Top Scots actor set for crime-writing festival
Well-known Scottish actress Ashley Jensen will be appearing at this year’s Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival.
It has been revealed that Ms Jensen, star of TV series Agatha Raisin and well known for roles in Ugly Betty and Extras, will appear on stage with MC Beaton – who writes the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth novels.
The Stirling show – a TV and book pairing – follows on from the success of a similar event at last year’s festival where Douglas Henshall, star of Shetland, appeared with Ann Cleeves who authored the books which inspired the series.
It will take place in the Albert Halls on Saturday, September 22 from 7pm to 8pm.
Agatha Raisin is a British comedy drama which first aired in 2016. In the books the central character, Raisin, is a frustrated, middle-aged public relations agent who, after taking early retirement, decides to start solving murders.
Many characters within the stories humorously suggest that she solves the mysteries through accident and by luck – rather than skill and good detective work.
It was revealed earlier this year that Ms Jensen would be returning to the screen to star in the second series of the programme coming later this year.
And MC Beaton admitted she was pleased to have the actress on board, while also looking ahead to an entertaining evening at Stirling’s Albert Halls.
She said: “I am delighted that the brilliant Ashley Jensen will still be playing Agatha Raisin in the second series to appear on Sky television in the autumn – three episodes of 90 minutes.
“I enjoy Bloody Scotland because the organisers are efficient while managing to make it a friendly, almost family occasion.”
The Bloody Scotland festival will take place from Friday, September 21 to Sunday, September 23.
The event, which was set up by a group of Scottish crime writers in 2012, is geared towards providing a platform for the best writing around just now.
Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh will close the event on the Sunday evening while leading writers including Louise Penny, Ann Cleeves, Chris Brookmyre, Mark Billingham, Denzil Meyrick and Martyn Walters will also take part across the weekend.
BBC correspondent Frank Gardner and forensic scientists Dr Richard Shepherd and Professor Sue Black are among the experts who will talk to fans of crime fiction.
And long-time favourites such as a quiz, a play and the Scotland v England crime writers’ football match will also return in addition to a live podcast hosted by Steve Cavanagh and Luca Veste.
The Observer reported in June that the McIlvanney Prize longlist for Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2018 had been announced – with the winner revealed at the Church of the Holy Rude as the festival gets underway.
The list features a mix of previous winners, established crime writers, some up and coming talent and even a debut.
The winning author will lead a torchlight procession to the Albert Halls for the first event of the weekend.