Chipping Norton Literary Festival may be small compared with its grand Oxford cousin, but it has top names lined up for its packed programme from April 24-27.

Bestselling novelist Joanna Trollope is speaking at one of the biggest venues, The Theatre, about her latest book, Balancing Act. It’s a family saga about a pottery business founded by matriarch Susie, who employs her three daughters in the firm, dealing with what happens when women are the main breadwinners and husbands stay at home to look after the children.

She based the fictional founder on Emma Bridgewater, who lives near Bampton and founded the successful Staffordshire pottery firm which bears her name. Emma will be on stage with Joanna to discuss her own book, Toast & Marmalade and Other Stories.

Another bestselling author, Kate Mosse, will talk about Citadel, the final instalment of her Labyrinth trilogy, and about her collection of ghost stories.

Former Labour minister Alan Johnson will talk about his memoir Boy, while Jonathan Aitken will discuss his biography of Margaret Thatcher.

Veteran food writer Claudia Roden will discuss her latest book, Arabesque: Sumptuous Food from Morocco, Turkey and Lebanon in conversation with Henrietta Green.

The event partners, Bite Food Festival, will be running stalls with local produce in the market, where the Cotswold Wildlife Park will also have a stall. There are writing workshops and free fringe events include poetry awards and lectures.

Box office 01608 642350, or email boxoffice@ chippingnortontheatre.com.