New York and then, in 1986, to the UK. A former President of the Bronte Society she has been a panellist on television programmes including Question Time and Newsnight Review. Bonnie has won numerous awards, including the Verity Bargate Award for Best New Play, and has judged literary prizes including the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction.

David Starkey is a broadcaster, historian and sometimes controversial public figure. His history series have made him a familiar face on television. His latest book, Magna Carta: The True Story Behind the Charter, marks the 800th anniversary of the signing of Magna Carta, being celebrated this year. He will be discussing the historical background, its impact on the foundation of the modern British constitution and its relevance today, during what promises to be a fascinating exploration of one of the most influential events in our history.

Lemn Sissay’s work fuses the lyrical with upbeat humour and seriousness. Having published several collections, including Listener and Rebel Without Applause, and worked with artists and musicians including Leftfield, Lemn will be sharing poems in his own distinctive style. Lemn, the official poet at the FA Cup Final, has recently been appointed Chancellor of Manchester University.

Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival runs from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October, with events for all ages covering drama, comedy, literature, music, theatre, poetry, visual arts and children’s shows. Preview events will be held earlier in September and October.

The festival will showcase guest speakers and writers and is aimed at celebrating and promoting the Maskew Collection of classic literature and philosophy at Rochdale Central Library, encouraging people to engage in thought and philosophy. It will include events at various venues in the borough, with the full programme due to be revealed later this month.

The festival is due to the generosity of Annie and Frank Maskew, a Rochdale couple who shared a passion for reading and thinking, and originally met in Rochdale Library. They left a sum of money to be used on resources and events related to literature, and philosophy to ensure classic works are available for future generations.