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Darcey Bussell talks to Nick Higham– Evolved12 noon / Sheldonian Theatre / 8- 20One of the world’s best-known ballerinas andStrictly Come Dancing judge Dame Darcey Busselltalks about her life and career.Graham Harvey talks to Robin Hicks– Pasture to Plate . Grass-Fed Nation:Getting back the Food we Deserve12 noon / Oxford Martin School:Seminar Room / 7- 12.50Graham HarveyJournalist and scriptwriter for The Archers GrahamHarvey says modern agriculture has locked us intoan unhealthy circle and makes the case for a returnto grass-fed food. And he talks about his timeworking on Radio 4’s long-running farm-based radiosoap opera.Zoë Harcombe – Pasture to Plate :The Diet Fix12 noon / Oxford Martin School:Lecture Theatre / 7- 12.50Health researcher and author Dr Zoë Harcombe talksabout her new book The Diet Fix and about her beliefin the environmental and health values of pasturegrazed meat.Lucy Worsley– Lady Mary: Tales of Tudor Intrigue2pm / Sheldonian Theatre / 10Join BBC television presenter, historian and chiefcurator at Historic Royal Palaces Lucy Worsley for athrilling tale of Tudor intrigue. Age 10 Martin Brown – Lesser Spotted Animals 22pm / Weston Lecture Theatre / 8Fed up with the same old animals? Got a thirst formore nifty nature knowledge and a love of theunknown underdog? Join bestselling HorribleHistories illustrator Martin Brown in discovering thewonderfully wow wildlife we never get to see in thisfact-tastic and tummy-tickling event. Age 7 Chitra Soundar – Stories of India2pm / Story Museum: Story Exchange / 7India is a land of stories from the ancientPanchantantra to epics and folktales. Come and listento Indian-born British author and storyteller ChitraSoundar tell you stories old and new, stories handeddown and stories made up. Age 5 5

saturday 30 march (continued)Melvyn Bragg talks to Peter Kemp– Love Without End: A Story of Heloiseand Abelard2pm / Oxford MartinSchool: Seminar Room / 7- 12.50Melvyn BraggWriter and broadcaster Baron Melvyn Braggintroduces his new novel, Love Without End: A Story ofHeloise and Abelard, based on one of history’s mostenduring love stories.Gelong Thubten– A Monk’s Guide for Young People2pm / St Cross College / 7Buddhist monk, meditation trainer and author GelongThubten offers young people advice on retaining anindependent mind and avoiding some of the stressesand dangers of social media and daily life.Age: all the familyHans Herren in conversation with PhilipLymbery – Pasture to Plate : How toNourish the World2pm / Oxford Martin School:Lecture Theatre / 7- 12.50Hans HerrenEntomologist, farmer and world expert in biologicalcontrol of crop pests Professor Hans Herren explainshis vision for a world free of hunger and misery whereeveryone can live in peace and in harmony withnature.Martin Rees talks to Ian Goldin– Princeton Lecture. On the Future:Prospects for Humanity4pm / Sheldonian Theatre / 8- 20Martin ReesAstronomer Royal Lord Martin Rees says we need totake a different approach to thinking about andplanning for tomorrow in the face of existential risksto our world.Maz Evans – Who Let the Gods Out?Greek Mythology as Never Seen Before4pm / St Cross College / 8Writer Maz Evans presents a fun-filled family fiasco asshe uses the world of her hilarious Who Let the GodsOut? series to introduce Greek Mythology – as youhave never seen it before. Packed with giggles andgames, this presentation features a quest to find theKing or Queen of the Gods from the audience.6

