Kate Tempest announced as guest director of Brighton Festival 2017

It has been announced that Kate Tempest will be the guest director of next year's Brighton Festival.

Tempest is best known as a rapper, poet and novelist and her debut play Wasted (which WhatsOnStage gave four stars) premiered at the festival in 2012. Her debut solo album Everybody Down was released in 2014 and was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize.

Tempest said: "In these times, with the fear spreading everywhere and the divisions between us deepening daily, we desperately need to remember that we are all part of the same thing.

"Nothing does that for me more profoundly or joyously than standing in the crowd watching a gig, or a play, or a painting. It's like a little victory you get to keep forever. I want us to offer that experience to everyone."

Brighton Festival celebrated its 50th year in 2016 with artist and musician Laurie Anderson taking on the guest director role.

Brighton Festival runs form 6 to 28 May 2017.