Bookworms are flocking to Wimbledon for a week of top authors and great stories.

Wimbledon Bookfest, the town’s annual literature festival, kicks off on Saturday.

Highlights of this year’s celebration include a ‘girls night out’ with best selling chick-lit author Penny Vincenzi, historian Max Hastings discussing the life of Winston Churchill and an evening with actor Timothy West - who began his career as an assistant stage manager at Wimbledon Theatre.

Other events include a literary pub quiz at the Crooked Billet, hosted by comedian Dominic Holland, a host of events marking 200 years since the birth of Charles Darwin and an appearance by up-and-coming novelist Sadie Frost.

The festival is set to take place in venues across Wimbledon and will begin with a launch event in St Mark’s Place, next to Wimbledon library, on Saturday afternoon.

The girls night out, at Cannizaro House on Monday, will also feature authors JoJo Moyes and Jessica Ruston. Max Hastings will discuss his new book, Finest Years: Churchill as Warlord 1940-45, at Kings College School on Wednesday.

Timothy West will read letters written to his wife Prunella Scales at Southside House next Sunday. Actors Julian Fellowes and Virginia McKenna will also appear at this year’s festival.

To mark 200 years since Darwin’s birth his great grandaughter Ruth Padel will read some of her poetry about the scientist’s life and work, while another relative - Emma Darwin - will discuss her books The Mathematics of Love and Secret Alchemy.

Elsewhere the Women’s Institute will host novelist Deborah Moggach and sports writer Jon Henderson will discuss his book on Wimbledon champion Fred Perry in an event at the All England Club. And next Saturday The Polka Theatre will host a special book festival just for children.

For more information call 020 8543 4888 or visit wimbledonbookfest.org.

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