The bookshelf is stacked with stars from the literary and entertainment worlds as the UK’s longest running book show returns to screens, hosted once again by writer Damian Barr.
Now in its seventh series, the BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer hit The Big Scottish Book Club is back at the iconic Leith Theatre in Edinburgh, welcoming another stellar lineup of writers and book-loving celebrity guests from across the Edinburgh Festivals.
From the world of entertainment, familiar faces include Scottish acting legend Brian Cox, Fringe-favourite and US comedian Desiree Burch, and actor and comedian Rachel Parris, who shares how a lifelong love of Jane Austen shaped her own new book.
A range of leading literary voices from Scotland and beyond will join Damian on the sofa to talk about their latest works, ranging from gripping thrillers to historical fiction and internationally acclaimed novels. Guests this year include Rachel Kushner, Tash Aw, Paula Hawkins, Hallie Rubenhold, Chris McQueer, and John Niven.
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The new three-part series, airing weekly from Thursday 28 August, will also bring viewers’ top book picks from a variety of performers, workers and festival goers. Plus, there’ll be specially filmed reports with some well-known Scottish faces including Nicola Sturgeon on her much-anticipated memoir, Hamish Hawk on his love of Ivor Cutler and Irvine Welsh on his follow up to Trainspotting, complete with its own musical soundtrack.
Host Barr said: “Big Scottish Book Club is the longest-running books show on TV. I’m so grateful to our audiences for joining our bookish conversation and to all the libraries and bookshops that celebrate our writers and picks. Stories are the building blocks of empathy and the world has never needed that more. They also give us vital time away from our own lives and worries. So join us for an escape into a fresh world of new stories.”
Produced by Glasgow’s IWC Media (a Banijay UK company), The Big Scottish Book Club returns to BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer on Thursday 28 August.
