Television favourite and author Gyles Brandreth will be taking part in the first Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival this autumn.

The three-day event will feature an audience with Gyles on Sunday 27 October, who'll be talking about his new life as an acclaimed author of Victorian murder mysteries, featuring Oscar Wilde as the detective.

Known to millions as a reporter with The One Show on BBC1 and a regular of Radio 4's Just a Minute, Gyles Brandreth's career has ranged from being a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury to starring in the West End in his own award-winning musical. On television he has appeared on Countdown, Have I Got News for You, This Is Your Life and most recently 10 O'Clock Live on Channel 4.

Renowned for his eccentric humour he remains one of the most popular after dinner speakers in the country. This summer he'll be performing his new show at the Edinburgh Fringe. Rochdale's three day festival that runs 25 to 27 October is promising an inspiring schedule of events covering drama, dance, music, theatre, films and visual arts. The festival will also include a series of live performances and family friendly activities, all linked to literature and philosophy, with the full programme due to be revealed next month.

Already confirmed on the line-up is the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy.

Councillor Peter Williams, the Cabinet Member responsible for libraries said: "I hope the festival will be the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in the creation and appreciation of the written word in our borough. Gyles has enjoyed a varied career, and aside from his writing, acting and television presenting I know he's a superb live performer too, so we are very much looking forward to welcoming him to the very first Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival."

The festival will take place at various venues across the borough and is aimed at all ages, providing a chance to get together with others to share or discover a passion for reading and books. The festival is due to the generosity of Annie and Frank Maskew, a Rochdale couple who shared a passion for reading and thinking, and originally met in Rochdale Library. They left a sum of money to be used on resources and events related to literature, and philosophy to ensure classic works are available for future generations.

The festival is organised by Rochdale Borough Council, funded by the Maskew Bequest and the Arts Council's Grants for the Arts Award and supported by Link4Life.