​Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson will lead the line-up at next year’s Bath Literature Festival.

The comic novelist, whose latest work The Finkler Question won this year’s award, joins fellow winner and Remains of the Day writer Kazuo Ishiguro, and novelists Helen Dunmore, Andrea Levy, Alexander McCall Smith, and Louis de Bernieres on the programme.

Historians Dr David Starkey and Bettany Hughes will also make appearances at the festival, which runs from February 25 to March 6.

The festival will also feature the Big Bath Read, which aims to get as many people reading The Memory of Love by novelist Aminatta Forna, and will open with a free day of events including a poetry pub crawl and storytelling sessions.

Artistic director James Runcie said he hoped the festival would have something for everyone, with the programme including talks, debates and walks.

“It’s an opportunity for us all to come together and discuss what we think about our lives, our country, and the future of the world. Each event features some of the most talented and inspiring people we know; and every single one is part of a continuing conversation about what life is all about. The overall aim is simple; to encourage audiences to feel glad to be alive, fully engaged with the thoughts and ideas that matter.”

Speakers at the regular Morning Talks will include English Heritage chief executive Dr Simon Thurley, while there will be events marking the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible and reflecting issues from the history of the monarchy and Bath’s Georgian splendour to the UK’s financial situation.

There will be a full education programme featuring authors’ visits to schools, the Young Writers Competition, a celebration of World Book Day, the Kids Big Bath Read and a series of workshops at the Holburne Museum.

The popular Prospect Debates will look at issues from war in Afghanistan to assisted suicide, with contributors including retired bishop Richard Harries and broadcasters Bridget Kendall and Allan Little.

The festival will be covered by Sky Arts’s Book Show headed by Mariella Frostrup and full programmes will be available in the next few days, and tickets on general sale from January 4 from the Bath Festivals Box Office - phone 01225 463362, via www.bathfestivals.org.uk or in person at 2 Church Street, Abbey Green.

Bath Literature Festival Pen Friends - who pay £50 for priority booking - can buy tickets from December 6.

Meanwhile, the artistic director of the Bath International Music Festival, which is also run by Bath Festivals, has been appointed to a new job at the Royal Academy of Music.

Pianist Joanna MacGregor will start her new role in September next year, taking over as head of keyboard from Professor Christopher Elton, who taught her as a student.

She said: “It’s a privilege to take this leading role and I’m absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to work within such a world-class institution. I first went into the academy as a little girl taking my early grade exams, and have always loved and been inspired by the building and the dynamic young musicians there.  I really hope to be able to make a significant contribution to life at the academy.”

Ms MacGregor has been in her current post since 2006 and Bath Festivals chair Jane Drabble said: “The board and staff of Bath Festivals are thrilled by the news of Joanna’s exciting new appointment, which shows the high regard in which she is held nationally and internationally.  We have been very fortunate to work with Joanna over the past few years in creating such a distinctive and successful programme for the Bath International Music Festival, and look forward to working with her on future festivals.”    

For more information about the festivals, go to www.bathfestivals.org.uk.