RUNNERS and riders in this summer’s annual Ways With Words literary have been unveiled with festival organisers proclaiming there is something for everyone.

The cultural clout unleashed on the Dartington faithful between July 6-16 is as varied as ever, although two key players in the proceedings are planning to take more of a back seat in the future.

Event veterans Kay Dunbar and Stephen Bristow have revealed they plan to play a less prominent role over the next few years as festival curator and general manager Leah Varnell steps more to the fore.

Kay reckons the time is right to take her foot off the pedal a bit while Stephen aims to concentrate more on the financial side of the business.

‘It’s time to slow down a bit and enjoy the view,’ Kay declared.

Among those hoping to maintain WWW’s well-established reputation as a top draw for entertainment and information are:

- Author Lucy Mangan whose childhood memoir of reading attracted widespread critical acclaim.

- Respected BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner talking about his espionage thriller Ultimatum set in Iran.

- Timothy Bentinck, David Archer in the Archers, discussing his part in the world’s longest-running drama series with some five million listeners.

- Literary critic and ex-publishing supremo Robert McCrum revealing poet Ted Hughes’ lifelong fascination with Shakespeare.

- SDP co-founder David Owen looking on the bright side of a post-Brexit UK.

- Former National Portrait Gallery and V&A director Roy Strong on Britain’s rich heritage.

- Biographer Miranda Seymour casts her discerning eye on Byron’s wife Annabelle Millbanke and their fascinating daughter Ada Lovelace, the world’s very first computer programmer.

- Actor Tim FitzHigham will divert many with his far from arid account of running across deserts in suits of armour.

- Poet Blake Morrison tells the story behind his novel The Executor.

The full programme of events is widely available.