WRITER and journalist Elizabeth Day, BBC News Home Editor Mark Easton, Springwatch presenter Megan McCubbin, and royal biographer Robert Hardman are among the top names who have visited Tynedale over the past week for this year's Hexham Book Festival.
The popular festival, which runs out of the Queen's Hall and Hexham Abbey, began last Friday (April 21) and runs until Sunday, April 30.
Author Alexander McCall-Smith and veteran reporter and presenter David Dimbleby are hosting talks today (Tuesday, April 25), while other big hitters still to come this week and over the weekend include former TV style guru Susannah Constantine, UK Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, and Radio 4's Edward Stourton.
The Storyland children's festival, with craft workshops and talks for young people, including from Julian Norton of Channel 5s ‘The Yorkshire Vet’, will also take place on Sunday, April 30.
Hexham Book Festival is back to its traditional late-April slot after cancellation in 2020, a delayed and socially-distanced July festival in 2021, and a move to June in 2022 to allow for more outdoor events.
Susie Troup, director of the festival, said: "It's been so lovely seeing audiences return now that we're back in our usual springtime slot - we've had sell-out events and such lovely comments from audiences.
"We've got five more days of events, including our day of children's events on Sunday, April 30 as part of Storyland, which is always full of such fun and joy."
Since its inception in 2006, the festival has welcomed thousands of people to its events.
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The festival is supported by Northumberland County Council and funders include the Northern Rock Foundation, Gillian Dickinson Trust and Arts Council England.
This year's sponsors are Womble Bond Dickinson; Newcastle Building Society; Hexham Dental Clinic; Clarand Accounting; Youngs RPS; Howdens; Curlew Accounting; Sycamore Corbridge; Nicholson Portnell; Ralph and Mimi and Sarah Hickey Jewellery.
For the full programme of events and tickets, visit the Hexham Book Festival website.
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