Sydney Padua – The ThrillingAdventures of Lovelace and Babbage4pm / Weston Lecture Theatre / FreeGraphic artist and animator Sydney Padua talksabout the collage of text and image, fact andfiction, research and imagination, in her graphicnovel The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace andBabbage. The talk is free but tickets must bebooked through the usual channels.Henry Edmunds talks toGraham Harvey– Pasture to Plate : Farming inHarmony with NatureHenry Edmunds4pm / Oxford Martin School:Lecture Theatre / 7- 12.50Passionate wildlife advocate and farmer HenryEdmunds explains how he has transformed his1,000-hectare Cholderton estate in Wiltshire tobalance demands of modern agriculture withpreservation of the countryside.Roger Scruton – Pasture to Plate : Howto Think Seriously about the Planet5pm / Oxford Martin School:Seminar Room / 7-12.50Philosopher Sir Roger Scruton rejects thetraditional view that top-down intervention is theway to deal with environmental problems andargues for an approach based on local actions.Charles Spencer– To Catch a King: Charles II’s GreatEscape6pm / Weston Lecture Theatre / 7- 12.50Bestselling historian and journalist CharlesSpencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, tells the grippingstory of Charles II’s remarkable escape fromcapture during one of the greatest manhunt’s inBritish history.George Monbiot – How Did We GetInto This Mess? Politics, Equality, Nature6pm / Sheldonian Theatre / 7- 12.50One of the UK’s best known environmentalistsand activists George Monbiot discussesdevastation of the natural world, inequality,corporate power, obsessions with growing profitand the decline in political debate – and gives histake on a lack of debate over the proposedOxford-Cambridge expressway and conurbation.7

saturday 30 march (continued)Ben Okri talks to Boyd Tonkin– The Freedom Artist6pm / Oxford Martin School:Lecture Theatre / 7- 12.50Ben OkriBooker prize-winning novelist and poet Ben Okritalks about his latest novel, The Freedom Artist, anexamination of how freedom is threatened in apost-truth society.Graham Harvey, Roberta Bellekom andAlastair Collingwood – Pasture to PlateDinner : No Finer Life7.15pm / St Cross College / 95FT Weekend Oxford Literary festival celebrates itsnew series of Pasture to Plate events with a dinnermade from locally sourced organic ingredientsand the performance of some short excerpts fromthe play, No Finer Life. The price includes dinnerand wines. Dress code informal.Roberta Bellekomsunday 31 marchDavid Nott– War Doctor: Surgery on the Front Line10am / St Cross College / 7- 12.50Surgeon David Nott talks about his workvolunteering and carrying out surgery in some of theworld’s most dangerous war zones from Sarajevounder siege in 1993 to more recent conflicts inrebel-held Aleppo.Charles Godfray and David Stanley – Pasture to Plate .Earthwatch Debate. Food for Thought:Can Veganism Save the Planet?10am / Worcester College: Lecture Theatre / 7- 12.50Population biologist Professor Sir Charles Godfray and livestock farmer DaveStanley join a panel put together by Oxford’s Earthwatch charity to debatewhether veganism is a way to save the planet.Matthew Sturgis – Oscar: A Life10am / Oxford Martin School: LectureTheatre / 7- 12.50Biographer Matthew Sturgis sheds new light on thelife of Oscar Wilde in the first major new biographyof the writer in 30 years.8

