IMPRESSIONIST Alistair McGowan and former Cabinet member Alan Johnson will be among those appearing at this year's Thornbury Arts Festival.

McGowan will bring his more recently developed skills as a pianist to this year’s festival, running from April 24-May 2, as part of a new UK tour.

The Piano Show mixes classical music with comedy and impressions and comes after McGowan's re-discovery of the piano at the age of 49 and subsequent debut album.

Other musical acts include Los Pacaminos, fronted by singer-songwriter Paul Young, jazz singer Cate Cody and classical music ensemble the Vesta Trio

Postman-turned-Cabinet member and best selling author Alan Johnson will take part in an on-stage interview as part of the festival.

Other highlights include a talk from Will Harding of Bristol’s Aardman Animations - creators of Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep - and a performance from cop-turned-comedian Alfie Moore.

There will also be a murder mystery created on the spot in an improvised performance by Bristol-based Degrees of Error.

Tickets for the festival, organised by volunteers, will go on sale in February.

A full programme of festival events will shortly be made available at thornburyartsfestival.org.uk