Nicola Sturgeon set to be 'curious host' when she grills One Day author at Scottish literary festival

Michael Pederson said Ms Sturgeon, who has said she is considering writing a novel, will “have genuine questions" about writing fiction on the on the "blisteringly brilliant scale" of Nicholls, whose bestselling novel was this year turned into a sell-out musical which premiered in Edinburgh.

Another former first minister, Humza Yousaf, is also to be grilled by ex-politician-turned-performer Mhairi Black at Winter Words, which will take place at Alan Cumming’s Pitlochry Festival Theatre in February.

A musical version of One Day, which is set in the capital, enjoyed a sell-out extended run at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh in March.

Former SNP MP Ms Black, who left politics in 2024 to embark on a career in stand-up comedy, has recently expanded her range into acting, playing detective Inspector Bridges in upcoming BBC drama Counsels.

Poet and Edinburgh Makar Michael Pederson, who programmed the festival for Mr Cumming, described the line-up as “glisteringly unique”.

He said: “I lit the fuses and the fireworks hath come. The 2027 edition of Winter Words is glisteringly unique. Some of the most gifted storytellers and courageous literary thinkers that walk amongst us are coming questing to Pitlochry – crooning, rallying, roostering, lullabying, coruscating, and romping to stage.

“This punchy weekend programme is enthralling enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any book festival in the UK.”

He said Nicholls would speak about adapting One Day for the screen, as well as his latest novel, You Are Here, which is currently being turned into an eight-part TV miniseries by the BBC.

Mr Pederson said: “We're going to have him speaking about both those books and about his love of Scotland. It will be chaired by Nicola Sturgeon as well, who herself has said publicly she's venturing into the fiction writing world at the moment. So I think we'll have a very curious host in her. She'll have genuine questions about writing fiction on the on the blisteringly brilliant scale David's done over the years.”

Other highlights of the festival, which runs from 18-21 February, are vest-selling author Matt Haig, whop will be in conversation with the poet Donna Ashworth about his latest novel The Midnight Train and his career; Val McDermid and Professor Jo Sharp in conversation with broadcaster Nicola Meighan,who will also be in conversation with crime writer Denise Mina about her latest book The Good Liar.

Amy Liptrot, author of The Outrun and Cal Flyn will discuss the natural world in their new books: The Tangles and The Savage Landscape, chaired by Edinburgh International Book Festival director Jenny Niven.

Cumming handed over the curatorship of the event to Pedersen at the opening event of last year’s festival, when Pederson interviewed the actor about his career from high school to becoming a Hollywood star.

Pederson said: “These past couple of years, I’ve cherished reading at and chairing events at the gorgeous Pitlochry Festival Theatre, to now step beyond the stage and conjure a full programme has been the most supreme of thrills.”

This year’s festival will also include comedians Frankie Boyle in conversation with Christopher McArthur Boyd about the role of the novel in an insane world and poet Kae Tempest who will be in conversation with the actress Grace Quigley about his second novel Having Spent Life Seeking.