NEXT Tuesday Frank Cottrell Boyce takes to the Thistle Hotel stage at Grasmere as part of the weekly Wordsworth Trust summer readings season.

Anyone remotely interested in the big screen should drop in to listen to the amiable Mr Cottrell Boyce as he delivers plenty of anecdotes and funny stories from his years as a scriptwriter.

The Liverpool-born scribe's first break came on television's Brookside during its formative years in the 1980s.

He was responsible for acclaimed biopic and Oscar-nominated Hilary and Jackie (he earned a BAFTA nomination for the screenplay) as well as Michael Winterbottom-directed dramas Welcome to Sarajevo and The Claim.

Lately though Frank has impressed for writing another Winterbottom flick - 24-Hour Party People, the music-filled tale of Factory Records owner and TV presenter Anthony Wilson and his legendary Manchester club the Hacienda.

To tie in with Frank's visit Derek Hook's Zeffirellis cinema at Ambleside is on Sunday showing Pandaemonium, a period drama directed by Julian Temple about Wordsworth and Coleridge, starring Emily Woof and penned by Frank, 5.30pm, plus 24-Hour Party People at 3pm.

The trust's Tuesday night reading session continue with eminent poet Fleur Adcock on October 1; W.

N.

Herbert, October 8; Desmond Graham, October 15; Edward Barker, October 22; Anne Carson, October 29; concluding the popular season on November 5 with a rare opportunity to hear Anthony Hecht, regarded as one of America's distinguished poets and critics.

Tickets are £4 (pre-booked) £5 at the door.

Contact 015394-35544.

For cinema details contact Zeff's on 015394-33845.