Budding astronomers inspired by Wednesday's solar eclipse can reach for the skies once more at the Wells Festival of Literature.

Maggie Aderin, space scientist and presenter of BBC4's The Sky at Night, will bring the nine-day festival to a close on Saturday 24 October with the fascinating story of how her destiny was always written in the stars.

In her memoir Starchild: My Life Under the Night Sky she recounts how she was inspired by The Clangers from the age of three.

She studied physics at Imperial College London, going on to perform groundbreaking work on the James Webb and Gemini telescopes. Later she started her own public speaking company and shared the wonders of science with thousands of children every year.

Maggie is a BAFTA-nominated TV presenter, working on documentaries, children's factual television and comedy shows, and a best-selling author.

Her work has earned her an Institute of Physics Gold Medal, a Barbie doll in her likeness, and in 2024 she was knighted in the New Year's Honours list for her services to science education and diversity.

The Wells Festival of Literature brochure is out in shops locally, and also online. Booking for the festival, which runs from 16-24 October, opens on Monday 24 August.

Click here to visit the website and find out more.

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