CHEPSTOW welcomed David Suchet at the weekend with another author visiting next month who is out of this world.

Mr Suchet discussed his new book, Poirot and Me, and was in conversation with writer Geoffrey Wansell, before taking questions from the 205 strong, sell-out audience at the town's Drill Hall.

The much-loved adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novels featuring a Belgian detective played by Mr Suchet will come to an end on November 13 after 25 years.

When asked about the show coming to an end, he said: “I’m going to miss him, he's been good to me and over 25 years I have got to know him so well that he has become my best friend.

“He has opened doors for films and theatre plays as he has given me a profile. Most of all, I’m going to miss his company.”

On December 17, Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian to walk in space, will visit Chepstow Bookshop to promote his new book.

Mr Hadfield has flown two shuttle missions and served as commander of the International Space Station.

Owner Matt Taylor said: "I might be wrong but I don't think Chepstow has seen an astronaut before. It's out of this world."

The spaceman's credits include Director of NASA Operations in Star City, Russia from 2001–2003, Chief of Robotics at the Johnson Space Center in Houston from 2003–2006 and Chief of International Space Station Operations from 2006–2008.

He was selected to be an astronaut in 1992.

Sixty tickets have already been sold for Mr Hadfield's talk and Mr Taylor believes all 250 will be gone in a month: "We are all very excited here at Chepstow Bookshop. We have people coming in saying they can't believe a little town like this has an astronaut on the way."

The trip was arranged thanks to the business' burgeoning relationship with the book's publisher.