King's Lynn Festival announces highlights featuring Clive Anderson, Kiki Dee, Strictly Come Dancing singing sensation Tommy Blaize and renowned cellist Julian Lloyd Webber

Highlights of this summer's King's Lynn Festival have been announced with a focus on 'something for everyone.'

Members of the festival board, chair Alison Croose, vice chairs Tony Williams and Adrian Parker, Dr Robert Anderson and mayor or West Norfolk Lesley Bambridge met to introduce the launch of the programme of events that will take place from July 16-29.

Now in its 72nd year, the festival will be opening and closing with world famous names featuring Black Dyke Band and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

The programme also features two television personalities, adding to the festival's wide appeal, the host of Whose Line is is Anyway and Loose Ends, Clive Anderson, who will present his first solo tour, Me, Macbeth and I, and Strictly Come Dancing singing sensation, Tommy Blaize, will appear alongside the National Jazz Orchestra.

Chair of the festival, Alison Croose said: "The festival always creates a buzz around the town and the onus is on us to keep it going.

"It brings a number of people to Lynn for this event which is good for the town.

"It has a good range of events this year which are accessible that people can dip into."

Lesley Bambridge said: "I worked for the festival 30 years ago and it was the job have ever had.

"I am always excited about the festival coming here and over the years there has been lots of wonderful names at this prestigious event.

"Having visual artists, residencies, orchestras and having musicians around for a long time is fantastic and exciting,.

"I love it.

"I always feel very proud and tell people how important the festival is."

Ruth, Lady Fermoy, organised the first festival in 1951in a week-long event programme of music and arts, which she hoped would be the foundation of an annual event.

The festival organisers are keen to continue her vision and get new audiences and younger people to the events.

This year there will be tickets at half price for anyone who is 25 or under, along with free pop-up events.

Alison Croose said: "Classical music has associations that 'it is not for me' or can be a little bit 'stuffy'.

"But the festival does a lot for us as individuals and this is a lovely programme so we are lucky that something fantastic is happening."

Thanks were given to the support of West Norfolk Council and Norfolk County Council and new sponsorship from businesses and individuals that helps the festival continue.

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