The full programme was released this morning for Hay Festival’s Winter Weekend with the tickets set to go on general sale at 8am on Saturday.

The Winter Weekend, which promises to include a variety of writers, thinkers and entertainers, will start on Thursday, November 22 and finish the following Sunday.

Taking place in various independent venues throughout Hay-on-Wye, the weekend see a blend of politics, global affairs, fiction, nature writing, comedy, music and workshops for all ages.

The Kingdom of Books will host a mixture of workshops, shows, Christmas festivities and even woodland walks during the winter weekend.

Advance tickets for the weekend, which is now in its 19th year, went on sale at 8am this morning for Festival Friends.

"Hay offers a festive welcome like nowhere else. We’ll be throwing our arms open to writers and readers from around the world experience Hay as never before".

The director of Hay Festival Peter Florence said: "The town is decked in Christmas lights and glistening with winter cheer.

"We’ve great writers, inspiring thinkers, moving musicians, and a thrilling bazaar of local crafts, foods and curiosities. Join us."

This year’s lineup includes: the father of Nobel Peace Price recipient Malala Yousafzai - Ziauddin Yousafzai with his talk Let Her Fly; Isabelle Tree talking about nature and the outdoors; BBC Newsnight’s editor Mark Urban; Historian Helen Parr; Space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock; and, comedian Marcus Brigstocke with his new Devil May Care show.

This year’s festival will incorporate a new 500-seater marquee in the Cattle Market and a pop-up bookshop space, while using The Scout Hall and St Mary’s Church for additional event.

The Winter Weekend will include the Hay Christmas lights switch-on event on the Friday, the Hay Food Festival on the Saturday and the Hay Does Vintage fair on the Sunday.

The festival has also asked the public to nominate their favourite books online for the Hay Festival Book of the Year 2018 - the winner will be announced at this year’s event.

Novelist Jeanette Winterson said: "It’s the time of year we need some internal sunshine and that’s what this is.

"It’s a place where there’s light and there’s warmth and a lot of fun."

Visit the Hay Festival’s website for tickets and more information about the Winter Weekend along with other events.

Hay Festival will be posting updates from the weekend on social media using #HayWinterWeekend.

You can stay up to date with the Hay Festival on Facebook and by following it on Twitter and Instagram using @hayfestival.