Festival to go ahead …virtually

Borders Book Festival stalwart Rory Bremner will be back at this year’s event – but in a pre-recorded online session.

The festival, which features a series of talks, kicks off next Sunday with Rory, and then runs every Sunday for 12 weeks. He will be joined by new names including Youtube chef Suzanne Mulholland – aka “The Batch Lady” – and children’s author Chris Lloyd.

After each talk, authors will be available to answer audience questions.

Festival co-director Paula Ogilvie said: “It’s not a perfect experience and we can’t replicate the real event, but at least the author is still there and still interacting with the audience.”