Scots actor wows crowds at festival

David Tennant turns up for first public screening of his new film and delights fans with autographs and selfie opportunities

Actor David Tennant delighted fans when he arrived in Kirkcaldy for the Adam Smith Festival of Ideas.

The Doctor Who and Broadchurch star turned up for the first public screening of his new film You, Me and Him at the Adam Smith Theatre.

Having arrived with the film’s producer, his actress wife Georgia Tennant, and director Daisy Aitkens, he was happy to sign autographs and pose for selfies.

Later on Saturday, Tennant took to the stage with comedian Arabella Weir as the event drew to a close.

This year’s festival attracted sell-out crowds, with television presenter Sandi Toksvig delivering the Adam Smith Lecture on Friday.

Marilyn Livingstone, chief executive officer of the Adam Smith Global Foundation, said: “I’ve been asked ‘how do you beat that?’

“Everybody is saying it was the most amazing weekend for Kirkcaldy.”

Mrs Livingstone said Weir, whose father was from Fife, had agreed to stay on as the festival’s artistic director next year.

“She’s done it all in her free time,” she said.

“There are no words to thank her.” And she said Toksvig had also pledged her continuing support by planning another show in the town this autumn, with proceeds donated to the Cottage Family Centre in Templehall, which she visited on Friday.

Mrs Livingstone added that the event would not have been possible without the support of partnership organisations including Fife Cultural Trust, Kirkcaldy 4 All and Fife College, which hosted the food festival.

She said organisers would have the weekend off before starting planning for next year’s festival, which could see events take place over the course of a week.

“That would make people stay in our town and help our hotels and shops.

“It would be fantastic for the town if we could develop this into a week-long festival.”

The Adam Smith Global Foundation aims to continue the legacy of Kirkcaldy’s famous son and in doing so promote economic and social regeneration.

“I think this year’s festival has achieved that aim,” she said.

“Organisations like Kirkcaldy’s Ambitions are about trying to get to the root of issues such as poverty.

“There are organisations dealing with the symptoms, but for social regeneration you need economic regeneration and that’s what we are trying to do.”

The food festival attracted around 3,000 visitors to Fife College’s town centre campus and the theatre hosted a free day of activities for families on Saturday.

It would be fantastic for the town if we could develop this into a week-long festival. MARILYN LIVINGSTONE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE ADAM SMITH GLOBAL FOUNDATION