John Bargh – Before You Know It: The Unconscious ReasonsWe Do What We Do10am / Weston Lecture Theatre / 7- 12.50The world’s leading expert on the unconscious mind Professor John Barghexplains the secret mental processes that govern all our behaviour.Mary Robinson – Climate Justice: Hope, Resilience, and theFight for a Sustainable Future10am / Sheldonian Theatre / 8- 20Former President of Ireland and United Nations HighCommissioner for Human Rights Dr Mary Robinsonmakes a powerful case for justice on climate changeand finds that many grassroots campaigners forclimate justice are mothers and grandmothers likeherself.Antonia Keaney and Percy– Percy at the Palace: A Dog’s Eye View of Blenheim Palace10am / Oxford Martin School: Seminar Room / 7Join Percy Piddle on his virtual romp through Blenheim Palace, where he isshown around by Lady Rosemary who introduces him to her beautiful home –and her bicycle. Blenheim researcher and social historian Antonia Keaney willbring along the inspiration for her book, her wire-haired Daschund Percy.Age 5-8 and familiesMartin Moore and Jamie Susskind. Chaired by Ian Goldin –Is Democracy and Freedom Threatened by Technology12 noon / Oxford Martin School: Lecture Theatre / 8- 13.50Academic Dr Martin Moore and barrister Jamie Susskind look at howtechnological advance is impacting democracy and freedom. Is democracy safefrom online exploitation by authoritarian regimes, hackers and moneyedelites? How far should our lives be directed and controlled by powerful digitalsystems?Suzanna Crampton– Bodacious: The Shepherd Cat12 noon / St Cross College / 7-12.50Farmer Suzanna Crampton talks about her catBodacious – found wandering around a shop but whoquickly established himself as top cat at the farm andhas since amassed 500,000 views on YouTube andboasts his own Twitter account.Geraldine McCaughrean – Words, Words,Words: The Case Against Dumbing Down12 noon / Bodleian:Divinity School / 7- 12.50Carnegie medal winning children’s author GeraldineMcCaughrean argues against publishers’ demand for‘accessible prose’ and warns it could create anunderclass easy to manipulate and lacking the skillsto reason their way out.9

sunday 31 march (continued)Jo Cotterill and Cath Howe. Chaired by MirandaMcKearney – Empathy Workshop: Can Books Make you aBetter Person?12 noon / Oxford Martin School: Seminar Room / 8Books take us on adventures and help us see the world in different ways. Canbooks make you a better person? Come and explore empathy activities andideas with Jo Cotterill and Cath Howe, both award-winning writers and dramateachers, as we walk in other people's shoes and uncover the secrets ofempathetic storytelling. A fun, inclusive, non-scary session for 8-12s.Martin Bell, Kate Adie and DericHenderson. Chaired by Ivan Little– Reporting the Troubles: Journalists onthe Northern Ireland Conflict12 noon / Sheldonian Theatre / 8-13.50Martin BellVeteran journalists Martin Bell, Kate Adie, DericHenderson and Ivan Little talk about theirexperiences of reporting the long and bitter conflictin Northern Ireland.Will Iredale, Colin Belland Keith Quilter – Pathfinders andKamikaze Hunters: The last of the WorldWar II aviators12 noon / Randolph Hotel:Ballroom / 7- 12.50Will IredaleJournalist and author Will Iredale is joined by twosurviving veterans of World War II, Colin Bell andKeith Quilter, to discuss how British pilots foughtthe war in the skies above Europe and the Far East.Giles Yeo – Gene Eating: The Science ofObesity and the Truth about Diets12 noon / Worcester College:Lecture Theatre / 8- 13.50Geneticist and BBC presenter Dr Giles Yeo explainswhy many diets simply do not work and offersadvice on how to establish a healthy relationshipwith food.Catherine McIlwaine– Stepping into Tolkien’s Study12 noon / Weston Lecture Theatre/ 7- 12.5010Tolkien archivist at the Bodleian Libraries CatherineMcIlwaine delves into the archive to show how keyitems from this extensive collection provide newperspectives on the man and his work.

Michael Nylan– The Chinese Pleasure Book2pm / Oxford Martin School:Lecture Theatre / 7- 12.50Historian Professor Michael Nylan explains whypleasure – both short-term delight and longer termsatisfaction – were so important in early Chinesethought.Sam Willis and James Daybell– Histories of the Unexpected2pm / Worcester College:Lecture Theatre/ 7- 12.50Sam WillisHistorians Dr Sam Willis and Professor JamesDaybell look at some of the unexpected and oftenmagical links that connect events in history.John Boyne talks to Hannah Beckerman– A Ladder to the Sky2pm / Bodleian:Divinity School / 7- 12.50Bestselling novelist John Boyne (The Boy in theStriped Pyjamas) talks about his new book, A Ladderto the Sky, a tale of ambition and literary theft.John BoyneJohn Dougherty– Dinosaurs and Dinner-Ladies2pm / Oxford Martin School:Seminar Room / 7Join author, poet and songwriter John Dougherty ashe shares the joys of wordplay, the pleasures ofreading, and the fun of his new poetry collection,Dinosaurs and Dinner-Ladies. Age 6 Ruth O’Callaghan– A Poetry Workshop: Becoming2pm / St Cross College / 7-12.50Poet Ruth O’Callaghan leads a poetry workshop onthe theme of becoming.Sophia Bennett and Sofia Karamani– The Bigger Picture: Women WhoChanged the Art World2pm / Sheldonian Theatre / 8Children’s writer Sophia Bennett and Tate assistantcurator Sofia Karamani celebrate inspirationalwomen artists and are joined by some of theartists featured in Bennett’s new book. Age 10 Sophia Bennett11

