AN eclectic mix of speakers and famous faces are heading to Bridport this year for the renowned Bridport Literary Festival, now bigger than ever and in its 12th year.

The programme of events includes a stellar cast of writers both of fiction and non-fiction heading to venues across Bridport for a week of literature from Sunday, November 6 to Sunday, November 13.

Festival director Tanya Bruce-Lockhart said: “We always plan to invite authors who will intrigue, enlighten and entertain.”

She said this year’s line up promises to shed light on the dark days of winter.

Jeremy Paxman will be talking about A Life in Questions on November 12. As one of the nation’s most accomplished political commentators and programme presenters of his generation, his memoirs are a literary highlight this year.

As well as national treasure Alan Titchmarsh and best selling novelists Margaret Drabble, A N Wilson and Salley Vickers also at the festival, organisers said this year cannot pass without a tribute to Shakespeare.

Edward Wilson-Lee’s Shakespeare in Swahililand is a celebration of the great Bard’s influence in East Africa and part history, part travelogue and will be discussed on November 7.

While the intrepid Ben Fogle is the ultimate land rover, travelling the world in search of adventure with a trusty canine companion at his side, he’ll be staying in one place for the festival.

The much loved explorer will be discussing his new book on November 11 and the history of ‘the car that conquered the town and country’ – the Land Rover.

Tristan Gooley, a global authority on natural navigation, will be unlocking the secrets of How To Read Water to help understand the relationship of water with land, sea and sky and will be sharing his adventures of wild swimming at the festival on November 8.

Robert Twigger’s biography of the Himalayas – White Mountain, reveals the home of mythical kingdoms, wars and expeditions on November 7 and Charles Foster tells what its like Being a Beast – surviving as a badger and life on the street as an urban fox.

Crime Fiction doyenne Sophie Hannah and historical thriller writer Janet Ellis, will be solving mysteries with writer Jason Webster at the festival while Philip Eade exposes more than one knew about Evelyn Waugh on November 10.

Simon Sebag Montefiore telling the triumphant and tragic story of The Romanovs and Paddy Ashdown enthralling us all with A Game of Spies.

n A full programme and further information is available at bridlit.com. Tickets are available from Bridport Tourist Information Centre or by calling 01308 424901.