National Treasures will make their way to Harmony Garden in the Scottish Borders in June for one of the best parties in Britain.
For four glorious days (12 to 15 June), all roads will lead to Melrose, where the Borders Book Festival will celebrate books and writers, interrogate politics and current affairs, and where festival-goers will have fun and be amazed. The Book Festival’s sparkling programme is announced today (Wednesday 23 April) ahead of tickets going on sale.
The diamonds and rubies in the Book Festival’s National Treasure chest will include Gavin and Stacey stars Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb who both have new books. Michael Palin will cast his glow, talking about his latest volume of diaries. Stacey Dooley won Strictly! and has also written a superb, moving book on motherhood. Hairy Biker, Si King, needed no second invitation to put on his helmet and roar up the A68 to Melrose. Gifted natural history cameraman, Gordon Buchanan, has written a memoir. Scottish National Treasures Kirsty Wark and Sally Magnusson will recall the good – and bad – bits of 20 years on Newsnight and 27 years on Reporting Scotland. Tanni (Grey Thomson) will meet Sammi (Kinghorn) and talk about gold (medals) and much else with Louise Minchin. And the doyen of crime fiction, Ian Rankin, returns in triumph to Melrose after another number one bestseller.
The world is changing at breakneck speed – every day it seems – and this summer, politics and political discourse will be major themes. Now freed from the constraints of government, former cabinet ministers Jeremy Hunt and Michael Gove will tell us what they really think. Journalist, television presenter and author Gavin Esler will talk about how Britain can be better. First Minister, John Swinney, will talk to another former cabinet minister, festival chairman Michael Moore, not about politics but about the books that shaped his thinking. Andrew Marr, Sally Magnusson and Alistair Moffat will discuss the seismic changes in journalism and why they matter. And unique to the festival, available on no other format, Jim Naughtie will unravel what is truly happening in Washington – that day.
To mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War: Andrew Marr and James Holland will celebrate the Great Generation who sacrificed so much for victory; Tim Bouverie will discuss his superb book on the politics of the allies who defeated Hitler; and, in To See Ourselves, Alistair Moffat charts how the boomer generation radically changed post-war Britain.
Inspiring stories from more recent years come from champion British-Kenyan swimmer Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell, who will share her memoir, These Heavy Black Bones; and unlikely athlete-turned-record-breaker Jessica Hepburn, who describes how she exercised her way out of the heartbreak of eleven failed rounds of IVF and the realisation that she would not be a mother.
Also joining the line-up: husband-and-wife duo Chris Brookmyre and Marisa Haetzman as crime sensation Ambrose Parry; and for fans of literary fiction, celebrated novelist Andrew O’Hagan, plus Dacre Stoker and Ellie Zeegen on the legacy of Bram Stoker’s 1897 gothic horror novel Dracula; Mairi Kidd joins us with her acclaimed historical novel The Specimens; and Scottish poet, writer and musician Don Paterson and young rising Scottish music star archie add to the eclectic arts line-up.
The announcement of the prestigious Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction will also be made on the opening evening of the Festival, with six shortlisted international literary talents in contention for the £25,000 prize, previously won by the likes of Dame Hilary Mantel, Sebastian Barry and Robert Harris.
Festival Director, Alistair Moffat, said: “As spring finally wakes us all from the long, dark winter, it gives us such joy to be able to bring to Melrose’s idyllic Harmony Garden such a treat for the June diaries.
“This year we will look back at world events eighty years ago, with the end of World War Two, and will also hear direct from some of Britain’s brightest minds their reflections on our current world: how it’s changed; where it’s headed; and what we can do about it.
“But it’s not all heavy politics. As ever, our programme is as varied as it is packed, with top-notch storytelling, inspiring sport, well-known faces from the screen, and tales of travel and adventure to suit all tastes.
“This sparkling programme would not have been possible without the generosity of those who helped fund the Book Festival – both public and private – and we are beyond grateful for their support and enthusiasm, this year more than ever.”
