First guests announced for this year's Borders Book Festival
Last updated 14th Mar 2023
The first names appearing at this year's Borders Book Festival have been announced.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown; Royal Lady in Waiting, Baroness Anne Glenconner; and former England rugby captain Will Carling will be among the guests at Harmony Garden in Melrose this summer.
The four-day feast of literature, entertainment, politics, sport, health and lifestyle boasts more than 100 events. Now in its 20th year, this year's programme gets underway on Thursday, June the 15th.
Festival Director Alistair Moffat said: “The festival is the biggest event in the Borders, not only in terms of the pleasure it brings, but also financially, bringing in £2.5m to the local economy in only four days.
"For those four days it is the centre of cultural life in Scotland - the only place to be."
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Booker Prize winner Douglas Stuart; actress, comedian and ventriloquist Nina Conti; and distinguished lawyer Baroness Helena Kennedy KC will also be making an appearance, with the full programme due to be announced when tickets go on sale on Tuesday, April 25th.
There will also be a Children’s Programme, sponsored by Baillie Gifford, on the Saturday and Sunday (June 17th & 18th) - packed with exciting author events, kids craft activities, storytelling and interactive creative workshops.
In addition, the winner of this year’s prestigious £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, last year won by Scotland’s own James Robertson for News of the Dead, will be announced at a special event at the book festival.
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Alistair added: “When I started the Borders Book Festival 20 years ago, it was a case of ‘why not!’ Why not bring some of the biggest names from across the UK – indeed, the world – to share, debate, argue and entertain.
"That is exactly what we did, and are still doing, 20 years on. I could not be more proud of what we have achieved over the last two decades and what we continue to pull off each year.”
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