BESTSELLING authors Victoria Hislop, Gervase Phinn and Katie Fforde will headline this year’s Wantage (not just) Betjeman Literary Festival.

Academics will rub shoulders with TV presenters and authors Nicholas Crane and Janina Ramirez and acclaimed biographer and novelist AN Wilson.

With 44 talks, workshops, readings and performances between Saturday, October 22 and Sunday the 30th, organisers say visitors can look forward to an "inspirational" week.

Festival trustee and novelist Nicola Cornick said: "The festival is a wonderful occasion to bring people together.

"The opportunity for writers to meet readers and readers to meet writers always sparks ideas and discussion and is both stimulating and fun."

Apart from author talks, this year’s line-up includes an improvised comedy show based entirely on audience suggestions by Edinburgh Fringe Favourites, Racing Minds.

Scriptwriter and award-winning comedian Paul Kerensa will also perform his latest stand-up routine to the parish church.

At the Beacon, award-winning poet and raconteur Tina Sederholm will present Till Debt Us Do Part, her "unflinching but comic" look at love and fiscal meltdown.

Baking will take centre stage at this year’s afternoon tea event when social historian Alysa Levene discusses the history of cake and 2013 Bake-Off quarter finalist Christine Wallace, from Didcot, demonstrates her star- bake Ninety-Niners with a Twist.

Chairman of festival trustees Ben Dreyer added: "It brings national names to the doorsteps of those living in Wantage, and also pulls people in from further afield who may not otherwise visit the area. All round, a great result for Wantage."

Originally founded to celebrate the town’s connection with the former poet laureate and long-time Wantage resident Sir John Betjeman, the festival is now in its sixth year.

Run by volunteers, it is now a registered charity aiming to increase local people’s awareness and appreciation of literature and the arts.

Among the interactive events this year, American poet Carrie Etter will lead a poetry writing workshop inspired by favourite places and artist Vicky Vergou will encourage adults to draw in response to Betjeman’s poem, On Leaving Wantage.

Families with young children can consider whether a dinosaur would really make a good pet when science communicator and former stand-up comedian Helen Pilcher holds a Bring Back the Dinosaurs hour.

For this year’s festival finale, music fans are promised a treat when LiTTLe MACHiNe, described by Carol Ann Duffy as "the most brilliant music and poetry band in the world", rock out festival 2016 in upbeat party style.

For more information about this year’s festival and for booking information visit wantagebetjeman.com