What's your role with the festival?

I’m on the Board of Manchester Literature Festival.

What's the part of the job you most enjoy, and what is the most challenging bit?

I really enjoy listening to the creative program and visiting the events. One of my favourite past events was seeing Jackie Kay at the Midland Hotel, she’s incredibly charismatic and talented; a real gem. I suppose the challenging bit is making sure it secures as much profile, funding and audiences as possible.

What events were you really looking forward to this year?

I am looking forward to Jo Nesbo, Lemn Sissay, Superheroes of Slam, Patrick Ness and Carlos Acosta.

What would be your dream MLF event?

Aravaind Adiga, author of White Tiger, in conversation with Khaled Hosseini. Followed by Willy Russell in Conversation with Victoria Wood. Followed by Sandi Toksvig in Conversation with Stephen Fry. Finally followed by V.S. Naipaul in conversation with Arundhati Roy.

(Hush, hush secret… I would like to see John O’Farrell and Marian Keyes in conversation, they would make me laugh!)

Read any good books lately?

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho