A leading stage and TV actor fresh from starring in Poldark says Whitstable should be proud of its literary festival after he was revealed as a special guest speaker for the event.

Robert Daws, 55, will appear at this year’s WhitLit festival at a crime evening on Wednesday, May 13.

The actor, who played Dr Thomas Choake in the hit period drama Poldark, is also a keen crime author and will chat about his acting and writing work at the festival.

He said: “The festival is quite extraordinary.

“I take my hat off to the organisers – I help run another literary festival and I looked at the Whitstable one because it’s got so much absolutely spot on and it has got fantastic guests coming along.

“The town should be proud of it. I’m very impressed by the amount of work everybody involved has put in to make it happen.”

Robert, who grew up in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex overlooking Whitstable, first visited the town last year when he starred in The Perfect Murder at the Marlowe Theatre.

He added: “I came down to Whitstable for the first time last year when I was working in Canterbury.

“It knocked my socks off – it’s such a wonderful place. I will be interviewed about crime and various other things (at the festival).”

Robert will chat with bestselling crime writer and actress Lesley Cookman at the festival’s crime evening.

Director Victoria Falconer said: “We’re thrilled that Robert is coming to WhitLit. Not only is he a fantastic actor but a very talented writer and thoroughly nice person.

"It’s fitting Robert is appearing at our crime night, on the same bill as Peter James as he starred in James’ smash hit play The Perfect Murder last year and they know each other well.”

The WhitLit crime evening takes place at the Horsebridge Centre on Wednesday, May 13, from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. Tickets cost £5, visit www.whitlit.co.uk