MUSICIANS, comedians and actors will be heading to Wyre Forest in October for this year’s Bewdley Festival.

The line-up for the 28th Bewdley Festival, which will take place from October 9 to October 18, was announced at a launch event on Friday evening (July 10).

Highlights include Grammy award-winning Leo Sayer, Guardian cartoonist and satirist Martin Rowson and Toyah Wilcox’s acoustic autobiographical show.

There will also be a visit from actor and presenter Robert Llewellyn, music from Mari Wilson, a presentation by anatomist and television presenter Professor Alice Roberts and an annual lecture by Max Keen.

Dave Collins, festival publicity and marketing officer, said: "Friday evening's festival launch was once again very well attended.

"Despite this year's competition from Wimbledon, festival members packed the Mercure Hotel eager to hear details of this year's line-up and exercise their two weeks of priority ticket booking there and then.

"This year's line-up has three big names from the music scene, household name television presenters, an eclectic mix of afternoon presentations and the return of some firm festival favourites.

"Opening night with Leo Sayer is already selling well, as are tickets for Jay Rayner, Dr Phil Hammond and, of course, party night.

"In the afternoons, Max Keen and Lesley Smith are again proving to be fast selling tickets, so it is all looking very good."

The 10-day festival kicks off with British music legend Leo Sayer with his Restless Years Tour, as part of a series of rare and much anticipated shows.

For classical music fans, there will be the final of three world premiere performances of the Ballad of St Kenelm, AD 821 by renowned composer Andrew Downes, while violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky will deliver a recital, accompanied by pianist Wu Qian.

Theatre enthusiasts are catered for by a return visit from Lesley Smith, with her portrayal of Nell Gwynne.

Other performers include long-standing food and restaurant reviewer for the Observer Jay Rayner, Antiques Roadshow favourites Hilary Kay and Paul Atterbury,  Stewart Wardrop who will tell the story of the avian heroes of two World Wars, a talk by Joe Hawkins on the discoveries and restorations taking place at Hagley Hall, scriptwriter and author Joanna Toye and Bewdley Youth Festival Showcase.

The festival will close with a lecture on King John, a party night with the Bootleg Blues Brothers and a morning service at St Anne’s Church.

From Saturday, October 3, to Saturday, October 31, a Duck House trail will be situated in Jubilee Gardens and will display the results of a Community Arts Project. In May, wooden Duck Houses were distributed throughout schools, community groups and local businesses for themed decorations.

Tickets, which are now available for festival members and go on sale for the general public on Saturday, July 25, can be purchased from Worcester Live on 01905 611427 or in person at Bewdley Tourist Information Centre, in Load Street.

For full details of the line-up visit bewdleyfestival.org.uk or to view a photo gallery of the performers, click here.