Star-studded line-up for annual festival

12:20pm Tuesday 15th July 2008

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BEWDLEY Festival returns in October with an impressive line-up featuring top-selling classical duo Operababes.

The pair, whose debut album reached number one in the UK classical charts, have performed at the Royal Albert Hall and the FA Cup and Champions League finals.

The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain will open the festival on Friday, October 10, playing their unique take on classics including Fly Me to the Moon and Hotel California.

The orchestra have appeared on TV show Richard and Judy and wowed crowds at the Glastonbury Festival.

Colin Dexter, author of the Inspector Morse novels, will explain how Morse was adapted for TV and recount his experiences of working with actor John Thaw.

Andy Hamilton, award-winning comedy writer and panellist on Have I Got News For You, presents his new one-man show.

Television presenter and author Chris Packham will explore the more perverse and peculiar aspects of the animal kingdom, and Bob Lawrence, from West Midlands Safari Park, will tell tales of his work.

Other highlights include a performance by the Vellmar Orchestra, from Bewdley’s twin town in Germany, an evening of readings by actress Hannah Gordon and a show by guitarist Gordon Giltrap.

American swing band King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys will bring the main events to a close at the Ramada Hotel on October 18.

Afternoon events will feature a talk by a man who assisted the identification of bodies in Thailand after the tsunami, an illustrated lecture on Bewdley’s history and a presentation of historical gardening tools.

The festival runs from October 10 to 19. Tickets go on sale on July 26 and are available from 01905 611427 or in person from Bewdley Tourist Office, Load Street, Bewdley.

For more information, visit www.bewdleyfestival.org.uk