This weekend, Dame Sheila Hancock, actor Hugh Bonneville and novelist Maggie O’Farrell headline the much-anticipated BridLit Festival!

The seven-day extravaganza will host a myriad of guest speakers from various disciplines. Previous festivalgoers have praised this year’s “stellar” line-up with one Twitter user adding “we are so lucky to have several great literature festivals in our area”.

Following on from last year’s success, which attracted large audiences from all over the country, the festival is holding a larger programme that appeals to all tastes.

To kick start the BridLit Festival in its 18th year, the festival will begin with a conversation between actress Sheila Hancock and broadcaster Susana Simons.

BBC war correspondent Jeremy Bowen will also be in attendance alongside Sir Barney White-Spunner, an author and ex-soldier who led British troops in conflict zones for two decades.

Seasoned broadcaster Sir Melvyn Bragg will be revisiting his youth and childhood living above a pub in a bustling Cumbrian market town.

Sports fans will also be in their element when former sports editor of The Sunday Times, Nick Pitt, holds a candid conversation with sports promoter and founder of Matchroom Sport, Barry Hearn.

Barry Hearn OBE will talk about his best-selling autobiography, My Life: Knockouts, Snookers, Bullseyes, Tight Lines and Sweet Deals while Nick Pitt lifts the lid on the world of ghost writers.

Events for children and young people have been lined up this year for Bridport Literary Festival, with the support of Bridport Town Council. Young festivalgoers will be in attendance as writer and philosopher, AC Grayling, talks about his book, For the Good of the World – Technology, Climate, Justice and Rights.

The Bridport Literary Festival is set to begin on Sunday, November 6 and conclude on Saturday, November 12.

Events will be held at The Electric Palace, The Bull Hotel, Sladers Yard in West Bay, The Tithe Barn at Symondsbury, Bridport Library, The Sir John Colfox Academy and The Book Shop in South Street and Bridport Library over the course of the week.

There is still an opportunity to grab a seat and be a part of the BridLit experience. For more information about the festival visit the bridlit.com website.