VARIETY is always the spice of Hexham Book Festival’s menu, and this year’s extravaganza, running between Friday, April 28 and Sunday, May 7, is no exception.

Now in its 12th year, the programme is officially launched on Saturday, March 4 at a special author event at the Queen’s Hall with bestselling novelist Joanna Trollope.

And as usual, there’s something to suit all tastes, whether that be food, politics, biography, poetry, nature, comedy, history or just a good rollicking read.

The festival features some of Britain’s finest writing talent, with Maggie O’Farrell making a welcome return with her latest novel, This Must Be the Place and Louise Doughty, author of the recently- televised Apple Tree Yard, talking about her new book, Black Water.

Salley Vickers returns too with her tenth novel, Cousins.

Frank Gardner, the BBC’s security correspondent, discusses his debut thriller which draws upon his experience of the murky world of international terror, and biographer Michael Haag will recount stories of the Durrells of Corfu, one of Britain’s most eccentric families.

With so much heated political debate going on both nationally and globally, the festival organisers have invited a range of thoughtful speakers, including Guardian contributors, Polly Toynbee and David Walker, who will examine the vital role played by our public services and what they might look like post-Brexit.

Emma-Jane Kirby and Diana Darke, authors of The Optician of Lampedusa and My House in Damascus will be giving an inside view of the Syrian crisis, whilst journalist Gary Younge will explore the culture of gun crime in the USA.

Margaret Hodge, former chairwoman of the House of Commons public accounts committee, will be offering an exposé of how much of the money needed for public services is misspent, while many corporate giants get away without paying their fair share.

There’s something yummy for foodies with Thomasina Miers, co-founder of the Mexican restaurant, Wahaca, dishing up her home-cooking secrets and award-winning chef Jordan Bourke bringing bread, savoury tarts and wholesome sweet treats to the table.

Music writer Paul Morley will headline a tribute to the late David Bowie whilst ‘grumpy old man’ Arthur Smith and fellow comedian and former Goody Tim Brooke-Taylor will both be tripping down memory lane.

Of course there’s much, much more, including a special Bollywood evening on Thursday, May 4, when Vaseem Khan will talk about his book, The Strange Disappearance of a Bollywood Star.

Hexham Book Festival director Susie Troup said: “New for this year is a film showing at Queen’s Hall as part of our Bollywood evening.

“It’ll be a heady mix of Indian food, Bollywood film and author combo – I can’t wait!”

Festival co-ordinator Gil Pugh added: “I think it’s a very diverse mix this year and we hope it will appeal to a broad audience.”

A full programme is available from the Queen’s Hall, Hexham.