A poetry slam billed as “fast and furious, X-Factor style” featuring slam champs from all over the UK is one of the highlights of the Wantage (not just) Betjeman literary festival taking place in the Oxfordshire town from 28 October to 4 November. The slam, on Sunday 28 October, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm, is hosted by Anna Saunders, pictured, founder of Cheltenham poetry festival, and will be held at Shush in Newbury Street. Poet laureate John Betjeman had a long association with Wantage, and the festival includes talks about his life and loves, as well as readings by Alison Brackenbury, Vale Poets, Ross Cogan and Anna Saunders, Mark Neil, and Christopher Reid. More details