THE eighteenth Hay festival is launched today with ten days packed full of events.

Hay is a market town in the Brecon Beacons National Park and its 1,500 population trebles during the festival as crowds flock to shows, talks and readings as well as checking out its 39 bookshops.

The Festival is a spectacular event and an opportunity to indulge your tastes for the finest books, food, comedy, music, gardens, art argument, conversation and literature. The ideas and stories flow freely.

There are hundreds of events and shows over the course of the festival. Highlights for this weekend include Hollywood actress Goldie

Hawn who will talk about her memoirs A Lotus Grows in the Mud. Also on Saturday watch out for Today and Mastermind presenter John Humphreys talks about the English language.

Satirist and impersonator Rory Bremner will give his spin on the general election and Dame Tanni Grey Thompson talks about her career. Stephen Fry, Christopher Hitchens and guests debate subjects including free speech and religion.

Sunday will see a chat with Discworld author Terry Pratchett, while comedian Julian Clary talks about his memoirs.

Former BBC political editor Andrew Marr talks about what makes the news and why, and what exactly newspaper editors do all day.

Prices vary for the events. Tickets for events are now on sale through the box office on 0870 990 1299 and the website www.hayfestival.com. Here you can also download a 35-page programme of events. Darren Evans

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

Saturday May 28

10am: Sue Townsend talks to Catherine Lockerbie The comic diarist turns her darker satire on current affairs with Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Sunday May 29

5.30pm: Ian McEwan The Booker-winner discusses his new novel, Saturday.

Monday May 30

1pm: Monty and Sarah Don The magical story of the Herefordshire garden built by the Gardener's World presenter and his architect and designer wife.