The leading Scottish actor Brian Cox will play a leading role in a day of commemorative programming on BBC Radio Scotland to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.

The Dundee-born actor, who have recently finished shooting a movie in Scotland, will present a series of features throughout 1 July on BBC Radio Scotland tracking the fortunes of Scottish troops on one of the most disastrous days in British military history.

The nine features are based on memoirs, regimental history, diaries and recollections from relatives.

The actor has just finished filming Churchill, a new film which takes place in the hours leading up to D Day.

The five week shoot took place across locations in Scotland, including Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Churchill also stars Miranda Richardson as his wife Clemmie and John Slattery as General Eisenhower.

It was directed by Jonathan Teplitzky, and written by British historian and author Alex von Tunzelmann in her feature debut.

Producers Paul Van Carter, Nick Taussig and Piers Tempest said in a statement: "With an exceptional script, a powerhouse performance by Brian Cox, and Jonathan’s crafting of a beautiful piece of cinema, we think this is the definitive portrayal of Churchill.

"Taking the less predictable path with such a wonderful cast will bring this story home to a global audience."

The commemorative programming on BBC Radio Scotland begins at 6.28 am on Good Morning Scotland with Dawn, 1st July 1916, The Somme, the first of two specially commissioned poems, written and read by poet Angus Peter Campbell.

He reads his concluding poem, The Western Front, 2016 at 6.28 pm.

On 30 June, BBC Radio Nan Gaidheal, will air Blar a’ Somme, a 30 minute feature on the battle, and throughout 1 July, archive from veterans and a selection of Somme poetry and song will feature in both speech and music programming.

Jeff Zycinski, the head of radio at BBC Scotland, said: "The impact of the battle on the participants and on the communities affected has resonated down the decades.

"Our commemorative programming will recognise the huge cost of life in this part of the conflict and will also shed new light on the events of the momentous first day of the battle."