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Bill Paterson brings memoir back to festival after nearly 20 years

News imageLucy Young Actor Bill Paterson with grey hair and glasses in a blue shirt and light trousers reads a copy of Tales from the Back Green while sitting in a large, comfortable brown chair. There are books on the shelves behind him and a mug and books on a table beside him.Lucy Young
Tales from the Back Green is being reissued and "slightly updated"

Actor Bill Paterson is returning to the Wigtown Book Festival this year - with the same book he brought to the event nearly 20 years ago.

His memoir Tales from the Back Green was originally published in 2008 when he first attended the literary gathering in Scotland's national book town and became a patron.

Now he is back with a "slightly updated" reissue of the book of tales from his childhood upbringing in 1950s Glasgow.

His talk is just one of hundreds of events taking place at the festival between 25 September and 4 October.

News imageComedian Lucy Porter with long brown hair and glasses in a light blue cardigan sitting on an orange sofa with lace curtains behind her
Lucy Porter is appearing at this year's Wigtown Book Festival

"I'm really looking forward to returning to Wigtown after nearly 20 years," said Paterson.

"The festival has grown so much in that time and this year's programme looks dazzlingly varied."

Others taking part this year include comedian Lucy Porter, actor Sam Heughan and broadcaster Sophie Raworth.

Isla Rosser-Owen, chief executive of the Wigtown Festival Company, said: "There's so much in this year's programme - life stories, family tales, Scottish fiction, witchcraft, crime, poetry, film, theatre, young adult and children's literature."

She said the line-up included household names alongside up-and-coming debut novelists.

News imageGetty Images Sophie Raworth with long blonde hair and an orange coat with orange jumper underneath stands in front of a garden sceneGetty Images
Another person appearing this year is broadcaster Sophie Raworth

"As ever we will be showcasing some of the best in international and national writing while championing the creative talent of Dumfries and Galloway," she added.

"We hope people will seize the opportunity to come to the festival, explore Scotland's national book town and discover more about what our beautiful rural region has to offer."

Lee Randall, who curated this year's main programme, said her goal had been to "create a richly-varied menu" as well as doing justice to "much-missed Wigtownshire writer Alastair Reid".

There will also be the Wigtown Poetry Prize awards plus the unveiling of the winner of this year's Anne Brown Essay Prize.

Cathy Agnew, who chairs Wigtown Festival Company, said: "Yet again we are extremely proud to present a truly diverse 10-day programme of stimulating and challenging experiences of literary related talks, panels, walks and films.

"It's a terrific opportunity to share our literary offer with those who live locally and with those whom we welcome from far and wide each year."