Hay Festival 2012: Actor Harry Belafonte heads line-up

Harry Belafonte, now 85, will be discussing his memoirs

The full line-up for the 25th Hay Festival in Powys has been unveiled.

The annual mix of literature, politics, comedy and music will be held over 11 days from the end of May.

Highlights include the American actor, singer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte, who will be launching his memoirs and discussing his friendship with Dr Martin Luther King.

Booker Prize-winning author Hilary Mantel will present her new novel, and opera star Bryn Terfel will perform.

The 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens will be celebrated by a personal portrait from his great-great-great granddaughter, the author Lucinda Dickens Hawksley, and biographers Claire Tomalin and Simon Callow.

Featured authors include Terry Pratchett, Lionel Shriver, Salman Rushdie, Martin Amis, Victoria Hislop and Ian McEwan.

Clockwise from top left: Terry Pratchett, Simon Callow, Bernard Sumner and Sir Simon Rattle

There will also be events involving Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer, former Chancellor Alistair Darling, former Welsh Secretary Peter Hain - with his memoirs - and ex-Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy.

Musical highlights will include a sell-out performance from Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel, while conductor Sir Simon Rattle talks about his work with the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra.

Rock is represented by New Order's Bernard Sumner, who will be talking about Joy Division and beyond in his autobiography, and Creation records founder Alan McGee.

Performances include Brit-hop star Speech Debelle, singer Cerys Matthews and drummer Christian Prommer.

Billy Bragg and Frank Turner will be celebrating Woody Guthrie's centenary with concerts.

There will also be discussions about heroes and villains in areas of Welsh culture, ranging from history to sport, while the rugby Grand Slam will be celebrated further in an evening with Max Boyce.

Hilary Mantel will be discussing the sequel to her 2009 award-winning historical novel Wolf Hall

Actor Stephen Fry, comedienne Ruby Wax and gardener and TV presenter Monty Don will be discussing their experiences of depression, while wildlife presenter Kate Humble will be talking about restoring her farm in Monmouthshire.

From the world of entertainment, there will be actors Rob Brydon, Pauline Quirke and Nicholas Parsons, while The Office star Mackenzie Crook talks about his novel.

Comedy events include Bill Bailey, Jack Dee, Dylan Moran, Mark Watson, and Tim Minchin will bring his band, as well as talking about his love of song and satire.

The festival, which opens on 31 May, celebrates its silver jubilee and coincides with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

It will be marked by author and presenter Andrew Marr looking at the Queen's relationships with prime ministers and subjects, while a festival prom will celebrate popular speeches and songs from the last 60 years.

Last year, about 230,000 tickets were sold during the festival, which started in 1988.