Hay Festival: 'Writers' ability to phrase things differently'

Book lovers are heading to Hay-on-Wye for the Welsh town's thirtieth festival of literature and the arts.

It began in 1987 but has grown to become one of the world's leading festival and this year's 10-day 800-event programme includes talks from Stephen Fry, Graham Norton and Sheila Hancock.

Director Peter Florence said the event's speakers helped attract audiences who were keen to explore alternative points of view.

"Writers have that ability to phrase things differently, to let you go 'yes, I get it,' or 'no, I absolutely disagree with it," he said.

"It's a refreshing way this year, of all years, in the context of an election to look at some of these big political ideas."