Sandi Toksvig went into the theatre as a writer and performer before becoming a founder member of the Comedy Store Players. Sandi is well-known for her work on stage, television and radio as an actor, presenter and player. She is also the author of six books for children and two witty novels, Flying Under Bridges and Whistling for the Elephants. Sandi's books The Gladys Society and The Travels of Lady Bulldog Burton were published in 2002 to great acclaim. Sandi says of the Festival: "A great festival on my own doorstep - books and home by shanks's pony - who could ask for more?"
	Fay Weldon CBE is one of our best-loved writers. She has published over 20 novels including Down Among the Women, Female Friends, Praxis, Puffball, The Hearts and Lives of Men, Affliction, Worst Fears and Splitting. Last year, Fay published her autobiography Auto da Fay. Some of her most powerful writing is in the form of the short story and these are now published in four volumes: Watching Me Watching You, Polaris, Moon Over Minneapolis and The End of the Line. Fay has written numerous television plays and contributed to many series, including Upstairs Downstairs, Pride and Prejudice, The Life and Loves of a She-Devil, and The Cloning of Joanna May. Fay says "One of the best festivals around and the Guildford audience is one of the friendliest and most responsive a writer is likely to encounter".
	Timothy West CBE, is one of our most admired and respected actors both on stage and television. Timothy has played roles as diverse as Edward VII and Thomas Beecham, Falstaff, Lear, Uncle Vanya, Stalin and Churchill and he became a household name in the TV series Brass. He is also President of LAMDA and the Society for Theatre Research. His autobiography, A Moment Towards the End of the Play, tells of his life as an actor and director of the Prospect Theatre Company. Timothy comments that "I look forward to the lively debate of the next Guildford Book Festival - Surrey's reputation for inbred ultra-conservatism is not only inaccurate but deeply unfair!"
	Jacqueline Wilson is the much-loved award-winning author of numerous stories for children. Her realistic characters and storylines have attracted a huge admiring audience of both children and adults. Her books include The Story of Tracy Beaker, recently brilliantly adapted for television, The Suitcase Kid which won The Children's Book Award 1993, The Bed and Breakfast Star - winner of the Young Telegraph/Fully Booked Award 1995, Double Act - winner of the Smarties Prize 1995 and the Children's Book Award 1996, The Mum-Minder, Bad Girls, The Lottie Project and The Illustrated Mum. She has also written books for older readers: Girls in Love and Girls Under Pressure and, for younger readers, The Dinosaur's Packed Lunch and The Monster Storyteller.