The first big names have been announced for Appledore Book Festivals 10th anniversary year promising the best event ever.The Gazette can reveal the line-up for the festival in September and October includes appearances from actor Christopher Biggins and former home secretary Alan Johnson. Festival patron and radio presenter Jeremy Vine will be returning to the line-up as well as Alexander McCall Smith, Janet Ellis and Michael Morpurgo. Food writer Mitch Tonks will be giving a talk, as will actress and author Sara Crowe. Tickets to the festival, running from September 22 October 2, go on sale on Friday to Friends of the Festival, and on July 19 to the general public. Founder and schools patron of the festival, author Nick Arnold, said the line-up, featuring international bestselling authors and speakers, would be the festivals best ever. He said: Ten years ago the Appledore Book Festival was nothing but a dream; a dream of a book festival in a beautiful location a festival that would offer something to everyone. Little did we know then that our dream would be fulfilled and what began as a tiny seed of hope would flourish into such a mighty tree. Mr Arnold, who wrote the Horrible Science book series, founded the festival in 2006 in a bid to save Appledore Library.Take a look at the line-up at www.appledorebook festival.co.uk.Click here to return to our homepage for more North Devon news.