Wigtown Book Festival Announces Star-Studded Lineup for 2023 Event

Strategic Insights -

Greg Hemphill and Julie Wilson Nimmo, best known for their roles in Still Game and Balamory, will headline this year's Wigtown Book Festival, set to take place from September 26th to October 5th. The couple will discuss their new guide to wild swimming in Scotland, Jules and Greg's Wild Swim, alongside other notable guests, including Nicola Sturgeon, Jeremy Hunt, and Justin Currie.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Wigtown Book Festival will feature over 200 events and activities along the Galloway coast, including author talks, wild-swimming, night walks, and garden saunas.
  • Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will appear at the festival, speaking about her memoir Frankly, which will debut at the Edinburgh International Book Festival this month.
  • The festival will also host notable guests such as BBC News presenter Reeta Chakrabarti, former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, Del Amitri frontman Justin Currie, and BBC Antiques Road Trip star James Braxton.
  • Jules and Greg's Wild Swim, co-authored by Greg Hemphill and Julie Wilson Nimmo, will be discussed at the festival.
  • Wigtown has been known as Scotland's National Book Town since 1998, despite a population of less than 1,000, boasting 15 bookshops and book-related businesses.
  • The festival emphasizes being friendly, laid-back, full of surprises, and intensely curious, according to outgoing Creative Director Adrian Turpin.

Statistics:

  • The Wigtown Book Festival will run from September 26th to October 5th.
  • Over 200 events and activities will be featured at the festival.
  • Wigtown has a population of less than 1,000.
  • The town hosts 15 bookshops and book-related businesses.
  • The festival has been running since at least 1998.

Sources:

  • The Herald
  • BBC News
  • Edinburgh International Book Festival