THERE will be “more to see and do than ever before” at this year’s Chalke Valley History Festival.

Tickets for the event, which runs from June 24 to 30 at Church Bottom, Broad Chalke, went on sale this week.

Festival director Jane Pleydell-Bouverie said: “We are thrilled by the number of displays and activities for all the family on offer at the festival this summer, the diversity of topics which will be covered, and the range of speakers appearing - from the most distinguished academics and personalities to new, younger historians.”

The festival will feature more than 150 talks as well as discussions and topical debates, alongside a living history encampment, where experts bring history to life.

Festival organisers say there will be “more to see and do and a wider range of talks, discussions and other events than ever before”.

Those taking part in the festival for the first time include best-selling crime novelist Minette Walters who will be discussing the Black Death, the former broadcast war reporter Martin Bell, Britain’s first female black professor of history Olivette Otele, and Ralph Northumberland who will be providing a fascinating account of the Percy family and Alnwick Castle. Plus, the comedian and actor Harry Enfield will be a panellist on the comedy panel show, Histrionics.

Festival favourites and well-known names returning include Neil Oliver, Victoria Hislop, Dan Snow, Kate Williams, Antonia Fraser, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Tracy Borman, Ben Macintyre, David Owen, Ian Hislop, Anita Anand and Niall Ferguson.

The 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings will be marked at Chalke Valley. To open the festival, there will be a special D-Day 75 morning to commemorate those who fought in the campaign.

For more go to cvhf.org.uk