A huge literary festival that boasts celebrity chefs, live comedy and wine tasting alongside authors such as Michael Palin and Lenny Henry is coming to Kent.

This year’s Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival is bigger than ever, with new activities and household names bringing in visitors from across the county.

The book festival will be headlined by actor Michael Palin, comedian Lenny Henry and singer Michael Ball, who will be discussing their latest memoirs at the town’s Assembly Hall Theatre.

Musical theatre star Michael Ball, who has appeared in Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables and Hairspray, will be kicking off the event with an evening all about his first non-fiction book, Different Aspects.

Former Monty Python and travel expert Michael Palin will then follow up with a talk on his new book, Great Uncle Harry: A Tale of War and Empire, which is a combination of biography, history, travel and personal memoir.

The third headliner is Comic Relief co-founder Lenny Henry, who has appeared in TV shows such as the Lenny Henry Show and Tiswas.

The actor will be sharing stories from his memoir, Rising to the Surface, in which he discusses his path to fame from the 1980s up until today.

Authors including David Bowie’s stylist Suzi Ronson, civil rights barrister Michael Mansfield, best-selling crime writer Peter James and children’s illustrator Liz Pichon are also set to appear over the four-day event.

Comedian Geoff Norcott, Suede bassist Mat Osman and royal expert Tracy Borman are just a few more of the familiar faces that will be popping up throughout the festival.

This year, the festival is also introducing the new Chef’s Table, an afternoon of culinary talks, book signings and Q&A sessions at Calverley Grounds.

Michelin starred chef Will Devlin will be discussing his award-winning farm and kitchen in Kilndown and celebrity chef Atul Kochhar will be signing copies of his Curry Everyday cookbook.

Patrick Hill, who works at Thackeray’s restaurant, will also be sharing his thoughts on seasonal produce and Kent’s hospitality scene with other local chefs.

“We are incredibly excited to include a food and drink element in the Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival this year,” says organiser Carole Winter. “Food and literature make for a perfect pairing, and the incredible chefs and restaurants that we have on our doorstep are a significant part of the town’s buoyant, vibrant and diverse cultural offering.

“We cannot wait for the enthusiastic foodies of Tunbridge Wells to get an inside glimpse into their favourite eateries, hearing from a wealth of talented cooks about a variety of topics that are close to their hearts.”

The open-air space at Calverley Grounds will also host a stand-up showcase from three comedians, a wine tasting led by Wildwood Vineyard owner Paul Olding and a Gin and Jazz event, where live music by the Sarah-Jane Hassell Trio will be accompanied by Jonomade Gin.

The Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival runs from Thursday, May 9 to Sunday, May 12 at various venues in and around Tunbridge Wells. You can book tickets online here.

Some events are free, but most are ticketed and will need to be booked in advance.