FOR the Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, the Ledbury Poetry Festival is “one of the most exciting and important literary festivals in England”.

So who is coming to this year’s happening?

A spokesman said: “Alexis Taylor (Hot Chip), poet Benjamin Zephaniah, comedian, broadcaster and writer Michael Palin, poet and playwright Sabrina Mahfouz, Scottish Makar Jackie Kay, Chris Difford (Squeeze), US poet Jericho Brown and comedian Miles Jupp are among the poets, musicians and poetry lovers from around the world announced for Ledbury Poetry Festival 2018, which runs from June 29 to July 8, as the full programme is now released and tickets are selling fast.

“Over 10 days this summer, with 80 events and over 150 performers, the UK’s biggest and much-loved poetry festival will fill the streets and intimate venues of the historic market town of Ledbury, near the Malvern Hills.”

The spokesman added: “Following record breaking audiences last year of over 15,000 people, the festival returns with an extra feather in its cap, having won Best Community Festival at the prestigious Visit Herefordshire Awards 2017.

“The inspiring relationship between poetry and lyrics is a theme of this year’s festival, which will bring Hot Chip lead singer Alexis Taylor and Scottish folk musician James Yorkston together in conversation and performance; Saint Etienne’s Bob Stanley talks to poet John Clegg about song writing and pop lyrics; founding member of Squeeze Chris Difford offers a poetic take on life in and out of the band with poet Jill Abram and the frontman of indiefolk band Stornoway, Brian Briggs performs his new collaborative work with poet Paul Henry, The Glass Aisle.

“Michael Palin will read the poetry of passionate and political poet Adrian Mitchell.”

Tickets for Ledbury Poetry Festival 2018 are now on general sale from poetry-festival.co.uk and the Box Office on 01531 636232.