STAGE, screen and radio star Maxine Peake will visit Haworth on Saturday to perform readings of Charlotte Brontë’s novels Jane Eyre and Villette.

The actress will read at The Great Charlotte Brontë Debate, a highlight of this year’s Brontë Society summer festival weekend.

A panel of writers, including biographer Claire Harman and novelist Joanne Harris, will form two teams each championing one of Charlotte’s best-known novels.

The discussion will be chaired by Brontë Parsonage Museum Creative Partner 2016, novelist Tracy Chevalier and accompanied by selected readings from both books, which will be read by Maxine.

Arts officer Jenna Holmes said: “2016 is a very exciting year for the museum, and this event is one of the highlights of Charlotte Brontë’s bicentenary programme.

“We have a passionate panel of writers to champion ‘Team Jane’ or ‘Team Lucy’ led by our Creative Partner Tracy Chevalier, and a performance by Maxine Peake will make it a very special evening indeed. We’re absolutely delighted that she is able to join us.”

One of the nation’s favourite actresses, Maxine Peake has had a prolific run of top quality television dramas in recent years; Silk, Criminal Justice, The Village, Hancock & Joan, Shameless. In 2015 she appeared in The Theory Of Everything alongside Eddie Redmayne.

As a theatre actress, she has performed at some of the most prestigious theatres in the country, including the National Theatre, the West Yorkshire Playhouse and Royal Court.

Other events taking place this weekend include a talk by Claire Harman and a brand new film, Charlotte - the Movie! made by comedy duo LipService.

The annual general meeting of the Brontë Society will also take place, where members will approve the appointment of Dame Judi Dench as President.

A very limited number of tickets for the Great Charlotte Brontë Debate are still available by calling 01535 640188.

For more information on museum events and exhibitions and to join the mailing list, please visit bronte.org.uk.