Homegrown Hollywood star to appear at lit fest

HOLLYWOOD actor Simon Pegg is set to appear at next month's Cheltenham Literature Festival.

The 40-year-old actor, who grew up in Brockworth and starred in hit movies Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Star Trek, will be on hand to talk about his autobiography, Nerd Do Well.

From zombies in London to cults in the heart of the West Country, the book tells how a Gloucestershire boy made good, charting the rise of one of the UK's most talented comedy writers.

Donna Renney, chief executive of Cheltenham Festivals, said: "We are thrilled Simon Pegg has agreed to appear at the festival.

"I'm sure he will be a popular addition, especially among younger audiences and fans of his cult films. He has a huge following and we're expecting tickets to see him to sell out quickly.

"It adds to what is already a strong line-up which includes a variety of stars from the literary world as well as big names from the stage and screen. It looks set to be a fantastic event."

Pegg, who attended Brockworth Comprehensive Secondary School, has enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame since bursting on to the small screen with sitcom Spaced in 1999.

After achieving a string of movie successes, including a role in Mission Impossible III, he was awarded an honorary fellowship by the University of Gloucestershire in 2008.

In his latest projects he has been cast as the voice of heroic mouse Reepicheep in Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, as well as landing a role alongside Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible IV, which is due out next year.

Fans reacted with excitement to the news of his appearance at the festival.

Movie fan Jonathan Skinner, 26, from Lansdown, said: "It's great news for the festival that Simon Pegg is coming.

"He will be a massive hit. He is one of the most exciting stars about and the fact that he is a local lad will make him even more popular.

"I'm sure young script writers and actors will be keen to hear what he has to say, as he came from relatively small beginnings to get right to the top."

Pegg is the latest addition to an array of literary legends, sporting giants and TV stars appearing at the event, which takes place between October 8 and October 17.

Among them are celebrities Stephen Fry and Jerry Hall, English cricketing hero Sir Ian Botham and acclaimed writers Salman Rushdie and Jostein Gaarder.

Also appearing will be Nigella Lawson, Dawn French, Graham Norton and comedy duo Armstrong and Miller.

Pegg will be speaking at Cheltenham Town Hall on October 17, at 7.45pm.

Tickets go on sale today and are available from the box office on 0844 576 7979, or at http://cheltenhamfestivals.com

The full programme for this year's line-up is available to download at http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literaturebrochure

Source: thisisgloucestershire.co.uk

I wonder if Simon will do much touring and/or appearances for his book?

I'm sure we won't get him Down Under, more's the pity.

Well, we can cry over this together, as I'm 99.999999999999999999% certain he won't visit Kentucky.