Here we round up just of the eclectic mix of writers, politicians and journalists you can share an evening with at various venues throughout the Festival.

This year's Books and Debates section of the Festival has more emphasis on the debate aspect than ever before, with writers, journalists and politicians giving their views as well as talking about their books.

There are ultra defined categories including Comedy In Writing, Politics In Writing, Patrick Hamilton Centenary and States Of Mind: Personal and Political Perspectives, which involves panels discussing themes from BBC documentary series Storyville.

There will also be a return of the Brighton Commission which sees writers Kwame Kwei-Armah and Louise Welsh spend a long weekend in the city and then share their impressions in writing.

JOURNEYS WITH GEORGE: Clare Short and Alexandra Pelosi, Spiegeltent, Thursday May 13, 7.30pm, £7.

The outspoken Labour MP of the year is joined by the director who made a television documentary about the year he spent on the election campaign trail with George W Bush. They debate the President's influence in the world today.

Presented in partnership with The Open University in the South East RAGEH OMAAR, Corn Exchange, Monday May 3, 3pm, £7.

His weary face became familiar to the nation after his daily BBC reports during the war in Iraq. The first-hand accounts continue in new narrative Revolution Day, which describes Rageh's intimate experience of Baghdad, its people under siege and the moment 25 years of dictatorship ended.

HAROLD PINTER IN CONVERSATION, Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, Tuesday May 11, 7.30pm, £10.

Following Edward Said's talk at last year's Festival (which turned out to be his last UK visit), this award-winning playwright and outspoken advocate for human rights shares his views on freedom and independence.In association with University of Brighton, University of Sussex and English PEN MARK HADDON, Spiegeltent, Saturday May 15, 3pm, £7.

Haddon is the author of Curious Incident Of The Dog In Nightime, the Whitbread Novel winner which tells the tale of a young boy with Asperger's Syndrome.

RICHARD DAWKINS AND LALLA WARD, Concert Hall, Brighton Dome, Sunday May 16, 7.30pm, £10.

Whether you agree with him or not, the popular science writer has changed the way many think with theories of evolutionary theory. Here he is joined by his actress wife to read excerpts from his provocative essays. Sponsored by University of Brighton