A BAFTA winning actress and an exclusive screening of what’s set to be this year’s Christmas blockbuster are the highlights of a popular annual festival.

The Malton Dickensian Festival will welcome the return of movie star Miriam Margolyes, best known for her role as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter movies.

She will join Charles Dickens great, great, great granddaughter Lucinda Hawksley, in an exclusive question and answer session after a screening of The Man Who Invented Christmas, in which Miriam plays the role of Mrs Fisk.

The Hollywood movie tells the journey that led to Dickens' creation of A Christmas Carol.

Miriam Margolyes said: “Malton should be rightly proud of its rich association with Dickens and this magical book, and I’m honoured to be celebrating the town’s literary legacy once more.”

  • The screening takes place on December 16 at 4.40pm at The Palace Cinema in Malton.
  • Tickets are £12 (plus a booking fee). To purchase, call 01653 600008.