Borders Book Festival

This four-day extravaganza welcomes to the Scottish Borders some of the biggest names from the world of literature, entertainment, and politics.

Highlights of the packed four days of events include: two legendary female comedians – Scotland’s own Janey Godley and, from south of the border, the fantastically funny Jo Caulfield -- discussing with typical humour, candour and warmth their acclaimed memoirs; from the world of politics, Labour Shadow Cabinet MP Wes Streeting with his autobiography, recounting his rise from a life of poverty in London’s East End to the Palace of Westminster; also well-informed Westminster insider, broadcaster Robert Peston and former MP Alan Johnson with their new novels; memoirs, too, from BBC stalwarts Clive Myrie and recently retired Rory Cellan-Jones; publishing sensation David Nicholls, of One Day fame, celebrating his latest sure-to-be-a-hit novel, You Are Here; former BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin with astonishing female stories of courage and adventure; nature-lover and queen of cosy Kate Humble with her refreshingly pared-back approach to the good life; explorer, writer and filmmaker extraordinaire Benedict Allen; fashion designer, businessman and star of The Great British Sewing Bee, Patrick Grant; and the ever-fabulous Rory Bremner on stage with fellow legendary comedian Fred MacAulay.

Also joining the line-up: crime-writing royalty Val McDermid, Chris Brookmyre and Mark Billingham, both for bookish chat and a performance from their band The Fun Lovin Crime Writers; for history fans, Philippa Langley giving a glimpse into solving the cold case of the Princes in the Tower, royal biographer Robert Hardman on King Charles III, WW2 historian James Holland and Scottish historian Steven Veerapen examining the life and reign of James IV (James I of Scotland); Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson with his new novel What Will Survive of Us, and Charlie Higson with his latest James Bond novel; festival favourite James Naughtie returns with his personal take on the state of the nation in an election year; plus the announcement of the prestigious Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, with six shortlisted international literary talents in contention for the £25,000 prize.

The book festival is also honoured to host, in this Paris Olympic year, a very special event on the centenary of Scotsman Eric Liddell’s historic 400m win at the 1924 Olympics -- also in Paris -- which was immortalised in the 1981 blockbuster film Chariots of Fire in which he is portrayed by fellow Scot Ian Charleson (and later, in 2012, by local Borders actor Jack Lowden in the West End stage play). In an Adam & Company Event, unique to the book festival, Sally Magnusson, Liddell’s biographer, will be joined on stage by: Allan Wells, the Scottish athlete who dedicated his 1980 100m sprint win at the Moscow Olympics to Liddell, even before Chariots of Fire had been released and Liddell’s popular legacy secured; Eilidh Doyle, Olympic and Commonwealth medallist and an ambassador for the Eric Liddell 100 Programme; and Liddell’s niece Sue Caton.