Hay Festival: Dame Judi Dench, Jennifer Saunders and Joan Bakewell on the bill for Hay 2014

Dame Judi Dench is one of the stars who will be heading to the Hay Festival next summer to talk about their work.

Tickets go on sale today for the main events at the world famous literary gathering in 2014.

Further events, including the Nobel Laureates Series, will be announced in January. But festival director Peter Florence will announce the full programme next April.

The Philomena actress will be joined in Hay by comedy star Jennifer Saunders, writer and broadcaster Joan Bakewell, American laureate Toni Morrison and Huffington Post founder Ariana Huffington.

Festival favourite Stephen Fry will be launching the festival’s celebration of 450 years since William Shakespeare’s birth.

For further details, visit www.hayfestival.com