A broadcasting giant, controversial scientist and punk legends are among the top acts at this year's Holt Festival.

Norwich Evening News: Popular group The Stranglers who will be playing at the Holt Festival.Popular group The Stranglers who will be playing at the Holt Festival. (Image: Archant)

The week-long cultural event, which is in its sixth year, will be held between Saturday July 19 and Sunday July 27 in venues across the town.

Top names appearing at the festival will be comedienne Sandi Toksvig, American comedian Rich Hall who will perform a 'musical hoedown', and Melvyn Bragg who will exchange views with Richard Dawkins, author of The Selfish Gene.

Music acts will include punk group The Stranglers and The Bad Shepherds, featuring Ade Edmondson, who will be supported by Wreckless Eric.

All these stars will be performing at the Theatre in the Woods at Gresham's School from July 25-July 27 and tickets are available now via www.holtfestival.org.

Holt Festival director Delaval Astley said: 'This is the strongest line up we have had so far. The festival is about broadening experiences for people who live and holiday here. This is a remote area of the UK, but for it to have culturally-significant events like these is an extraordinary achievement.

'There have been suggestions that the festival is for middle class people who like classical music but that could not be further from the truth. It has a broad mix of acts.'

The week will include about 28 acts featuring music, drama, visual art, literature, dance, comedy, free street entertainment, children's shows and workshops.