THE Isle of Wight Literary Festival has added another household name to its roster of talent this year – a famous broadcast presenter and author.

‘National treasure’, Clare Balding, is bringing her latest book, Isle of Dogs, to the Isle of Wight.

Clare will appear at this year’s Isle of Wight Literary Festival, which is taking place in Cowes from October 3 to 6, to talk about her love for Britain’s favourite family pet.

She joins big names such as Susie Dent, Gyles Brandreth, Tracy Borman and Gen Sir Michael Jackson on the 2024 festival roster.

Her book, Isle of Dogs, outlines how Britain is shaped by its dogs.

Clare has always been fascinated by the impact dogs have on our lives and their place in our national story.

In Isle of Dogs, she explores the characteristics of our favourite breeds, why we’re drawn to them and what they bring out in us, from how we work to how we live.

She talks to people whose everyday survival depends on their dog and those whose experience of life has been transformed by them.

Clare also delves into the work professionals encounter with dogs and how we, as humans, have made use of our canine friends’ superior senses to root out drugs, discover disease, detect bombs and rescue missing people.