Funnymen Alexei Sayle, David Walliams and Stewart Lee lead a star-studded programme of events for the second Stoke Newington Literary Festival and first ever Kid’s Literary Festival announced this week.

The full programme for this year’s festival has now been released, with a wide range of historians, comedians and campaigners coming to the borough on the weekend of June 3.

BBC presenter Dan Cruikshank will discuss British architecture at Stoke Newington Library, Mr Nice himself Howard Marks will entertain audiences with tales of his notorious drug smuggling at the town hall and legendary playwright Steven Berkoff will talk about former resident Edgar Allen Poe and his novel The Telltale Heart.

Sayle, who famously slated the Stoke Newington social scene, will compare his autobiography with fellow figure on the 80s alternative comedy circuit Rowland Rivron.

And Little Britain’s David Walliams will read from his latest book The Billionaire Boy as part of the launch of the Stoke Newington Kids’ Literary Festival, which will also feature comic poet John Hegley.

“When I set it up I was aware that lots of people would think of a literary festival as dry and dusty,” said festival director Liz Vater.

“But these cultural commentators make a huge impact by being incredibly funny.

”Last year was a sell-out so we’ve made the programme bigger and more eclectic, focusing in on some of the area’s most influential residents and trying to keep the spirit of radical thinking, great ideas and debate alive.”

Ticket prices range from �3 to �10, with free events throughout the weekend. For more information or to book, go to www.stokenewingtonliteraryfestival.com, call the box office on 020 7609 1800 or pop into Stoke Newington Bookshop in Stoke Newington High Street.