Sir Ian Rankin: live from Dunfermline Carnegie Hall

I’m delighted to be joined by one of our best-loved, and most successful writers, who’s sold over 30 million copies of his best-selling Rebus novels - not to mention theatre, TV and radio spin-offs, all based in Edinburgh. 

He’s also a broadcaster, a sometime rock ‘n’ roll star, and a Fifer with a fab taste in music - and a Knighthood to boot…

He is of course Sir Ian Rankin, and this conversation was recorded at the Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline, as part of last year’s wonderful Outwith Festival… 

Ian recalled visiting the historic venue as a wee boy growing up in nearby Cardenden, and he reflected on some key cultural touchstones for him through the years - from the punk spirit of The Skids and the riotous language of A Clockwork Orange, to Muriel Spark’s darkest humour, and Alison Watt’s sublime visual art.

We also discussed Ian’s latest Rebus best-seller, the thrilling Midnight and Blue, which sees his legendary detective banged up in an Edinburgh prison… 

There were various technical gremlins on the night, so this audio recording’s not the best quality - but rest assured it settles down after the first 30 seconds or so, so bear with us while there are a few doors banging and people getting settled down… 

And it’s well worth staying around, to hear Ian’s tales of rocking some bleach-spattered “sexy blue overalls” that he nicked from a local chicken factory - and selling one of his own paintings to Jack Vettriano… 

Renaissance man or what…

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or via the icons at the top / bottom of this page - or right here! And thanks as always, if you do…

(Photo credit: Jim Payne)