Edinburgh Book Festival 2025: Here are 25 past Booker Prize nominees at this year's event
One of the greatest living writers – and a man who needs no introduction – Ian McEwan will appear during the 2025 Edinburgh International Book Festival ahead of the publication of his new novel, What We Can Know at McEwan Hall on Sunday, August 24. McEwan became a Booker Prize winner in 1998 for his novel Amsterdam and he is one of the few writers to have been nominated on six occasions. | Getty Images
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
Strictly Come Dancing's Anton Du Beke's 'crisis' 'almost cost him his career'
Strictly Come Dancing's Anton Du Beke's 'crisis' 'almost cost him his career' Anton Du Beke, 58, has been on Strictly Come Dancing since it began in 2004, but the professional dancer has admitted he almost quit his career before the show came along Anton is returning for the 2025 series of Strictly (Image: Jeff Spicer/BAFTA/Getty Images for BAFTA) Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has disclosed how he almost quit his dancing career before a pivotal chance emerged on the popular BBC programme. Beginning his dance path comparatively late, the 58-year-old acknowledged he was a "lunatic" who was "obsessed" with triumphing and demonstrating his worth. He started competing alongside fellow professional dancer Erin Boag, and following their meeting in 1997, they proceeded to secure the 1998 and 1999 New Zealand Championships. Upon turning professional three years afterwards, they maintained their winning streak. Nevertheless, Anton acknowledged he would become "upset" when they failed to triumph or received critical comments, occasionally leaving him feeling "depressed". Reflecting on a particularly challenging period, he said: "I remember we did a competition, a big competition. We did the French Open in Paris and did really badly. I mean, so badly, in this competition and I was really depressed about the whole thing.", reports the Mirror. Anton has admitted he almost quit dancing (Image: Dave) "We weren't getting on very well. Everything was a battle. We had not a penny, you know, I earned £100 a week and spent £120." Speaking about his difficulties on Kate Thornton's White Wine Question Time podcast, Anton added: "Everything was horrendous. Danced badly, not doing very well in competitions and that was everything to me." He admitted to experiencing "an internal crisis" during which he considered abandoning his profession before ultimately choosing to persevere, remembering: "[I remember] thinking to myself, 'I'm going to have to chuck this in because I'm wasting my life'." Strictly Come Dancing stars Anton du Beke, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman (Image:for the NTA's) The father-of-two soon realised he had no other passion, so he decided to persist and put in more effort, according to Bristol Live. As his fame increased, he was offered the role of a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, which started in 2004. Article continues below After several years spinning around the dance floor with various celebrity partners, he secured a place on the judging panel in 2021. Alongside judge Craig Revel Horwood, the pair are the longest-serving stars of the show, sharing judging duties with Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse.
Wales Online
17 hours ago
- Wales Online
Strictly's Katya Jones says she intimidates guys
Strictly's Katya Jones says she intimidates guys Strictly's Katya Jones says she intimidates guys Strictly Come Dancing star Katya Jones (Image: Getty Images) Strictly's Katya Jones says she intimidates guys. She told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: "Us women have fought to be so independent and strong and do our own thing, that it might send confusing messaging to them, like, 'Can I approach or can I not?' So, I totally understand why they're being hesitant sometimes, but I'm open and ready to be approached... "I might meet somebody today. You get up and you never know who you might meet. I've got to look nice... I'm always ready and open." The 36-year-old beauty is hoping to find someone to settle down and have children with, but that wouldn't mean giving up her career. She said: "I would like to have kids with someone who I believe could be a good father but I've got nieces I can spend my energy on right now, or some of my friends' children, like Janette[Manrara]. "Seeing how she does everything and is a mother as well is really inspiring. It just shows that you can do it all if you put your mind to it." Katya has considered freezing her eggs to preserve her fertility, but is ultimately hopeful she can have a family "naturally". She said: "I've spoken to women who have done it... I didn't hear about it until two years ago, which is quite surprising really. However, I still have faith in meeting someone naturally. That would be lovely." The Russian dancer was previously married to fellow Strictly pro Neil Jones for six years until 2019, and while he has moved on and had daughter Havana with fiancee Chyna Mills, he and Katya are still close. Article continues below She said: "We're absolutely still on good terms. We knew each other since we were 18 and started dancing. We lived a life together... it was me and him against the world, chasing our dreams. "We were the only people there for each other so of course there is a much more profound connection there. You can't just throw that away."
The Herald Scotland
17 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Luxury watchmaking giant opens first store in Scotland
Christoph Grainger-Herr unveiled the ambitions of IWC Schaffhausen to open stores in cities outside the Scottish capital as the brand rides a wave of 'regionalisation' in the luxury goods market that it is now seeing across Europe. IWC Schaffhausen has launched a new range inspired by a timepiece worn by Brad Pitt in the film F1. (Image: Getty Images) His comments came as the watchmaker, which was founded in 1868, opened a boutique on Princes Street in partnership with Scottish jeweller Chisholm Hunter. The new boutique is currently displaying the watch with the green dial worn by Brad Pitt in the film F1.
