Seamus Heaney

Irish poet

Carol Ann Duffy

Scottish poet

Julian Barnes

Writer

Kate Atkinson

Australian film actress

Margaret Drabble

English novelist

Bruce Chatwin

Travel writer

Jez Butterworth

Playwright

Nick Hornby

English writer

Jeanette Winterson

English writer

Alan Hollinghurst

Novelist

Blake Morrison

Poet

Geoff Dyer

English author

Jon Stallworthy

Literary critic

Jim Crace

Writer

Dennis O'Driscoll

Irish poet

Dennis Driscoll

Marina Carr

Irish playwright

Colm Tóibín

Chancellor of the University of Liverpool

Julian Patrick

American baritone

Timothy Mo

British novelist

Glyn Maxwell

Poet

Humphrey Carpenter

Biographer

David Cook

British author

John Lanchester

British journalist

Robin Robertson

Poet

Janice Galloway

Scottish writer