It’s another star-studded line-up for Bridport Literary Festival this year, with speakers and books to suit all tastes, in venues in and around the town from 2 to 8 November.

Bestselling novelist Andrew O’Hagan, foreign correspondent Lyse Doucet in conversation with Lindsey Hilsum, Slow Horses creator Mick Herron in conversation with Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall, actor Martin Clunes, broadcaster John Suchet on Beethoven, historian Tracy Borman and retail guru Mary Portas join politicians, gardeners, poets, nature writers, biographers, artists, children’s authors and young people for the 21st BridLit.

Chairman of Trustees Stuart Rock said: “This is a poignant BridLit after the unexpected and profoundly sad loss of our festival director, Tanya Bruce-Lockhart, earlier this year.

“Tanya co-founded the festival 21 years ago, nurturing and expanding it to become a much-loved event in Bridport and far beyond. Her verve, energy, exacting standards and wicked sense of humour are greatly missed by us all.”

He said this year’s programme was ‘very much Tanya’s, reflecting her belief that with books and reading matter, no one should feel excluded’.

As ever, internationally known names are alongside local talent, with new voices alongside the well-established.

Brochures will be available at Bridport Tourist Information Centre and other local outlets, with tickets going on general sale from 29 August. More information can be found on the festival website – bridlit.com

Adrian Turpin OBE takes over as BridLit’s new director in 2026.

He was creator and strategic director of Wigtown Book Festival in Scotland and has an exceptional track record of running and growing a world-class literary festival.

He joined Wigtown Book Festival in 2006, previously working as a writer and editor on national newspapers, including The Independent and Sunday Times.

Under his leadership, the event moved from three to ten days and has increased its audience to 27,000 visitors a year. In 2024, it was named Best Festival or Cultural Event in The Thistles, Scotland’s national event awards.

The next event prior to the main festival is the worldwide best-selling author, Alexander McCall Smith, who is at the Electric Palace on 23 October, where he will be in conversation with Nikki May at 7pm.

The master storyteller will entertain with tales from the latest 44 Scotland Street novel, Bertie’s Theory of Ice Cream, and discuss In the Time of Five Pumpkins, the new novel in the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.

Tickets are £16 are available via the Electric Palace website – electricpalace.org.uk – or from Bridport Tourist Information Centre, either in person or on the phone – 01308 424901.