Don't Miss: Ruth and Jeremy take to the stage '“ prize-winning Lionel also books in

Books by the Beach, Wednesday April 11 to Sunday April 15
Wold Top Brewery Manager Kate Balchin and Books by the Beach organiser Heather French.Wold Top Brewery Manager Kate Balchin and Books by the Beach organiser Heather French.
Wold Top Brewery Manager Kate Balchin and Books by the Beach organiser Heather French.

Celebrities and prize winners make up the ingredients for this year’s Books by the Beach which is three weeks away.

Tickets for a candlelit dinner with crime writer David Hewson at Wykeham Abbey have sold out.

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Also sold out is an event at the art gallery when Catherine Hewitt will be discussing Renoir’s muse.

Books by the Beach runs from Wednesday April 11 to Sunday April 15. One of its main sponsors is Humanmby-based Wold Top Brewery.

Among those topping the bill are Radio 2 presenter and Egg Heads quiz host Jeremy Vine. He will be at the Stephen Joseph Theatre on Saturday April 14 at 3pm.

He will be talking about his new memoir What I Learnt- What My Listeners Say and Why We Should Take Notice.

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Award winning scriptwriter and comedy actor Ruth Jones is also at the theatre on Sunday April 15 at 7pm.

Best known for her portrayal of Nessa in Gavin and Stacey, Ruth has also won acclaim for her performances in BBC period drama and as the starring role in Hattie.

She will be introducing her debut novel Never Greener and chatting to festival host Peter Guttridge about her life in entertainment.

Festival director Heather French said: “ It’s fabulous for Scarborough to attract these celebrity names and I’m sure they will widen the festival audience.

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“I’m thrilled to be working closely with the Stephen Joseph Theatre to give them such a lovely venue.

“People are always interested to meet their TV and radio favourites face to face.

“I’ve just finished reading Ruth’s book and I couldn’t put it down. I’m sure she’ll have a long queue for book signing after the event.

“Jeremy too has high appeal and thousands of listeners switch on to him daily.”

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Take three Actors is at Scarborough Library on Sunday April 15 at 5.15pm. It features George costigan, best known for Rita, Sue and Bob Too and roles in Happy Valley and Emmerdale. He has a historical novel The Single Soldier to his name.

He is proving a popular draw alongside Robert Daws and Hugh Fraser who have both turned their hands to thriller writing. Robert starred in Jeeves and Wooster and The Royal, set in Scarborough.

Hugh is best known for playing Captain Hastings in Poirot and The Duke of Wellington in Sharpe.

“These three lovely guys are drawing a crowd already so if you’ve followed their acting career, come along and see where their writing is leading them.”

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TV Yorkshire Vet is also on my ‘ones to watch’ list and he’s proving a popular choice.

Julian Norton will be at Scarborough Library on Thursday April 12 at 7.30pm with tales of all creatures great and small.

“The author I’m personally most looking forward to meeting is Orange Prize winner Lionel Shriver,” said Heather.

“ I’m a huge fan of Lionel’s work and she’ll be talking about Property her first ever collection of short stories.”

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She’s appearing at Scarborough Library on Saturday April 14 at 5pm.

“I first met Lionel about 10 years ago at Edinburgh book festival and wanted to bring her to our town ever since.

“She’s finally coming. There are still seats available so come along to this once in a lifetime chance to meet her.”

She won prizes for We Need to Talk ABout Kevin– which was made into a film.

Tickets for all events are on sale at the Stephen Joseph Theatre box office or on line: www.booksbythebeach.co.uk