SHEILA Hancock, who recently presented a TV programme about the Brontës, will appear at Ilkley Literature Festival.

Popular British actress Sheila fronted ITV’s Perspectives: The Brilliant Brontë Sisters , which included scenes shot in Haworth.

At the Literature Festival, which runs from October 3 to 19, Sheila Hancock will discuss her new novel Miss Carter’s War.

The festival recently announced a diverse and distinguished line-up, guaranteed to pack a big literary punch.

The event, now in its 41st year, has invited authors from a wide range of genres including fiction, journalism and current affairs, poetry, biography, historical and scientific writing to a programme of more than 240 events at venues across Ilkley.

Headline speakers include Booker Prize-winning author Margaret Atwood, presenting, Maddaddam, the final instalment of the internationally acclaimed dystopian trilogy.

Ilkley Literature Festival veteran, Will Self, will introduce his new novel Shark, released in September, featuring the return of psychiatrist Zack Busner.

Appearing for the first time in Ilkley will be New York Times bestseller Jodi Picoult presenting her latest novel, Leaving Time.

Former poet laureate Sir Andrew Motion will open the festival with an exploration of poetry and prose as he introduces his new novel, The New World, an adventure set ten years on from Treasure Island.

Events for children feature prominently within the Festival and, this year, three of the UK’s leading children’s fiction writers will make an appearance, Lauren Child, author of picture books Charlie and Lola, former children’s laureate Michael Morpurgo, and Carnegie medal winning author of Skellig, David Almond.

Visit ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk for further information.