Tickets are flying out now that booking is open for this year's Wells Festival of Literature which takes place 27 October to 4 November.

Shadow Secretary of State Wes Streeting will give a stirring start to the event, to be followed by a diverse range of entertaining speakers.

They will all offer food for thought on a variety of topics, but there's also food for the soul by way of three literary lunches which will give guests the chance to meet and eat with each of the speakers before the talk.

The first lunch is with Gail Simmons (Tuesday 31 October) who takes a journey on foot into the past, rediscovering a long-forgotten road between Southampton and Canterbury.

Sander van Linden follows on Wednesday 1 November with a talk about fake news and how we can fight it, while Stephen Moss – local resident and president of the Somerset Wildlife Trust – will share his expertise on birds on Friday 3 November.

The lunches take place in the dining hall at Cedars House in Wells at 12.30, with the talks at 2pm.

A breakout event – and a first for the festival – is the Wells Literary Quiz specially created by Gary Wrigglesworth, seasoned quizzmaster and author of the Book Lover's Quiz Book.

Teams of up to six can take part to test what they know – and don't know! – about books at the quiz which takes place in the White Hart Inn at 7.30pm on Sunday 29 October.

For other bookworms, there's a special Book Group Event led by Booker-longlisted author Donal Ryan on Sunday 29 October at 2.30pm.

Donal's book The Queen of Dirt Island is about family, spanning four generations of Irish women and the stories and love that binds them. Read it first and then make the most of the opportunity to question the author and view it through his eyes as well as your own.

Another big event – open to all, not just those who have submitted entries – at 2pm on Monday 30 October is an afternoon of Prize Giving for the festival's poetry and writing competitions.

This promises to be an exciting glimpse of upcoming talent in each of four categories encompassing worldwide and young poets, short story writers and children's authors.

Judges include 'poetry pharmacist' William Sieghart – a big hit at last year's festival – and there's also the chance to cast a vote yourself for the Festival's Favourite Poet.

For details of all these and a full programme of events pick up a brochure from Waterstones in Wells or at numerous venues in the area.

The festival takes place at Cedars Hall in Wells from Friday 27 October to Saturday 4 November.