TOP historians, TV celebrities, leading and emerging scholars are heading to Bangor for the city’s first ever history festival this weekend.

David Starkey, Lucy Worsley and David Olusoga are key speakers at the Four Nations History Festival at Bangor University, on October 25 - 26.

Led by the university’s School of History, the festival explores the ‘shared yet distinct’ histories of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

A programme of talks is arranged at Pontio, but there are linked events at various venues including the Storiel Museum and Bangor Cathedral.

David Starkey CBE is a constitutional historian and author who has presented programmes on television and radio. His talk is Henry VIII: The First Brexiteer?

Lucy Worsley OBE is Joint Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces and a historical programme presenter, She is speaking on Queen Victoria – Daughter, Wife, Mother and Widow.

Her talk is complemented by an exhibition of Queen Victoria’s clothes, and other items and textiles from the Victorian period, at the Storiel Museum in Bangor.

David Olusoga OBE is an historian, broadcaster and film-maker, and Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester. His talk is on Slavery, Empire and Historical Amnesia.

Other notable speakers include distinguished author John Keay, speaking on Everest: The Welshman for Whom the Mountain was Named.

Author, reporter and broadcaster. Trevor Fishlock is speaking on the The Power of Duty: War and Peace and the Davies sisters of Wales.

The Marquess of Anglesey and Peter Crosby, aret talking about the The 1st Marquess of Anglesey at Waterloo and the Building of the Commemorative Column.

By Royal Appointment: The Jews of North Wales is a talk by Nathan Abrams.

The programme also has talks in Welsh and English. Prof. Jerry Hunter, Prof. Huw Pryce and Prof. Gruffydd Aled Williams, are speaking on Owain Glydwr, in Bangor Cathedral. The talk is in Welsh with translation.

Mrs Raj Jones, the driving force behind the Festival and its sponsor said: “The response to the History Festival has been heart warming and overwhelming.

“Messages of congratulations have come in from Mr Huw Edwards, who could not attend this year similarly Sir Simon Jenkins wishes to be considered next year.

“BBC History Magazine, experts at organising high profile history festivals, have also congratulated us on mounting a very good festival”.

“This certainly encourages us to make this an annual event. Bangor has it all - and we can start preparing for next year’s event. There is something for everyone, at the festival, secondary and primary schools too.”

For full programme and details see: http://fournations.bangor.ac.uk/