BROADCASTER, comedian and author Sandi Toksvig is flying solo embarking on her first major UK tour in years to celebrate publication of her new novel Valentine Grey.

Ms Toksvig is well known to British audiences for her varied roles in television and radio and arrives at the Lighthouse Poole on October 5.

She is the author of 22 books for children and adults and she is chair of the BBC’s The News Quiz and writes regular columns for the Sunday Telegraph and Good Housekeeping.

Her career began with a series of Footlights shows and she directed, wrote and starred in the first all-woman Cambridge Revue. She went on to present numerous radio and television programmes, including Antiques Master, Excess Baggage and the children’s series No 73.

She has presented factual programmes such as the archaeological Channel 4 series Time Team and Island Race, which she co-presented with John McCarthy, as well as Radio 3’s programme on Mary Wollstonecraft, an 18th century philosopher and women's rights advocate.

Ms Toksvig has appeared as a regular panellist on shows such as Mock the Week, I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue and Whose Line is it Anyway?

For the last two years she has been executive producer of Playhouse Live for Sky Arts, producing specially commissioned live drama for television.

She is currently producing six new dramas for the channel, two of which she has authored.