Great British Bake Off presenter Mel Giedroyc is just one of a dazzling line-up of authors on display at Kew Gardens’ first literary festival, Write on Kew, this month.

Big names such as Bill Bryson, Margaret Atwood, Andrew Marr, Dan Cruickshank, Michael Morpurgo and David Nicholls are among more than 80 speakers across all genres who will appear at the festival from Thursday, September 24, to Monday, September 28.

Mel, who grew up around Epsom and Leatherhead, will be presenting A Novel Literary Lunch alongside UCL English professor John Mullan and journalist Rachel Johnson from 4.30pm on Saturday, September 26.

The comedian and presenter told us: “I’m counting the days! I love Kew, I love writers. So Saturday 26th September is going to be a quality day, I feel it in my bones.”

We asked Mel about the festival and her favourite places around south west London and Surrey.

What can people expect from your talk?

“Hopefully some lively chat and who knows - maybe the odd baked good!?”

Literary lunches looks like a rich vein for discussion - how are you preparing for it?

“I’m limbering up by trying to read a lot. And eat a lot of lunches.

I’ve got both bases covered but the lunch-eating is going particularly well, I have to say. By Saturday 26th I’ll be in peak reading/eating condition.”

Your Local Guardian:

Mel with her Great British Bake Off companions Paul Hollywood, Sue Perkins and Mary Berry. Picture: BBC/Love Productions.

How easily do literature and food go together?

I was reading the Shardlake series of books (have you read them? they’re awesome) - written by CJ Sansom, set in Tudor times and the main character, Matthew Shardlake, is a hunchback back lawyer slash detective ducking and weaving on the fringes of Henry VIII’s court. #

They are so gripping they’re the sort of books you have to keep reading on the loo, going up and down the tube escalator, and much to my family’s horror - at the dinner table.

For about a year my presence at the table was masked behind whatever Shardlake I was on at the time, so yes literature and food definitely go together as long as you don’t mind your books being slightly splattered with tomato sauce, mayonnaise, soup, Angel Delight, whatever.

Did I answer that question too literally? 

Have you been to Kew before? What makes it special to you?

I used to go often to Kew when my kids were small - it was the perfect place for them to gambol among the daffodils and pull their shoes off. Something about Kew makes us all want to throw our shoes off! 

I know you grew up locally so I was hoping to ask you some questions about your favourite places in South West London and Surrey. Where's your favourite place to eat out?

I like a picnic under the trees in Kew Gardens, actually. With scotch eggs, a tuna mayo sandwich, and don’t judge me, but some cold pizza or curry from the previous night’s takeaway. I’m a classy dame. Watch out Write on Kew!   

Your Local Guardian: Enjoy the tranquility at Kew Gardens

Where's great to go for drinks?

I left the South West area when I was eleven so my favourite place at the time was the Thorndyke Theatre bar/cafe because they had padded orange cuboid seats.

They were SO trendy. I felt like the King of the castle sitting atop those cuboid seats I’m telling you. 

Where's great to go out?

I love the Orange Tree theatre in Richmond - they always seem to have a really varied programme. It’s got a great buzz, that place. 

Is there somewhere where you have particularly fond memories?

I loved the bookshop in Leatherhead (I’m not sure it’s there any more) - it was run by Mrs Virgo who was the beadiest woman in 1970s Surrey.

She could out-bead my mum and that’s saying something.

Is there a place you would recommend everyone should go to?

The Leatherhead Leisure Centre. Seminal to the whole Leatherhead experience. 

Mel will be appearing with Rachel Johnson and Jon Mullan at Write on Kew from 4.30pm on Saturday, September 26. For tickets and to find out more about the festival, go to kew.org