sunday 31 march (continued)Emily Thomas – Writing Workshop2pm / St Cross College / 8Emily Thomas used her own life as inspiration for heracclaimed coming-of-age novel Mud. Find out how toturn your life into fiction in this writing workshop.Bring a pencil, and your memories. Age 11 Rachel Moss talks to Janina Ramirez – The Book of Durrow2pm / Weston Lecture Theatre / 7-12.50Art historian Dr Rachel Moss introduces the 1,300-year-old masterpiece ofCeltic art, the Book of Durrow.Simon Schama talks toMatthew Stadlen– An Audience with Simon Schama4pm / Sheldonian Theatre / 8- 20Simon SchamaHistorian and broadcaster Professor Simon Schamatalks about his writing life, the second volume of hisThe Story of the Jews and his part in the recentlandmark BBC series, Civilisations.Chris Thorogood– Perfectly Peculiar Plants4pm / Oxford Martin School:Lecture Theatre / 7Get up close to some of the world’s weirdest, wildestand most perfectly peculiar plants with plant hunterand botanist Dr Chris Thorogood.Age 8 Geraldine McCaughrean and SallyNicholls. Chaired by Rebecca Butler– Oxford’s Finest: Writing and Inspiration4pm / Weston Lecture Theatre / 8Sally NichollsTwo Oxford writers and stars of contemporarychildren’s literature Geraldine McCaughrean and SallyNicholls talk about their books, their writing, theirinspiration, and how the past is a particularly goodsource of stories. Bring your writing questions andpick up tips from the masters. Age 8 Paul Lynch and Caoilinn Hughes –Emerging Irish Voices4pm / St Cross College / 7-12.50Paul Lynch12Irish novelists Paul Lynch and Caoilinn Hughes talkabout their new works, Grace and Orchid and theWasp and discuss new writing and emerging voices inIreland today.

Robert Daws – Wodehouse inWonderland by William Humble4pm / Randolph Hotel: Ballroom / 8- 15Actor and writer Robert Daws gives a performedreading of a new play based on the life and writingsof P G Wodehouse with musical accompanimentfeaturing works composed by Jerome Kern, GeorgeGershwin, Cole Porter and Ivor Novello andWodehouse’s lyrics.Gelong Thubten – A Monk's Guide to Happiness:Meditation for the 21st Century4pm / Bodleian: Divinity School / 7- 12.50Buddhist monk, meditation trainer and author Gelong Thubten offers a guideto understanding the true power of meditation and mindfulness and explainshow living in the present can transform your life and help us maintain ourhumanity and compassion in an increasingly busy world.Digby Jones – Fixing Business: Making Profitable BusinessWork for The Good of All4pm / Oxford Martin School:Seminar Room / 7- 12.50Former director general of the Confederation ofBritish Industry (CBI) Lord Digby Jones calls onbusiness and its leaders to tackle the challenges theyface and to recognise they have a crucial role to playin supporting society.Jeremy Robson talks to Maureen Lipman– Under Cover: A Poet’s Life in Publishing4pm / Worcester College:Lecture Theatre / 7- 12.50Jeremy RobsonJeremy Robson talks about his life as a successfulpoet and publisher that saw him work with manybestselling authors and occupy a place at the heartof the UK’s poetry scene, in conversation with hisfriend, and one of his authors, actress and comedianMaureen Lipman.Ruth O’Callaghan – Poetry Reading: Becoming6pm / St Cross College / FreeParticipants in the afternoon’s poetry workshop with Ruth O’Callaghan readthe poetry they have written as a result. The theme of the workshop was‘becoming’. Entrance is free to this event but tickets must be booked.Irish Day Dinner – Celebrating the Irish programme ofLiterature and Culture7.45pm / Worcester College / 100Dinner in the 18th-century Worcester College hall and in the presence ofthe Irish Ambassador celebrates the festival’s programme of Irish literatureand culture and features a special Irish menu. Price includes reception,dinner and wines. Dress code jacket and tie.

