HEXHAM Book Festival is one of the town’s much-loved annual events.

Having grown substantially since it was founded by Susie Troup in 2006 when it began as a one day event with a handful of speakers, the festival now forms an important part of the regional arts calender, attracting audiences from across Tynedale and beyond.

Over the years, guests have included Luke Jennings, Germaine Greer, Melvyn Bragg, Michael Morpurgo, PD James, Alexander McCall-Smith, Margaret Drabble, Jodi Picoult, Lionel Shriver, Kate Atkinson, Joe Simpson, Will Self, Val McDermid and Libby Purves, to name but a few authors, all taken the train north, as have politicos Shirley Williams, Paddy Ashdown, Edwina Currie, Douglas Hurd, Anne Widdecombe, Nadine Dorries and Alastair Campbell.

The 2020 event was unable to go ahead due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but last year, it was held in a spiegeltent, a large travelling tent from the Netherlands, within the Hexham Abbey Grounds.

Guests included Jung Chang, Gavin Esler, Luke Jennings and Hollie McNish.

A new children’s book festival was also held alongside the traditional book festival programme. There were events for schools during weekdays, with funding available to bring children from far-reaching areas of Northumberland to Hexham to enjoy it.

The investment in a children’s festival was made possible through funding from the Gillian Dickinson Trust, and Arts Council England.

This year, the 17th Hexham Book Festival will be held between June 10 and June 19.

The children’s book festival is back, as well as the Spiegeltent.

The Hexham festival will also be hosting some of its events back in The Queen’s Hall.

We've taken a look back at some of the guests who have attended Hexham Book Festival over the years.