FORMER England international footballer John Barnes has been revealed as one of the big names completing the line-up of this year’s Bradford Literature Festival.

The 55-year-old sporting legend is appearing in conversation at the Great Hall of the University of Bradford on Sunday, June 30, at 12.30pm Born in Jamaica, Barnes moved to London when he was 12 and went on to have an acclaimed career with Watford, Liverpool, Newcastle United, and Charlton Athletic.

He will be looking back on his life and the issues that mean the most to him, particularly racism within the football world. Tickets are £7.

Bros star Luke Goss will feature in two events at the festival. At 4pm on Saturday, June 29, there is a screening of ‘After the Screaming Stops’ - the documentary that charted the Bros reunion in 2017- at the Pictureville Cinema at the National Science and Media Museum, followed by a Q&A with Luke. Tickets are £7 (concessions available).

At 7pm on the same day, Desert Conversations with Luke Goss is at £7 in the Great Hall at the university. Part self-help and part memoir, Desert Conversation is a reflection on solitude, love, faith and consumption. Luke discusses the creation of this book, which came about after four days alone in the desert.

The flagship music event sees Lady Leshurr, Saul Williams and King Midas Sound take to the stage at St George’s Hall on Friday, July 5, at 7.30pm. Grime, rap and poetry all feature and the night is not be missed. Tickets are £15 with concessions available.

There will be An Evening of Comedy on Friday, June 28, at The Studio in the Alhambra.

A packed line-up features satire from Shazia Mirza, the stylings of Mandy Mauden, former English Comedian of the Year Josh Pugh, and the quick wit of compere Maureen Younger. Tickets are £10 and concessions are available.

Anyone looking for some incredible food can attend Wazwan-e-Kashmir: The Feast of Kings and Queens at the Bread and Roses on North Parade on Tuesday, July 2, at 7pm. This feast of Kashmir has between 10 and 32 courses and will also feature music and poetry. Tickets are £35.

On Saturday, July 6, at 11am, there is a chat in the Great Hall about iconic rapper Tupac’s only published book: The Rose That Grew From Concrete. Journalists, poets, rappers and musicians will discuss Tupac’s work and reflect on his literary influence. Each performer will read a poem from the collection, followed by an original piece of their own, inspired by Tupac’s work. Tickets are £7 with concessions available.

For tickets, see the festival website, bradfordlitfest.co.uk/