MASTER of suspense Frederick Forsyth will headline the 13th Borders Book Festival in June.

He will be joined in the all-star line up by former Genesis member Mike Rutherford, acclaimed musician Evelyn Glennie and comedian Sara Pascoe.

Political heavyweights Nick Clegg, Gordon Brown, Jim Sillars and Douglas Alexander will all appear over the weekend at Harmony Garden in Melrose.

And comedian Phil Jupitus, food critic Jay Rayner, and popular novelist Kathy Lette will also entertain.

The Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival line-up was announced today in Melrose.

Alistair Moffat, festival director, told us: "Some of our greatest writers, communicators and entertainers will appear onstage to delight the audiences for four magical days within the walls of the beautiful Harmony Gardens.

"We look forward to a wonderful weekend of entertainment and political debate as we welcome our authors, sponsors and supporters, and most of all our audience for what will be a truly memorable festival."

The book festival, sponsored by Brewin Dolphin, has over 100 events in its programme for all ages, and on a wide variety of topics, all taking place over the weekend of June 16 to 19.

Further highlights include world famous chef Albert Roux, Rab C Nesbitt actor and comedian Gregor Fisher, leading Scottish historian Tom Devine, best-selling author and raconteur Gervase Phinn and Top Gear script writer Richard Porter.

Leading authors from the world of children’s books will take to the stage during the ever-popular weekend SBHA Family Book Festival including Cressida Cowell, author of the bestselling How to Train Your Dragon series, and acclaimed War Horse author, Michael Morpurgo, talking about his book Private Peaceful to mark the Battle of the Somme centenary.

Jonathan Tweedie, Head of Brewin Dolphin’s Edinburgh office said: "Authors, celebrities, journalists, musicians, composers, politicians and even the odd rock star gather to share their thoughts, swap stories and entertain us, here in the very heart of the beautiful Scottish Borders.

"We at Brewin Dolphin are delighted to continue to support the festival which bring together the all facets of the literary world in one joyous weekend."

The winner of this year’s prestigious £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction will also be announced on Saturday, June 18, from a shortlist, including authors Patrick Gale, William Boyd and Simon Mawer.

Primary schools from across the region will attend the Schools Gala Day on the Thursday, and there will be an exciting new strand of events on Friday with an afternoon of live music, creative writing, theatre, poetry and film/TV recording workshops, entirely programmed by local youth organisations.

There will be even more opportunities to take part as well as spectate this year, with a variety of live music and theatre performances and workshops, a street market, tented food village, gin and wine tastings, performances by Scottish Opera, and kids craft and activity workshops.

David Watt, Arts & Business Scotland’s Chief Executive, added: "The Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival is a fantastic literary event and a wonderful addition to Scotland’s festival portfolio, which is highly regarded all over the world.

"Arts & Business Scotland is delighted to be able to support this through the New Arts Sponsorship Grants programme and we wish the organisers every success with their 13th festival."

The ever-popular Family Day pass will be available, where for £35, four family members can enjoy a number of events on either the Saturday or Sunday.