CRITIC, writer and broadcaster Joan Bakewell is to open Thornbury Arts Festival this April.

The TV arts doyenne is coming to town to launch Festival 2005 and to talk about her life and times and her many and varied interests inside and outside of the small screeen.

She is not the only big name lining up for the eight day event which gets underway on April 15.

Former Likely Lad Rodney Bewes will also be here to perform his idiosyncratic adaptation of Jerome K Jerome's Three Men in a Boat - complete with his own restored Edwardian skiff.

And award-winning author Peter R Bond - space advisor to the Royal Astronomical Society - will present a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe with the aid of spectacular images taken by the Hubble space telescope and recent planetary probes.

Classical music will be highlighted by two top class events: Duo del fuego, the breathtaking combination of virtuoso violonist Roger Huckle with classical guitarist Hayley Savage, and Golden Moments from the Opera, an inimate cabaret-style performance from Hat Stand Opera.

Locally-based performers booked for the festival include nationally recognised musician Dave Betts with his Latin-style jazz quintet and Not the 4 of Us, with Phil Domaille, Peter Wiggins and Sarah Glew presenting a comedy cabaret at the Chantry Community Centre.

The opening Sunday will feature a vibrant rock concert by the local young musicians some of whom will have come through the rounds of a Battle of the Bands event organised by Thornbury pop school ngm.

Ballet will be back in Thornbury courtesy of Independent Ballet Wales who wil be giving their youthful and joyous interpretation of A Midsummer's Night's Dream.

Newport-based poet, musican and festival favourite Paul Henry will be presenting poems and songs in an intimate revue and the festival will round off in exhuberant fashion with funky gospel sounds of the charistmatic London Community Gospel Choir - Britain's best known gospel outfit.

Festival artistic director Barbara Ray said the committee had worked hard to provide an appetising menu of performance treats to appeal to a broad spectrum of ages and tastes.

"We think it's a varied and well balanced programme which will go down very well with Thornbury audiences," she said.

"And, of course, it will be supplemented by the usual excellent selection of lunchtime talks and music as well as the festival exhibition in the town hall."

Further information, including booking details, will be announced in due course.

The Festival also has its own website - www.thornburyartsfestival.com - giving the full programme. The "late news" section will be updated regularly with booking news and notice of events that are selling fast.