Famous faces from the world of sport, politics and comedy set to converge on Melrose

Famous faces from the world of sport, politics and comedy are set to converge on Melrose this summer, for the return of the Borders Book Festival.

Comedians Janey Godley and Jo Caulfield, Booker Prize winner Howard Jacobson and Greatest Hits Radio presenter Fred MacAulay will join the likes of impressionist Rory Bremner, crime writer Val McDermid and former Labour MP Alan Johnson in the lush surroundings of the National Trust's Harmony Garden.

This year's event - which runs from June 13th to 16th - will also pay tribute to Olympic champion Eric Liddell, to mark the centenary of his 400 metres win in Paris.

Fellow athletes Allan Wells and Eilidh Doyle will be among the guests, along with Liddell’s niece Sue Caton and the runner's biographer, Sally Magnusson.

Describing it as the "biggest party in the Borders", Festival director Alistair Moffat said: "This year sees our programme again offer something for every taste: whether that’s literary fiction, comedy, sport, politics, health, current affairs, history or travel – all of life is here. 

"This is the biggest event between Newcastle and Edinburgh; we had 40,000 of a footfall last year; and its economic impact in only four days is £3.5 million; so that's all great, but that's not why we do it.

"We do it because we want everybody in the Borders to feel like we're not on the border of anything, that we're central. This is a national event, so the focus of cultural life in Britain will be here for four days because of the quality of the programme we've got."

Other highlights include appearances from broadcaster Robert Peston, BBC stalwart Clive Myrie, breakfast presenter Louise Minchin and nature-lover Kate Humble. Filmmaker Benedict Allen; fashion designer, and star of The Great British Sewing Bee, Patrick Grant; and royal biographer Robert Hardman will also guest.

And 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 Baillie Gifford Children’s Programme takes place throughout the day on the Saturday and Sunday (June 15th & 16th), and includes former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo OBE, now celebrating 50 years in print; Abi Elphinstone with Ember Spark and the Thunder of Dragons; and former Beano editors Craig Graham and Mike Stirling.

Borders councillor Scott Hamilton added: “The Scottish Borders has a great portfolio of successful home-grown strategic events, with the Borders Book Festival being one of the biggest. Its continued success has a positive economic impact in our region, as well as bringing people to the Borders helping to showcase what this area has to offer."

For more details, and to book tickets, log on to the official website: www.bordersbookfestival.org

For more stories from the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland, bookmark our new home page - https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/borders/news/

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