The worlds of politics, rap and television cookery will be represented at this year's Ilkley Literature Festival.

The festival, which takes place next month, will kick off with celebrity TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whitting-stall discussing living and eating in tune with the seasons. Other big-name guests this year include TV presenter and writer Melvyn Bragg, war correspondent Kate Adie, and football pundit Jimmy Greaves.

Events will include a poetry pub crawl at the new Festival Fringe and the festival's first children's weekend of events such as DJ-ing.

"This is a landmark year for the Ilkley Literature Festival," said festival director Rachel Feldberg. "We are reflecting on the past and looking to initiate lots of exciting innovations.

"The programme this year is much bigger and we have a mix of national and international writers, as well as a number of rising stars."

Dave Gill, the festival's resident poet - who describes his poetry as "post modern but with rhyme" - will be taking people on a poetry pub crawl alongside fellow poet Craig Bradley as part of the new Festival Fringe.

"It looks like it's going to be exciting," said Dave.

"The range of events is more diverse this year and I'm greatly looking forward to it."

This year's line-up has been put together to offer a broad appeal, with a variety of writers from gardening, sports, culinary and comedy backgrounds. The children's weekend will feature a poetry-writing workshop, rap DJ-ing and shadow puppet workshop, and youngsters will have chance to meet some of their favourite authors including John Cunliffe, the creator of Postman Pat.

The line-up also features a number of leading names including Booker Prize nominee Donna Tartt, author of the hugely successful book The Secret History, who will be reading from her eagerly awaited new novel, The Little Friend, and Booker Prize winner Bernice Rubens who will be talking about her illustrious career.

Television chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall will read from his cook book, River Cottage and is planning to attend a Skipton auction mart.

BBC foreign affairs correspondent Kate Adie will be talking about her new book Corsets to Camouflage, and former MP and journalist Martin Bell will read from his new book, Through Gates of Fire, A Journey into World Disorder. Melvyn Bragg, presenter of ITV arts programme The South Bank Show, will give a talk called The Adventure of English, and former Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd will talk about the Wages of Spin.

The festival runs from Sunday, September 28, to October 19. For details, ring the box office on (01943) 816714 or go to www.ilkleylit eraturefestival.org.uk

Festival guides are available from libraries.