TV GARDENER turned author Alan Titchmarsh is returning home this year to take part in Ilkley Literature Festival for the first time since 2009.

Alan is one of the first names announced for the 2016 event where he will be talking about his new novel Mr Gandy’s Grand Tour.

Alan said: “For me, coming to Ilkley will always be ‘coming home.’ I was born on the edge of the moor and did not leave to go to Kew until I was 20; the most formative years of my life were spent in the shadow of the Cow and Calf and my love of nature and things that grow was fostered by the Wharfedale Naturalists Society. How could I not be excited about returning? There are still old friends to catch up with. Oh, and I love having lunch at Betty’s!”

Other names announced for this year’s Literature Festival are former BBC Breakfast presenter Sian Williams who will discuss surviving and thriving after trauma with her handbook Rise.

Author of The Girl with the Pearl Earring, Tracy Chavalier will talk about her newest novel At the Edge of the Orchard as well as Reader, I married him – a collection of short stories celebrating the bicentenary of Charlotte Brontë’s birth and former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg talking about life in the Coalition Government.

Ilkley Literature Festival takes place from Friday, September 30 to October 16 and demand for tickets is always high. They go on general sale at 9am on Tuesday, August 30, but Friends of the Festival can beat the rush and enjoy a priority booking period from August 18 to 24.

Becoming a Festival Friend costs £25 for a single membership or £35 for double membership and alongside priority booking for all Festival events.

Festival Friends play a crucial role in helping to support the Festival and ensure its future.

Rachel Feldberg, Festival Director said: “Our Festival Friends are invaluable in supporting our year round work, including our development work in schools across Leeds and Bradford, groups like Ilkley and Bradford Young Writers as well as our artistic programme.

“In return we offer our Friends priority booking for all Festival tickets, to make sure they get to see our fantastic events.”

Buy Friends memberships online at www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk or call 01943 601 210.

The full Festival programme will be announced on Thursday, August 11.