As it enters its fourth year, Chipping Norton Literary Festival has appointed six new Patrons to join their four founder Patrons, Mark Billingham, Sue Cook, John Dougherty and Prue Leith.

The new Patrons are:

Carole Blake, literary agent and author of From Pitch to Publication

Fanny Blake, novelist and books editor of Woman and Home

Natasha Fairweather, literary agent

Graeme Garden, OBE, comedian, author, television and radio presenter

Susan Lamb, Publisher

Korky Paul, children's book illustrator

The patrons are all leading figures in the publishing and writing communities and will provide invaluable ambassadorial support and general guidance for the Festival team in all its various activities.

Festival Director Clare Mackintosh says: "ChipLitFest has benefitted immensely from the support of our founder patrons, and I'm delighted to welcome our six new patrons. This is an important year for the Festival, following the introduction of our profit-share scheme, and the advice of such experienced industry experts is invaluable to us."

New patron Carole Blake says: "I've enjoyed ChipLitFest every time I've participated, either in the audience or as a speaker: the whole town seems to join in the celebration of the Festival. The profit-share scheme is innovative and admirable, and I'm really honoured to be a part of it."