Another stellar line-up was exclusively announced for this year’s tenth anniversary Wimbledon BookFest at a glamourous event in the Houses of Parliament last night.

News that Sir Ranulph Fiennes will launch the festival in September, with Jeremy Paxman and former Wimbledon resident and poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy on the line-up, was met with gasps of delight by guests.

Wimbledon Times:

Festival director Fiona Razvi addresses the guests

There will be a music night dedicated to David Bowie, hosted by Radio X DJ John Kennedy, and children’s author Michael Morpurgo and Clare Balding will be back.

Wimbledon Times:

The view from the reception in the Houses of Parliament

The launch event, over-looking the River Thames on Parliament’s Terrace, was enjoyed by hundreds of people including authors Lindsey Barraclough and Jane Thynne, MP Siobhain McDonagh, Helen Clark Bell from Love Wimbledon, Sally Hammond and Darling Magazine editor in chief Karine Torr.

Guests enjoyed a range of wine, soft drinks and canapes. 

Wimbledon Times:

Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond, pictured above with Jane Thynne and Toby Mundy, right, hosted the event to celebrate the festival’s tenth anniversary.

It was especially poignant, as co-founder Tony Kane recently stepped down.

From January: Co-founder of Wimbledon BookFest Tony Kane stands down to let someone younger take over

Festival director Fiona Razvi and new chairman Toby Munday paid tribute to Tony, which was met with applause.

Wimbledon Times:

Tony Kane and Fiona Razvi

Ms Razvi said: “I would like to give my personal thanks to Tony Kane.

“He has a can-do attitude to life.

“I have never met anyone like him.

“It is really why the festival is here.”

The festival’s Young Writers Competition is now open for entries from schools.

This year’s themes are Marvellous Mischief or Mistaken Identity, to tie in with the 100th anniversary of Roald Dahl’s birth and Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary.

Wimbledon BookFest will take place from September 30 to October 9 this year.