BAFTA-winning actress Miriam Margolyes returned to headline the Christmas Dickensian Festival in Malton for the second time at the weekend.

Miriam, whose one-woman show Dickens’ Women was nominated for an Olivier Award, performed her show on Saturday at the Milton Rooms in the town.

Professor John Bowen from York University, soon to be President of the Dickens Fellowship, gave a talk about Dickens, the Necromancer and his love of magic tricks, followed by Miriam performing as Mrs Gamp, reading from Bleak House and a series of Dickens letters ending with a monologue from ‘A Christmas Carol.

Miriam said: "It was a very happy return to Malton, the fun and the fellowship were heart-warming. Everyone had a good time and I definitely want to come back next year."

Broadcaster Selina Scott, Lucinda Hawksley, great, great, great granddaughter of Charles Dickens, and Brian Oxberry, from the Charles Dickens (Malton) Society, took part in a Q&A and book signing at The Talbot hotel on Friday.

Lucinda, who has written a book in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery called Dickens and his Circle, said: "It was really lovely to have the chance to return to Malton, where everyone is so friendly. Professor John Bowen and Miriam Margolyes held the audience spellbound and the whole weekend had a great atmosphere. I hope the festival continues to go from strength to strength."

Selina added: "The energy and dedication that has gone into producing this year's Dickens Festival has been incredible. I'd like to add my thanks to all those who made A Christmas Carol so very special and once again celebrated Malton's uniqueness as the inspiration for one of the most iconic books in the English language."

Clair Challenor-Chadwick, director of the festival, said: “I really want to thank Miriam, Professor Bowen and Lucinda, The Milton rooms volunteers in particular Jeremy Powell who gifted his time again this year to provide sound and microphones on the night. Thanks also to Libby, Merryn, Martin and the rest of the Milton Room volunteers who administered ticket sales and sold mince pies and mulled wine.

"We look forward to working in partnership with the team in 2017 to create an even more exciting Dickens programme. This has been a huge voluntary effort and we are looking for more volunteers to help take forward our programming.”