There’s a feast of poets lined up for the forthcoming Ilkley literature festival, from 24 September to 14 October, with Benjamin Zephaniah, Roger McGough, Lemn Sissay, Simon Armitage and Ian McMillan among the headline acts. In addition, Ilkley’s poet in residence, Seni Seneviratne, pictured, will be presiding at a poetry banquet on 9 October, and reading with Mimi Khalvati on 4 October. Other poets including Daljit Nagra, Patience Agbabi, Moniza Alvi and Raman Mundair will be giving readings and running workshops. Winston Plowes will be reading his ghazals at the free, multilingual mushaira on 30 September, from 1.30-4pm. Open mics include Poetry Alive! with Yorkshire-based Stairwell Books at Ilkley Moor Vaults from 2-4.40pm on 4 October, and the festival open mic, with a £200 prize, on 11 October at 8.30pm. And that’s not all – there’s a rich festival fringe programme too, with Valley Press poets James Nash, Cara Brennan and Jo Brandon reading on 4 October, Bloodaxe poet Clare Shaw reading on 9 October, Henry Raby outlining a brief history of protest poetry on 9 October, and Fighting Cock Press poets Colin Speakman, Rose Drew, Alan Gillott and editor Pauline Kirk reading on 11 October.  Plus Tanka and Taiko (poetry and drumming) on 12 October. More details of poetry events