Poet Pam Ayres and broadcaster Paul Gambaccini to form part of Gib’s Literary Festival

English poet, comedian, songwriter and BBC radio and television presenter Pam Ayres together with broadcasters Paul Gambaccini and Sue MacGregor have all added their names to the fourth edition of the Gibunco Gibraltar International Literary Festival in October.

Tourism Minister Samantha Sacramento commented that the list of participants in this years festival continued to grow.

“We already have a festival that is sure to delight audiences. The variety of subjects and the quality of those participating is truly outstanding. Not only are we now delivering a festival that will enthrall local audiences but an event that will surely place Gibraltar on the map as hosting one of the world’s most prestigious literary festivals,” she said.

Pam Ayres will be presenting her new book ‘You Made Me Late Again!’ and will also be joining the fun-packed celebrity panel of Just A Minute which returns to the festival headed by Nicholas Parsons. She has published six books of poems, toured in a one-woman stage show, hosted her own TV programme and performed for the Queen. Her biography, The Necessary Aptitude: A Memoir, was published in 2011 and her latest book of poems entitled "You Made me Late Again" in 2013. published.

Paul Gambaccini, who will be known to GBC Radio and BFBS listeners, is an American-British radio and television celebrity. He will be interviewed on his book ‘Love Paul Gambaccini: My Year Under the Yew Tree’. Gambaccini was a BBC Radio 1 presenter for 16 years, including 11 years at the helm of a Billboard Top 30 countdown show. He was inducted into the Radio Academy Hall of Fame in 2005, and has written 15 books.

BBC Radio 4 broadcaster Sue MacGregor, former presenter of Woman's Hour and the Today programme, will also join the festival and will chair a version of her Radio 4 programme ‘A Good Read’, where well-known authors review their favourite books. Sue is the longest serving presenter of the programme with over 500 book reviews.

Other confirmed participants are Professor Edwin Williamson, Richard Dunwoody, Tony Hawks and  Felix Francis.

Professor Edwin Williamson holds the King Alfonso XIII Chair of Spanish Studies at the University of Oxford. His publications include ‘The Penguin History of Latin America’ and ‘Borges: A Life’, the acclaimed biography of the Argentine writer, Jorge Luis Borges, the most influential writer in the Spanish language since Cervantes.

Williamson is currently writing a book on the creation of Don Quixote: ‘How Cervantes came to write the first modern novel’, a critical study of Cervantes's evolution as a writer in the context of his other writings and the Spanish culture and society of his time.

Richard Dunwoody is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. He will be interviewed on his big race victories which include the King George VI Chase four times, the Grand National twice, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He will also be speaking about his lesser known activities as a travel and adventure photographer, with images of his work.

Tony Hawks is a British comedian, actor and TV celebrity who achieved music fame in 1988 with the Beastie Boys parody "Stutter Rap (No Sleep till Bedtime)," reaching number 4 in the UK Singles Chart and number one in Australia. He will be presenting his latest book ‘Once upon a time in the West…Country’ during the festival.

Returning to Gibraltar will be crime author Felix Francis, younger son of the international bestselling author Dick Francis. A former Advanced Physics professor, he abandoned teaching to look after his father's affairs in 2010 and then pursue a full time writing career. Following in his father’s footsteps, his forthcoming novel ‘Triple Crown’ highlights some aspects of the world of professional horse-racing. He will be talking about his work and also interviewed by jockey Richard Dunwoody.