monday 1 aprilJohn Bargh and Stephen Roberts.Hosted by Simon Walker – Educating theHuman Mind in a Robotic Age9.30am / Weston Lecture Theatre / 150Price includes lunch, tea and coffeeJohn BarghStephen RobertsKeynote speakers including leading expert on theunconscious mind Professor John Bargh and pioneerof machine learning Professor Stephen Robertsdebate the changes required to educate the humanmind in a robotic age. The day-long event is theinaugural festival education leaders day and ishosted by Dr Simon Walker, co-founder of STEER, acompany that uses pioneering technologies to helpyoung people steer their minds and improve theirwellbeing and help them to learn more effectively.The day is aimed at headteachers, deputies andpolicy makers in educational trusts and UKgovernment.Robert Hardman – Queen of the World12 noon / Oxford Martin School:Seminar Room / 7- 12.50Renowned Royal biographer and broadcaster RobertHardman talks about his new portrait of QueenElizabeth II and her place in the world.Philip Goff and David Papineau. Chairedby Stephen Law – The Oxford Debates: IsConsciousness Everywhere?12 noon / Oxford Martin School:Lecture Theatre / 8- 13.50Stephen LawPhilosopher and consciousness researcher Philip Goffand philosophy professor David Papineau debate thenature of consciousness and whether it is actually allaround us not just between our ears.Peter Conradi and Mark Logue– The King’s War2pm / Bodleian: Divinity School / 7- 12.50Peter ConradiJournalist Peter Conradi and filmmaker Mark Logue,authors of the bestselling book The King’s Speech,explain how George VI’s speech therapist LionelLogue continued to play an important role in the lifeof the monarch long afterthe events chronicled inthe first book.Mark Logue14

Ursula Buchan – Beyond the ThirtyNine Steps: A Life of John Buchan2pm / Oxford Martin School:Lecture Theatre / 7- 12.50Journalist and writer Ursula Buchan explains howthere was much more to her grandfather JohnBuchan than the writing of the classic thriller TheThirty-Nine Steps for which he is best known.Annabel Abbs talks to GwenanEdwards – Frieda: A Novel of the RealLady Chatterley2pm / Oxford Martin School:Seminar Room / 7- 12.50Annabel AbbsWriter Annabel Abbs talks about her latest novelbased on the life of Frieda von Richthofen, thelover of D H Lawrence and inspiration for LadyChatterley.Lisa Hilton. Chaired by CassianHarrison – BBC 4 Preview Screening:Charles I and a Nation Divided4pm / St Cross College / 7- 12.50Lisa HiltonHistorian Lisa Hilton introduces preview clips froma new three-part BBC documentary she presentson Charles I and the tumultuous period in Britishhistory that saw nation divided, history re-writtenand monarchy and parliament changed forever.Eilat Negev and Yehuda Koren– Flaming Dene. A Victorian Stunner,N

The Oxford of Morse, Lewis and Endeavour with Alastair Lack 2pm / Meet outside St John's College Lodge, St Giles / 25 This walk visits the scenes of some of the best-known cases of Inspector Morse, as well as those of Lewis and Endeavour. This walk lasts two hours and ends at Christ Church. Worcester College library tours