The Family Book Festival, sponsored by Blackport Investments, takes place throughout the day on the Saturday and Sunday (14 and 15 June), teeming with fantastic author events for young book festival-goers, including: for teenagers, the inimitable Elle McNicoll, and former Waterstones Children’s Laureate and Carnegie Medal winner Joseph Coelho; and for younger audiences, the wonderful Vivian French and Alan Windram returning to Harmony Garden, with Jill Calder, Mike Nicholson and My Kind of Book founder and sensory storyteller Ailie Finlay this year set to join the fun in sparking young imaginations; plus award-winning author-illustrator Catherine Rayner with a special event celebrating 20 years of her beloved picture book, Augustus and His Smile.
In addition, the four-day festivities will also play host to live music, the Orchard Food Village, a bookshop to browse thanks to new sponsor David Young, as well as free, fun activities for all the family throughout the weekend.
Naturally, the biggest party in the Borders will be blessed with glorious sunshine throughout! But if there are occasional episodes of ‘refreshing’ weather, those in the Orchard Food Village will be spared, for it will be covered by a vast transparent canopy, new to the Book Festival this year.
The Borders Book Festival is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and environmental impact by implementing a number of net zero goals including: zero waste to landfill; e-ticketing and a donation to planting trees for every ticket purchased.
Tickets now available at www.bordersbookfestival.org or by calling 0131 290 2112.
For information and to keep in touch visit www.bordersbookfestival.org
Background
Header image by Lloyd Smith.
The Borders Book Festival takes place in Harmony Garden, Melrose in the Scottish Borders, from Thursday 12 June to Sunday 15 June 2025. 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.
The book festival is delighted to welcome new sponsors, David Young, Blackport Investments and Graham & Sibbald, as well as the continued support of Adam & Company, Cullen Kilshaw, The Borders Distillery, Davidson Chalmers Stewart, Corney & Barrow, Borders Forest Trust, Clelands Volvo, JRW Hogg & Thorburn, Knight Frank, Thomson Roddick Auctioneers and Lochcarron of Scotland. The book festival is grateful too for the on-going funding of Scottish Borders Council, and The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, in addition to other loyal supporters including The Hugh Fraser Foundation, the Doctor David Summers Charitable Trust and The Turtleton Charitable Trust.
Adam & Company, the specialist Scottish wealth manager offers clients bespoke, long-term wealth management solutions, building trusted relationships that deliver results over generations. The firm combines a global investment outlook with independent financial planning advice, all accessible face-to-face through Scottish-based wealth managers. Since joining Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management UK (CGWM UK) in 2021, Adam & Company has established itself as a dedicated wealth manager. With CGWM’s recently announced acquisition of Intelligent Capital, Adam & Company will have a Glasgow based office in addition to its Edinburgh HQ. The rich heritage of Adam & Company, founded in 1983, is rooted in the firm's connection to famous Scottish enlightenment scholar Adam Smith. Adam & Company no longer offers banking services.
David Young Leadership and Executive Development
As a leadership and executive development coach, David Young provides one to one and team coaching at senior levels within a wide variety of industries. David supports organisations to grow mature leaders, driving ever higher levels of performance. Creating better leaders and better workplaces.
Blackport Investments is a Melrose-based property investment company founded in April 2023 by local entrepreneurs Jamie and Karen Blackport. BI provides local accommodation solutions for Borders based families and seeks to support local community initiatives.
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports culture and creativity across all parts of Scotland, distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery, which, now in its 30th year, has supported over 14,600 projects with more than £501.9 million in funding through Creative Scotland and its predecessor, the Scottish Arts Council. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at www.ourcreativevoice.scot.
Net Zero Goals: The Borders Book Festival is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and environmental impact by implementing a number of net zero goals including: zero waste to landfill; e-ticketing and a donation to planting trees for every ticket purchased; no single use plastics on site; availability of water refill stations; sustainable travel initiatives including electric vehicles for author transport and festival goers actively encouraged to use public transport or cycle, with bike racks available on site; mains power used where possible, and biodiesel generators or lithium batteries utilised if not; as well as priority given to local contractors and suppliers to help minimise emissions.
Media contact
For media enquiries about the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, contact Fiona Atherton on [email protected] or Rebecca Salt on [email protected]
For further information, contact:
Nicky Stonehill or Fiona Atherton at StonehillSalt PR
[email protected] mobile 07740 681560
or [email protected] mobile 07973 918443