THE co-creator of the TV show Pointless, Richard Osman, is to be a guest at this year's Scottish crime writing festival.
Osman, who has recently signed a publishing deal to write his first crime novel, will appear at Bloody Scotland, which takes place every year in Stirling.
Writers appearing at the festival, which runs from 20-22 September, will include David Baldacci, Denise Mina, Ian Rankin, and Shari Lapena among others.
Last year saw the festival register record ticket sales, with nearly 10,000 sold.
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The opening night on 20 September will feature the announcement of the winner of the McIlvanney Prize for the Scottish Crime Novel of the Year, as well as the first winner of the new prize for a Scottish crime fiction debut.
Other events include Alex Gray and Lin Anderson, interviewed by the BBC’s Janice Forsyth, Icelandic writer Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Stuart MacBride and Mark Billingham.
The Canadian best-seller Shari Lapena will be appearing with Caroline Kepnes, author of the Netflix show You, Lisa Jewell, the journalist Jonathan Freedland, writing under the pseudonym of Sam Bourne, the Boston-based lawyer David Hosp, Charlotte Philby, the granddaughter of the infamous double-agent Kim Philby, and Lynne Truss.
Richard Osman signed a lucrative book deal for The Thursday Murder Club, which will be published in autumn 2020 by Viking.
The novel is set in a luxury retirement village in Kent where four residents meet up every week to tackle cold crime cases, and end up investigating a “live” murder mystery.
The leading crime writer Val McDermid said: "The secret of Bloody Scotland's success is that everyone's a winner.
"There are rewards for readers and writers alike.
"For the audience, there's everything from panel discussions to the most incoherent football match in the country, from the spectacle of a torchlit procession through the streets of Stirling to convivial conversations that go on long into the night. And for writers, there are showcases for emerging authors, opportunities to perform before a generous and well-informed audience, and the thrill of the McIlvanney Prize. It's a dizzying weekend of pleasure. Nobody leaves Bloody Scotland without their head birling like a peerie."
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Alan Bett, literature officer for Creative Scotland, said: "Scottish crime writing is one of our strongest literary exports, popular and respected across the globe.
"Bloody Scotland brings a broad range of its readers and writers from Scotland and beyond to Stirling each year, to celebrate the genre over a range of innovative events, including the announcement of the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year.
"Creative Scotland is delighted to support a festival programme that not only features the celebrated and established voices of crime writing, but balances them with the emerging talent who are soon to become recognised names on bookshop shelves."
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