THE Poet Laureate and a former Archbishop of Canterbury are among the speakers lined up for a university’s lecture series.

Renowned poet Carol Ann Duffy and Dr Rowan Williams, now master of Magdalene College Cambridge, are part of Durham University’s Durham Castle Lecture Series 2014-15.

Ms Duffy will give a poetry reading on April 29, while Dr Williams will discuss knowledge on February 18.

Lord Giddens, former director of the London School of Economics, will launch the series on Wednesday, October 22, with a talk on risk.

The other speakers include former UN Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay, philosopher Simon Critchley, columnist Owen Jones, economist Dr Ha Joon Chang, astrophysicist Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell and law professor Stephen Whittle.

Political scientist Thomas Weiss will conclude the series on May 6.

All lectures are held in Durham Castle’s Great Hall, which has a capacity of 250.

All lectures are free and open to all. Seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets or reservations are required.

Doors open at 7.45pm, the lectures begin at 8pm and the speakers will take questions from 9pm.

For more information, visit dur.ac.uk