Literature festival line-up announced (From Watford Observer)

Nigella Lawson, Ben Elton and Nick Robinson among visitors to Chorleywood literature festival

10:01am Monday 10th September 2012 in News By Ben Endley, Senior reporter

TV cook Nigella Lawson, Blackadder writer Ben Elton, and BBC political editor Nick Robinson will all visit Chorleywood as part of the town's annual literature festival.

Running from November 6 to 18, the event is organised by Chorleywood bookshop owners Morag Watkins and Sheryl Shurville.

This year Nigella Lawson will present her latest sensations from Italy, closely followed by Ben Elton, who counts Blackadder, Mr. Bean, and We Will Rock You amongst his credits.

The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson will also speak about politics and the media, analysing the uneasy relationship between spin and news.

Downton Abbey fans will be able to meet the author of the series' official companion, Jessica Fellowes.

Ms Watkins and Ms Shurville, organisers, said: "The range of events is huge with each author picked carefully to offer festival goers the very best of creative talent and to ensure there is something which will appeal to everyone.

"Children may find a Harry Potter event appealing while their parents may be drawn to either witty and wry observations on the British Middle Classes or to an account of disturbing injustices inherent in the American legal system or to a train enthusiast's celebration of the underground's 150 years of shaping London.

"The Man Booker prize winner, Howard Jacobson, who had everyone in stitches the year he won, is returning with what is his most overtly comic novel yet. New authors will have their own evening to introduce their work with a glass of wine."

The full list of events is below: Nigella Lawson, food journalist, cook and BBC presenter.

• Ben Elton, multi award winning comedian and writer.
• Nick Robinson, the BBC News' 'man outside No. 10'.
• John Suchet, TV and Classic FM presenter & expert on Beethoven.
• Howard Jacobson, hilarious and insightful Man Booker prize winner.
• Official companion to Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes.
• Professor Jerry Brotton, historian, expert cartographer.
• Sam Mullins, Director of London Transport Museum on trains shaping London.
• Patrick Hennessey, award winning, first hand tales of Afghanistan.
• Clive Stafford Smith OBE, world-renowned civil rights and justice campaigner.
• Fi Cotter Craig and Zebedee Helm, funfilled observations of the Middle Classes.
• Gerry Hanson, a Jubilee special celebrating all things English.