Miriam, who plays Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films, will be appearing at the three-day festival on April 29 and has said she is looking forward to meeting the people of the county.

She said: “My first visit to the Wenlock Poetry Festival is fulfilling two needs; to surround myself with beautiful scenery and to speak beautiful words.

“I expect there are some beautiful people to meet as well. What a perfect weekend.”

Miriam, a BAFTA award-winning actress of both screen and theatre, will perform a poetry reading at 5pm on April 29, and then act as a judge alongside John Gorman and Dreadlockalien for the Poetry Slam at 9.30pm on the same day.

Linda Richards, of Wenlock Poetry Festival, said: “We are thrilled to have such a special surprise guest at the festival. We are so pleased that she has agreed to come along to spend time in Wenlock and add to the fun.”

The festival will see Much Wenlock come alive with all things poetic from April 29 to May 1, and tickets are selling well. There will be a wealth of entertainment on offer over the three-day festival, including poetry for kids, street poetry, performance poetry and a poetry cafe.

Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy is the festival’s founding patron and national Poet of Wales Gillian Clarke and former Poet Laureate Andrew Motion are also patrons of the event.

Miriam Margolyes will join a line-up including The Ian McMillan Orchestra, Spoz and Dreadlockalien, Andrew Motion, John Hegley, Jo Shapcott, Carol Ann Duffy, Jackie Kay, Mario Petrucci, Paul Evans, Simon Armitage and many more.

For more information or to buy tickets online visit www.wenlockpoetryfestival.org. You can also follow the festival on twitter @WenlockPoetry.