TWO more big names have been added to the line-up for the sixth Henley Literary Festival, which begins later this month.

They are television presenter Clare Balding and newspaper columnist Peter Hitchens.

Balding has won plaudits presenting the BBC’s coverage of the London Olympics and was credited by double gold medallist Mo Farah for inventing his trademark Mobot celebration dance.

She will be talking about her book, My Animals and Other Family, an account of her childhood, when she appears at Phyllis Court Club on Sunday, September 30 at 4pm.

Hitchens will launch his new book The War We Never Fought: The British Establishment’s Surrender To Drugs a month ahead of its general publication.

The Mail on Sunday columnist, who debated the subject with Russell Brand on Newsnight, argues that the combative title has applied to the UK’s stance for more than four decades. He will speak at the town hall on Sunday, 30 September at 4.30pm and joins a number of leading journalists at this year’s festival, including Richard Littlejohn, Penny Junor and Mihir Bose.

Festival director Sue Ryan said: “We would not normally be adding authors at this stage but as soon as we heard that Clare and Peter were available we found a way of making it work.”

Other final additions to the festival include extra events for wine expert Hugh Johnson and Anne de Courcy on husband-hunting in the Raj after their first sessions sold out.

Local children’s author and illustrator Jenni Desmond will be reading from Red Cat, Blue Cat in a free event on the Sunday morning.

The festival runs from September 24 to 30. For more information and to book tickets, visit www.henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk

Published 07/09/12