BBC news presenter George Alagiah will be opening this year’s Thornbury Arts Festival.

Organisers of the 10-day festival confirmed this week that the 6 o’clock news presenter would be appearing on the opening night of this year’s event in April.

Mr Alagiah, who was given an OBE in 2008, is a well known household name having presented the teatime news slot since 2003.

Before newsreading Mr Alagiah had been the BBC’s leading foreign correspondent and during his 20 years at the BBC has reported on events such as the genocide in Rwanda, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Asian tsunami and 9/11.

However, Mr Alagiah, who has written several books and won countless awards, will not be talking about his career in journalism in Thornbury but will be giving a talk entitled Food for Thought.

The talk will be based on a series he made for the BBC last year when he travelled the world looking at the growing global food crisis.

Liz Wilkins, the new artistic director for the 41st Thornbury Arts Festival, said: "It’s great that on the first night we have a famous newsreader but his talk will be a bit different looking at food issues from around the world. It promises to be a really exciting opening."

Mrs Wilkins, who has been on the arts festival’s committee for two years before taking on the lead, also revealed a few other delights planned for the festival including Dr Alice Roberts, who worked on the BBC 2 documentary The Incredible Human Story.

Mrs Wilkins said: "We’re hoping to deliver a variety of events that will attract different people. As well as having historical and archaeological items we will also have the lunchtime events, and various musical and drama performances with Thornbury Orchestra performing in the town on the first Sunday."

The 2010 Thornbury Arts Festival will run from April 23 to May 2. Tickets are expected to go on sale in March.

For more information visit www.thornburyartsfestival.com