³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four and The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival today announced the line-up for their fourth broadcast media partnership, with a dedicated weekend of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four events.

This year's Oxford Literary Festival which runs from 2 to 10 April will include two days of events presented by ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four, to mark the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's Year of Books. There will also be a major tribute to Harold Pinter.

Across the second weekend (9 and 10 April) several special Festival screenings will take place with key participants present, all of them in the new state of the art lecture theatre at Merton College. They include:

On Saturday 9 April – The Beauty Of Books (10am) with producer/director Michael Waterhouse; a talk and excerpts from William Ivory's adaptation of Women In Love (12noon) and, on Sunday 10 April Adam Nicolson discusses his documentary and the worldwide bestseller The Making Of The King James Bible (10am); In Their Own Words Executive Producer Jonty Claypole presents a workshop on great writers in the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's archives (12 noon); Henry Hitchings with the enthusiastically previewed Birth Of The British Novel (2pm); and the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's Creative Director, Alan Yentob, introducing his Imagine (4pm) programme on Tolstoy, which will transmit on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One.

Richard Klein, Controller ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four, said: "We're delighted to partner with the Oxford Literary Festival again this year, supporting in depth discussion and enjoyment of literature through ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four programmes and their expert contributors. In the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's Year of Books, there are rich pickings to choose from, whether it is William Ivory's spectacular adaptation of Women In Love, Adam Nicolson's fascinating insight to the making of the King James Bible, or great explorations of the beauty of books, the birth of the British novel or the rich ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ archive of writers. From our colleagues on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One, there is a preview of Alan Yentob's Imagine on Tolstoy, rounding off a packed weekend at the new TS Eliot Lecture Theatre at Merton College."

At Corpus Christi on Friday 8 April (6.30pm) the Festival salutes Britain's greatest post-war playwright, Harold Pinter, with readings by Dame Harriet Walter and Kenneth Cranham followed by a screening of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two Arena Pinter special with film-makers Anthony Wall and Martin Rosenbaum present. Also in attendance will be Lady Antonia Fraser. The event will be introduced by producer and Festival film, television and theatre consultant, Graham Benson.

Graham Benson said: "It is entirely appropriate that the festival comes together with our partners at the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ to join this celebration. It is a great opportunity for festival goers to be part of this timely, vital and hugely enjoyable strand of programming together with the creative talent involved.

"We are also proud and delighted to pay proper tribute to Harold Pinter, who will be remembered as a fine actor and director as well a towering playwright and screenwriter. This event continues our strong relationship with Arena, a hugely important and much loved ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ programme. And of course we are pleased to continue our ongoing relationship with ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four, with whom we share many ambitions and a love of books."

Notes to Editors

The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Partners organisations with shared objectives and inspiration to make arts and culture available for all audiences.

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four is the gold card channel for arts, music, culture and knowledge. ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four partners and collaborates with the arts sector beyond broadcast to enrich the audience's experience of the arts in a unique way.

The Oxford Literary Festival partnership is part of the Books On The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ 2011, a year-long pan-³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ celebration of literature which invites audiences to free their imagination through the exploration, enjoyment and discussion of books. The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ is the biggest producer of books related programming and throughout 2011 will highlight its continued commitment to literature and all quality arts programming. From regular literary stands to documentaries, series, dramas and readings, the year offers a range of new and archive programmes.

LD