Griff Rhys Jones and Abi Titmuss have been announced as performers at this year's HighTide Festival, in Halesworth.

The two are some of the latest to be unveiled after festival artistic director Steven Atkinson announced some of the first names yesterday.

In all 75 of the country's top actors and actresses will be travelling to Halesworth next week for the festival's sixth incarnation.

Renowned broadcaster, actor, writer and comedian Griff Rhys Jones will be giving a talk on Saturday, May 12, entitled Griff Rhys Jones In Conversation.

This will be one of four HighMind Talks that also include Art, Truth and Journalism hosted by Will Gompertz, Juliet Stevenson In Conversation, and On Class Warfare with writers Owen Jones, Alan Bissett and Ella Hickson.

Abi Titmuss has been announced as part of the cast of Bethany, a new play by Laura Marks, which will be directed by Steven Atkinson.

Others announced yesterday included Downton Abbey stars Brendan Coyle and Lesley Nicol, Susan Brown, of Torchwood, Louise Brealey, from Sherlock, Steven Miller, from Casualty, Alison Newman, from Footballers' Wives, Russell Floyd, who was in Eastenders and The Bill, and Matilda Ziegler, from Lark Rise to Candleford.

Mr Atkinson said: 'The quality and range of this acting company is testament to the writing on offer at HighTide this year, and we are very fortunate that we're living in an epoch of great new playwrights and that they're choosing to write for us.'

HighTide Festival 2012 takes place at The Cut, The Rifle Hall and The Printworks from May 3-13.

For more details visit www.hightide.org.uk and call 020 7566 9767.