The celebrity cookery writer Rick Stein, historian and broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, satirist Craig Brown and bestselling author Robert Harris are among the line-up for this year’s Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival.

The 16th festival will begin on September 18 and will run for five days, featuring more than 80 events.

Among the other best-selling authors taking part will be the Rev Richard Coles, Clare Mackintosh and Susan Fletcher. The Times columnists Hugo Rifkind and Anna Murphy will also be bringing their latest books to Budleigh audiences.

The line-up also includes Great British Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant, Gardener’s World presenter Carol Klein, skincare and well-being entrepreneur Liz Earle and leading British tenor Russell Watson.

The festival’s annual talk in memory of its founder Susan Ward will be presented by broadcaster Iain Dale who will consider how dictatorships emerge. The former BBC Moscow correspondent Sarah Rainsford will offer a very personal angle on Russia today, and BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner will talk about his latest thriller set in China and Taiwan.

 Social and political history is covered by Virginia Nicholson talking about women’s beauty techniques from the early 20th century, David Horspool on Britain’s relationship with sport, Helen Molesworth on gems, Sir Anthony Seldon on the recent personalities behind the black door of No.10 and Professor Vernon Bogdanor on the politicians who have changed history. The Lost King historian Philippa Langley, who discovered the grave of Richard III, turns her investigative eye to the Princes in the Tower.

Other novelists at the festival include Clare Chambers, Clare Macintosh, Jennie Godfrey, Sara Leipciger, and debut Fiona Williams. As well as sharing her latest novel, Ordinary Time, Festival President Cathy Rentzenbrink will chair the annual Hilary Mantel Emerging Writers event in memory of her predecessor which showcases emerging talent.

The festival offers exciting and engaging events for children and young people, with a programme led by the highly popular author/illustrator Rob Biddulph. He is joined by nature writers Yuval Zommer and Clare Helen Welsh with themes that complement a series of free activities on the theme of WOW! Words for Wildlife. Young people can also make their favourite Aardman characters with the help of a professional model maker, create stories with music and learn to draw Manga characters and comics.

Artistic Director Annie Ashworth said: “This year’s programme is jam packed with events.

“We have aimed to be as broad as possible to satisfy and excite a wide range of interests. Book festivals are all about conversations and learning, entertainment and enjoyment and this year’s offering certainly meets all of those aspirations.”

A new addition this year is the entertainment offered in the Festival Hub marquee located on The Green. Audiences can rest between events and enjoy jazz, light opera and even sea shanties over lunches and suppers from local caterers Posh Nosh, Fat Fox Food and Mandy & Milena’s. The marquee will also host a showcase for local authors to share their work, and there’s even the chance to learn how to solve cryptic crosswords.

Festival chair Sue Briggs said:“We are excited to be offering these additional events and to be supporting local talent and local businesses. The festival is steeped in our community and working together is important to us. We are enormously grateful to those local business who sponsor the festival and enable it to happen, along with all our amazing volunteers.”

Tickets to the festival are available online and by phone at budlitfest.org.uk and on 0333 666 3366 from 22 July, and in person at the Budleigh Information Centre on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10.30am to 12.30pm.