Borders Book Festival line-up offers 'space to escape'

Organisers have announced the line-up for this year's Borders Book Festival in Melrose in June with a wide range of broadcasters, politicians and authors taking part.

The four-day festival, now in its 24th year, will once again be based at Harmony Garden and will feature more than 100 events from 11 to 14 June.

Among the headliners are philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter, broadcasters Lorraine Kelly and Sophie Raworth, author and gardener Alan Titchmarsh, poet Pam Ayres and curling gold medalist Eve Muirhead.

It also promises an array of figures from right across the political spectrum as part of proceedings.

Live music and a food village also form part of the programme, which will see the return of the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction.

One of five shortlisted international literary talents will secure £25,000 when the winner is announced during the opening night.

Festival directors Alistair Moffat and Paula Ogilvie said the event would offer something for everyone, from comedians and poets to storytellers and illustrators.

"Never more than now have we needed a reason to gather, to celebrate our shared friendships, to debate, to ponder, and to try to see a way through the chaos of our world," they said.

"The Borders Book Festival will this year offer, as it always does, a space to escape our daily lives - and rolling news - for a short time and to reconnect with all those things that bring joy and humour, a sense of calm, fun and joie de vivre."