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Benedict Cumberbatch among stars at Hay festival reading

Chris Athanasiou Benedict CumberbatchChris Athanasiou
Benedict Cumberbatch also read Vincent Van Gogh. "The blank canvas has an idiotic stare, it mesmerises some painters.”
Chris Athanasiou Louise BrealeyChris Athanasiou
Benedict Cumberbatch's fellow Sherlock star Louise Brealey read Katherine Mansfield letter to the front from 1915. “I always want to be far more with you. This is not a letter, it is only my arms around you for a quick minute”
Chris Athanasiou Rose McGowanChris Athanasiou
Actor-turned author Rose McGowan read a letter of complaint to the “brand manager in the feminine hygiene division”.
Chris Athanasiou Tony RobinsonChris Athanasiou
Best known for playing Baldrick in Blackadder, Tony Robinson read Italo Calvino from 1975. "Abortion is a terrifying thing. In abortion, the person who is massacred physically and morally is the woman."
Chris Athanasiou Jordan StephensChris Athanasiou
Jordan Stephens from band Rizzle Kicks read Jimi Hendrix's letter to his dad.
Chris Athanasiou Clarke PetersChris Athanasiou
American actor Clarke Peters read Patrice Lubumba’s last letter. "It is not myself who counts, it is our poor people. My faith will remain unshakable," he read.
Chris Athanasiou Rose McGowan takes a bow after her readingChris Athanasiou
Rose McGowan takes a bow after her reading
Chris Athanasiou Toby JonesChris Athanasiou
Toby Jones and Jessica Raine read a letter from Nobel prize winning playwright Harold Pinter. "Dear madam," he read. "I would be obliged if you could explain the meaning of your letter 1. Who are you?”
Chris Athanasiou Benedict CumberbatchChris Athanasiou
Benedict Cumberbatch read part of a Patrick Leigh Fermor letter about crabs
Chris Athanasiou Ferdinand KingsleyChris Athanasiou
Actor Ferdinand Kingsley read Roger Taylor’s letter to Rolling Stone. "Grow up you’re boring”
Sam Hardwick Rose McGowan and Clarke Peters with paper roses given for taking partSam Hardwick
The speakers received paper roses for taking part
Chris Athanasiou From left to right; Benedict Cumberbatch, Sophy Hunter, Clarke Peters, Rose McGowan, Tony Robinson, Jordan Stephens, Toby Jones, Yrsa Daley Ward, Louise Brealey, Prasanna Puwanarajah and Ferdinand KingsleyChris Athanasiou
From left to right; Benedict Cumberbatch, Sophy Hunter, Clarke Peters, Rose McGowan, Tony Robinson, Jordan Stephens, Toby Jones, Yrsa Daley Ward, Louise Brealey, Prasanna Puwanarajah and Ferdinand Kingsley