THE second Cliveden Literary Festival will bring famous writers and speakers to Taplow's famous mansion next month.

Speakers will include the philosopher Alain de Botton, historian and television presenter Sir Simon Schama, MP Priti Patel, former 'first' lady Cherie Blair and satirist Armando Iannucci - creator of the Thick Of It.

The festival at Cliveden House takes place on Saturday and Sunday, September 29 and 30.

Panel topics and sessions will include reflections on the First World War in its centenary year, Russia and espionage in the 21st century, women and power, female monarchs, great literary adaptations for film and television - with a closing debate on Brexit.

Festival president Andrew Roberts, who has a new book about Churchill called Walking With Destiny coming out in October, will be part of a panel discussing the great war leader on the Sunday.

Churchill was no stranger to Cliveden.

Poets and film stars, Conservatives and communists, satirists and Prime Ministers have all stayed there.

It has hosted every monarch since Charles II and was the choice of Meghan Markle, now Duchess of Sussex, when she stayed there the night before her wedding to Prince Harry.

The return of the festival for a second year revives Cliveden's reputation as a great political and literary salon.

Tickets for the festival are already available on the festival website.