Record-breaking early sales for The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 2011

Ticket sales for the 2011 Cheltenham Literature Festival have got off to an outstanding start, with a staggering 61,000 tickets sold in just ten days.

The programme has been on sale to Cheltenham Festivals Members since Monday 15 August, and the general public since this Monday 22 August.

The programme of star names, literary legends and great thinkers has proved to be the most popular yet - with ticket sales already surpassing the first two weeks of sales for 2010's record-breaking Festival.  Ian Hislop's celebration of 50 year's of Private Eye has been hugely popular - with the 1,500 capacity event selling out in the first 24 hours of public booking. Joanna Lumley, Jeremy Paxman, Clive James, Frank Skinner, Terry Wogan and Peppa Pig are also topping the must-see lists with festival fans young and old booking their tickets early. Tickets are still available for all of these events as the creation of a new Festival Quarter has ensured that there are more tickets available for some of the most popular names.

Tickets for the whole programme are now available for everyone to buy in person at the Festival Box Office in Regent Arcade, by phone on 01242 505 444 and online at cheltenhamfestivals.com
The full programme of more than 500 events is available to download at www.cheltenhamfestivals.com and can be picked up at the Festival Box Office, Cheltenham Waterstone's and outlets throughout Gloucestershire
 
Programme Summary:
An Awfully Big Adventure
The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, 7-16 October 2011

This autumn The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival will welcome over 600 of  the world’s greatest writers, poets, politicians, thinkers and stars to Cheltenham for an inspiring mix of debate and discussion. Now in its 62nd year – 2011 promises the most ambitious and varied programme to date with Screen legend Christopher Lee, BAFTA-award winning Joanna Lumley, musician and radio broadcaster Jarvis Cocker and presenter and film critic Jonathan Ross all taking to the Cheltenham stage.

The Festival theme Journeys of Discovery has inspired an adventurous programme of over 500 fascinating events. The journey is led by five very different Guest Directors, who promise to delight and inspire with their own unique series of events.  Ben Fogle, A L Kennedy, Jo Shapcott, Mike Atherton and Anjum Anand will all host some of the world’s top explorers, poets and literary and culinary treats at the Festival.

At its core, the Festival continues to celebrate the pure pleasure of reading. The very literary line-up of esteemed writers includes Ben Okri, Lee Child and Howard Jacobson as well as the Bonne Maman Big Read project which aims to spread the joy of Joseph Heller’s Catch-22. The range of the programme offers something for literary lovers of all ages - from high-profile debate with leading political figures, to big names from the small and silver screen like Marcus Brigstocke and Larry Lamb, to Book it!, the programme of fun and exciting events for families and young readers. For every hard-hitting debate in Cheltenham Town Hall, there will be a chance to meet Peppa Pig, Peter Rabbit or The Gruffalo out in the gardens!

For the first time Cheltenham town centre will come alive in the brand new Festival Quarter which takes over both Imperial Square and Montpellier Gardens. The Festival Quarter will provide the perfect place to indulge in literary delights with four exciting new venues, a great place to soak up the atmosphere with delicious cafés, free live events and a huge bookshop.
Booking in now open, so start your own journey of discovery today and view the full programme at www.cheltenhamfestivals.com.

Explore Gloucestershire
26 August 2011

• Also see : Cheltenham Festivals

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