Tickets go on sale for Chiswick Book Festival with Nick Clegg and Jacqueline Wilson among speakers

Tickets have gone on sale for the 18th Chiswick Book Festival, which runs from 9 to 14 September

The lineup includes Samira Ahmed, Nick Clegg, Charles Cumming, Alf Dubs, Robert Hardman, Fergal Keane, Ben Macintyre, Blake Morrison, Kate Mosse, Adele Parks, Tony Palmer, Tony Parsons, Mary Portas, Anthony Seldon and Jacqueline Wilson, who spoke at the very first festival in 2009.

The festival has also announced a new partnership with BookBrunch, the publishing industry news service. BookBrunch will sponsor the green room at St Michael & All Angels Church and its editor in chief Natasha Poliszuk will conduct interviews for the festival, including a Friday event with Kate Mosse.

Dame Jacqueline Wilson at the very first Chiswick Book Festival in 2016

A new programming team has been assembled following the departure last autumn of Jo James, who had been programme director for ten years. Jacks Thomas, who co-founded the festival in 2009, returns as chair. Thomas is Guest Director of BolognaBookPlus and her previous roles include Director of The London Book Fair and CEO of Midas PR.

The team also includes Patsy Irwin, formerly publicity director of Transworld, Lisa O’Kelly-Reed, formerly associate editor for books at The Observer, and Orna O’Brien as author programme co-ordinator.

Festival director Torin Douglas said: ‘We moved most of our children’s events to a special Children’s Books Day in March, and for the main festival in September we have reduced the number of weekend sessions, to tighten up the programme and help it flow more smoothly.’

The festival opens on Wednesday 9 September with the Local Authors Showcase at the George IV, followed by the Chiswick House evening. Since 2009 the festival has raised more than £170,000 for charities including Read for Good, Read Easy Ealing, Koestler Arts and St Michael & All Angels Church.

The full programme and tickets are available at chiswickbookfestival.net