The annual Winchester Festival brings a feast of culture to Hampshire in July.

Top billing goes to Dame Judi Dench, who is the festival president, and a regular visitor to the event.

Her appearance at the Theatre Royal in Jewry Street on Sunday, July 19, will be the final curtain for the 10-day programme.

She will be in conversation with the festival’s artistic director, John Miller. He has produced a book on her career, called Scenes From My Life, which will be amongst the subjects discussed.

The festival opens at 7.30pm on Friday, July 10, with a concert in Winchester Cathedral. Conducted by Andrew Lumsden, it will feature the vocal talents of the Waynflete Singers performing works from classical composers.

On Saturday, July 11, the action moves to the Discovery Centre in Jewry Street. Between 10am and 4pm, a creative writing workshop for youngsters on the theme of Doctor Who will take place.

Then at 5pm, BBC journalist Frank Gardner will speak at the city’s guildhall about the dangers of reporting in the Middle East.

On Sunday, July 12, Hampshire County Youth Band will be appearing in the performing arts centre at St Swithun’s School in Alresford Road.

Then at 7.30pm that evening, the Theatre Royal will play host to The Norfolk Connection. It is designed to dramatise Tudor intrigue and will feature Sian Phillips, Clive Francis and Paul Moriarty.

On Monday, July 13, former politician and last British governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, will be speaking at the Guildhall.

The event starts at 6pm, and will be followed at 8pm at the same venue by The Festival Players’ production, Queen Victoria’s Travels in Winchester.

The Guildhall will also play host to actor and screenwriter Julian Fellowes at 6pm on Tuesday, July 14, in conversation with John Miller.

Then at 8pm that evening, the London Conchord Ensemble will perform at the cathedral quire.

Wednesday, July 15, sees the visit of John Julius Norwich to the Guildhall at 6pm. The writer and broadcaster will talk about his memoirs, Trying to Please.

The following day at 6pm, there will be a talk on Alexander the Great by Michael Wood at the Guildhall. It will be followed by Southern Voices providing A Little Late Night Music at 9pm in the cathedral quire.

At 6pm on Friday, July 17, historian Andrew Roberts will discuss his book, Masters and Commanders, at the Guildhall.

At 5pm the next day, the same venue will host Edna O’Brien, who will speak about her biography of Lord Byron.

The penultimate event on Sunday, July 19, will be The English Project lecture by Stanley Wells.

He will talk about ‘Shakespeare’s Dramatic Language’ at the Theatre Royal ahead of Dame Judi Dench’s appearance that evening.

The programme will also feature several other events, including guided walks and young musicians’ lunchtime concerts.

Telecoms firm, Arqiva, based at Crawley near Winchester, is sponsoring the festival. Hampshire County and Winchester City Councils are also supporting the event.

Tickets are now on sale. Visit winchesterfestival.co.uk or call 01962 857240 for full details about the programme.