THIS year’s Swindon Festival of Literature has got off to a flying start and there are still plenty more top names to come.

The festival, which is now in its 17th year, kicked off on Monday and has seen speakers such as Cherie Blair, Lionel Shriver and Maureen Lipman take to the stage at venues across the town.

But if you haven’t made it along to one of the sessions so far there is no need to worry, you still have plenty of chances to enjoy all that the 13-day event has to offer.

Tomorrow night at 8pm. award-winning writer and broadcaster Bonnie Greer will be speaking at the Arts Centre. She’ll be talking about Obama music and the USA.

On Tuesday, ex-England rugby player and sports commentator Brian Moore and politican turned broadcaster Michael Portillo will both be talking to audiences at the Steam Museum, in Kemble Drive.

Brian will be on stage at 6.30pm (tickets cost £8) and Michael will be speaking at 8pm (tickets cost £10).

And Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy will be at Steam at 6pm on May 12 (tickets cost £10).

Apart from big names, though, there will also be a good number of other big events – there will also be Swindon Performance Poetry Slam competition and the schools’ Youth Slam, both events take place at the Arts Centre on Saturday.

Capping it all will be the Festival Finale, which is being held at the Town Hall on May 15 from 7.30pm.

It will feature poetry, dance, music and much more. Tickets cost £8.

For further information call 01793 771080 or email swindon litfest@lowershawfarm.co.uk