The Borders Book Festival programme has been announced and tickets are on sale, as the annual extravaganza gets ready to celebrate its 20th edition this year, with well-known faces (and voices) from the worlds of television, current affairs, politics, literature sport, history and children’s writing – and many more besides -- all set to join the party.
The book festival runs from Thursday 15to Sunday 18 June, against the stunning backdrop of Melrose’s Harmony Garden, in the Scottish Borders.
Highlights of the packed four days of events include: from politics, Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham, ex Labour Leader and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and leading political analyst Prof. John Curtice; actor and impressionist Jon Culshaw; comedian and ventriloquist Nina Conti (and Monkey); prize-winning novelists Douglas Stuart, Robert Harris and Sebastian Barry; beloved sports commentators Archie Macpherson and Andrew Cotter; Scottish football legend, now pundit, Pat Nevin; tennis champion and coach turned novelist Judy Murray; civil rights campaigner and distinguished lawyer Baroness Helena Kennedy KC; peeress and socialite Lady Anne Glenconner; Britain’s greatest archaeologist Sir Barry Cunliffe; and dance sensation Dame Arlene Phillips.
Joining the line-up, too, will be stars of the TV hit show The Great British Bake Off Peter Sawkins,Giuseppe Dell’Anno and Rahul Mandal; long-time festival favourites Sally Magnusson and Jim Naughtie; award-winning Kenyan-Scottish storyteller Mara Menzies; multi-million-selling novelist Jenny Colgan; and crime-writing royalty Val McDermid,Christopher Brookmyre, Mark Billingham and Doug Johnstone. Veteran Borders Book Festival guest Rory Bremner will do a very special event with fellow comedian Shaparak Khorsandi about their shared diagnosis of ADHD.
Principal sponsor, Baillie Gifford, will be sponsoring a number of events, including with maritime archaeologist Mensun Bound about the discovery of Shackleton’s ship Endurance. And as national media partner, The Financial Times will host events, including: former Celtic and Ireland manager Martin O’Neill on his football career spanning five decades; The FT’s chief economics commentator Martin Wolf explaining the crisis of democratic capitalism and how to fix it; navigating the cost of living crisis with practical money saving advice and habit changing tips from The FT’s consumer editor Claer Barrett; and The Batch Lady Suzanne Mulholland.
The McInroy & Wood Lecture is this year with Kate Bingham, who has written a compelling account of her role as Chair of the UK’s Covid-19 vaccine taskforce and the race to get Britain vaccinated and out of lockdown. She’ll be in conversation with journalist Tim Hames and book festival chairman Michael Moore.
The book festival will mark the Tercentenary of the birth of Scottish philosopher and economist Adam Smith, with events sponsored by the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, including prominent French-British writer Philippe Sands KC and ex Bishop of Edinburgh and broadcaster Richard Holloway paying tribute to the pioneering political thinker.
Festival Director, Alistair Moffat, said:“We could not be more excited about our programme this year, which brings some of the best-known and most respected thinkers, writers, leaders, commentators and personalities from around the UK – and beyond – to our beautiful Harmony Garden at the height of the Scottish summer.
“This year’s book festival feels even more special because we have the absolute pleasure of celebrating our 20th edition, a milestone that I could not, in my wildest dreams, have imagined reaching when I started the festival back in 2004.
“The endurance of the Borders Book Festival is testament to the phenomenal array of devoted writing talent on offer in Scotland and beyond; to the dedicated book festival team who work tirelessly year-round to ensure the festival’s success; to the many sponsors and funders who make the festival possible; and, not least, to the hordes of loyal, audiences who continue to push us to bring even bigger and better events to them every year. Thank you to you all, from the bottom of my heart.
“Now, make sure you come and join the party in June!”
The Children’s Programme, sponsored by Baillie Gifford, takes place throughout the day on the Saturday and Sunday (17th & 18th June), packed with exciting author events, including: award-winning author and illustrator Lauren Child; firm-favourite Vivian French; Martin Browncelebrating 30th years of Horrible Histories; and the wildly entertaining Kjartan Poskitt. In addition, there will be free kids’ craft activities, storytelling and interactive creative workshops – everything that curious young minds could wish for to get those imaginations buzzing.
The winner of this year’s prestigious £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction is to be announced at a special event at the book festival, chosen from a shortlist of seven books: These Days by Lucy Caldwell; The Geometer Lobachevsky by Adrian Duncan; Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris; The Chosen by Elizabeth Lowry; The Sun Walks Down by Fiona McFarlane; Ancestry by Simon Mawer; I Am Not Your Eve by Devika Ponnambalam.
Throughout the four days, there will also be live music, the Orchard tented food village, and a plethora of free, fun activities, making the Borders Book Festival a great day out for all the family to enjoy.
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the 20th edition of Borders Book Festival, as part of EventScotland’s National Events Programme. To celebrate this landmark anniversary, the festival brings together an exceptional line-up of renowned writers and thinkers to share their stories with locals and visitors alike, all against the picture-perfect backdrop of Melrose’s Harmony Gardens. Scotland is the perfect stage for events and cultural gems like the Borders Book Festival showcase the vibrancy and quality of our country’s enviable events portfolio.”
Creative Scotland’s Literature Officer Viccy Adams said: “Two decades of celebrating Scottish writers and bringing literary delights to Scottish readers in the Borders is a wonderful achievement. This year’s programme is another classic, set to bring together audiences, entertain the whole family, encourage conversation, and do what the Borders Book Festival does so well – a fantastic, fun-packed day out in beautiful surroundings, with brilliant writers.”
Tickets now available at www.bordersbookfestival.org or by calling 0131 290 2112.
Background
The Borders Book Festival takes place in Harmony Garden, Melrose, from Thursday 15th to Sunday 18th June 2023. The full programme is available at www.bordersbookfestival.org. Tickets can be purchased from Citizen Ticket, at www.bordersbookfestival.org or by calling 0131 290 2112.
Baillie Gifford is an independent investment partnership and the UK’s leading investment trust manager, managing 12 trusts including Scottish Mortgage. Founded in 1908, the firm employs over 1,800 people and is headquartered in Edinburgh, where most of its employees live and work. As part of the firm’s sponsorship programme it supports a number of initiatives in the arts, academia and local good citizenship. In the literary world, Baillie Gifford sponsors a number of literary festivals, including being Principal sponsor of the Borders Book Festival. It is also the sponsor to the UK’s leading non-fiction prize, The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction.
McInroy & Wood provides a discretionary investment management service to individuals, families, trusts and charities. Family control and employee ownership have preserved a consistency of approach, culture and quality, which are all crucial to the lasting relationships we seek to build with clients. Direct investment in global securities markets ensures a competitive service and complete control over investments. Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Haddington, East Lothian, the firm also has offices in London and Harrogate.
The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading business news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity, and accuracy. The FT has a record paying readership of more than one million, three-quarters of which are digital subscriptions. It is part of Nikkei Inc., which provides a broad range of information, news and services for the global business community.
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at www.ourcreativevoice.scot.
EventScotland is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events by securing and supporting an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events. It provides funding opportunities and access to resources and information to develop the industry.
EventScotland is a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, the national tourism organisation, alongside Business Events and Development teams. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news: visit eventscotland.org or follow Twitter @EventScotNews and follow us on LinkedIn.
Media contacts
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M: 07740 681560
Fiona Atherton
M: 07973 91844