POLITICIANS, TV personalities and a ventriloquist will be heading to Wyre Forest for this year’s Bewdley Festival.

Bewdley venues will be hosting a variety of music, comedy, art, talks and theatre between Friday, October 11 and Sunday, October 20.

Highlights include political rivals Roy Hattersley and Douglas Hurd in conversation, an audience with the creator of Beyond the Fringe Jonathan Miller and a talk by Coast presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff.

There will also be comedy from ventriloquist Nina Conti and Jo Caulfield as well as political sketch writer for the Guardian Simon Hoggart.

Dave Collins, marketing and publicity officer, said: “Just how do you follow an arts festival Silver Jubilee that last year broke all records? That is October’s challenge for Bewdley Festival 2013.

“The route chosen has been to seek out as many new acts as possible, which, for a festival in its 26th year, is no easy task.

“So, with just a very few exceptions, the faces, acts and artists this year are new to Bewdley and provide the usual eclectic mix. There is something for everyone.”

The festival kicks off with music from Andy Fairweather Low and the Lowriders followed by the a talk by Rick Minter attempting to solve the big cat mystery of the Midlands.

Classical music fans will be satisfied with this year’s Jazz mass at St Anne’s Church and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s El Ultimo Tango with their Argentinean rhythms.

Popular actress Josephine Tewson will be performing her with one woman show Still Keeping Up Appearances, looking back at her 50-year career.

Talks will be held by local historians Stephen Price and Stuart Davies and this year’s art offering is Dali Explained, by artist Anthony Slinn.

Two folk artists Martin Carthy, an inspiration to Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, and Dave Swarbrick will be showing musicians how its done and this year’s Max Keen Lecture, a festival favourite, will consider Horatio Nelson as the greatest mariner.

The festival will be brought to a close by a special church service at St Anne’s church and then a week later, the post-festival party will see The Houndogs and Rockabellas playing rock and roll at the West Midland Safari Park.

This year’s official launch took place last Friday at the Mercure Hotel and Bewdley Festival members have already snapped up £20,000 worth of tickets before the general release.

Tickets go on sale on Saturday, August 3 and are available by calling Worcester Live on 01905 611427 or from the Bewdley Tourist Information Centre, in Load Street.

For more information visit bewdleyfestival.org.uk

Your day-to-day events guide

Friday, October 11.
Andy Fairweather Low and the Lowriders. The Mercure Hotel. 8pm.
Saturday, October 12.
Big Cats in Middle England. Rick Minter. Bewdley Baptist Church. 2.30pm.
Dolly Mixtures. Nina Conti. The Mercure Hotel. 8pm.
Sunday, October 13.
Mass in Blue. St Anne’s Church. 10.30am
El Ultimo Tango Quintet. St Anne’s Church. 2.30pm.
Roy Hattersley and Douglas Hurd. The Mercure Hotel. 8pm.
Monday, October 14.
Still Keeping Up Appearances? Josephine Tewson. Bewdley Baptist Church. 2.30pm.
The Divas and Me! Clare Teal. The Mercure Hotel. 8pm.
Tuesday, October 15.
Tudor Treats with Nick Trustram Eve. St George’s Hall. 10.30am.
Lesley Smith - Elizabeth I. Bewdley Baptist Church. 2.30pm.
A whistle-stop tour around The Coast. Miranda Krestovnikoff. The Mercure Hotel. 8pm.
Wednesday, October 16.
Edwina Hayes in concert. Bewdley Baptist Church. 2.30pm.
Dyad Productions present, Rebecca Vaughan in Female Gothic. The Mercure Hotel. 8pm.
Thursday, October 17.
New light on old Bewdley. Stephen Price and Stuart Davies. St George’s Hall. 10.30am.
Dali Explained. Anthony Slinn. Bewdley Baptist Church. 2.30pm.
An audience with Jonathan Miller. The Mercure Hotel. 8pm.
Friday, October 18.
House of Fun: 20 Glorious Years of Parliament. Simon Hoggart. Bewdley Baptist Church. 2.30pm.
Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick. The Mercure Hotel. 8pm.
Saturday, October 19.
Horatio Nelson - The Greatest Mariner? The Max Keen Lecture. Bewdley Baptist Church. 2.30pm.
Better the Devil You Know. Jo Caulfield. The Mercure Hotel. 8pm.
Sunday, October 20.
Fesitval Church Service. St Anne’s Church. 11am.
Saturday, October 26.
Party night with The Houndogs and Rockabellas. Tree Tops, West Midland Safari Park. 7.30pm.
Art exhibitions.
Close Encounters of the Varied Kind. Angela Gladwell. September 28 to November 17. Bewdley Museum.
A Chinese Experience. Colin Hill. October 4 to November 8. Bewdley Library Gallery.