Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Huddersfield Literature Festival 2016 promises an eclectic line-up that includes comedian Ben Miller, Egyptologist Prof Joann Fletcher and the town’s own best-selling writer Joanne Harris.

Organisers are also quietly hopeful that Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh will make an appearance.

There are events for all tastes and ages, with talks and lectures, a poetry slam, writers’ workshops, a literary afternoon tea and even a Bollywood dancing session.

As Festival Director Michelle Hodgson says: “Some festivals have a lot of big names but what we are trying to do is get a few big names and run different and interesting events. For example, we’ve got a literary afternoon tea with Milly Johnson, who writes comedy chick lit and paired her with James Bran, a stand-up comic poet and haiku writer.

“He is getting rave reviews and in a year or two we wouldn’t be able to get him because he would be too expensive. But we’ve managed to get him at the right time and people can say they’ve seen him here first.”

The main part of the festival will run from March 3 to 13 but will begin next month with events based around National Libraries Day on February 6.

Taking place at libraries in Golcar, Shepley, Batley, Almondbury and Mirfield from February 1 to 10, there are talks on everything from Patrick Bronte to 1940s West Yorkshire – all aimed at ages 16 plus. Tickets are £2 and details of all events can be found at the libraries.

There’s also An Evening with Explorer Levison Wood on Tuesday, February 9, at Huddersfield Town Hall, when the adventurer, writer and television presenter will talk about his latest expedition crossing the Himalayas, which is to be featured on Channel 4 in the spring.

Explorer Levison Wood. Picture by Tom McShane

Michelle says the events are designed to support and raise the profile of local libraries.

She explained: “We are passionate about libraries and there has been a lot of talk about closures or changing the way they are run, so we have gone into partnership with them for these events, which are a way of extending the festival.”

The festival, which receives half its costs from the Arts Council and funding from Huddersfield University and Kirklees’ Arts in the Neighbourhood scheme, has a budget this year of between £23,000 and £25,000, which makes it remarkable value for money.

“We have just two paid workers, who are part-time, and try to squeeze every last drop out of the funding we have,” says Michelle.

“we have sponsors and also quite a few people who sponsor us in kind by doing our books and that kind of thing.” The festival has ongoing sponsorship from law firm Wilkinson Woodward.

This year the festival has also attracted sponsorship from employment agency Stafflex, which is supporting a Big Screen Family Day on Saturday, February 27, at North Huddersfield Trust School.

The free day of film showings and storytellings will also include other activities aimed at children.

However, the main festival launches on Wednesday, March 2, with The Pearls Project, which celebrates the favourite literary works of those involved with the festival and will be presented by Huddersfield theatre director Amanda Huxtable.

Thursday, March 10, will see Ben Miller, half of the Armstrong & Miller comedy duo, discussing alien lifeforms in The Business School at Huddersfield University.

The Aliens are Coming by Ben Miller

Since abandoning his PhD in Physics at Cambridge for a career in comedy Ben has turned to writing and is the author of popular science books It’s Not Rocket Science and The Aliens are Coming.

He will be interviewed by journalist and steampunk writer David Barnett.

Sunday, March 13, sees the festival finale – a Literary Afternoon Tea at Huddersfield Golf Club in Fixby and a talk by theatre critics Michael Billington and Sam Marlowe at the Lawrence Batley Theatre.

And then on Wednesday, Marlch 16, there’s a post-festival Ted Hughes lecture at Huddersfield University – the first in a new series of monthly lectures at the institution.

A number of festival events are free of charge, while others range from £1.50 to £15. For details visit www.litfest.org.uk