Irvine Welsh & Robert Carlyle set for Edinburgh Q&A

Irvine Welsh will launch his new novel The Blade Artist in conversation with Robert Carlyle at an event in Edinburgh in April.

The Blade Artist reprises the story of Trainspotting's Francis Begbie, living as an artist in California before being forced to return to Edinburgh by the death of his son. Carlyle, who played Begbie in Danny Boyle's film adaptation of Welsh's novel, will join Welsh to discuss the new book in the event at Edinburgh's Usher Hall on 10 April.

Speaking to The Skinny in an exclusive interview for our March issue, Welsh describes Begbie's reformation as a necessary move for the iconic character. He says: "What I was wanting to do was not make him that stereotyped guy…the hard man who becomes an artist... I wanted to make him somebody who actually really still liked violence and had learned to play a game, to hide in plain sight."

Irvine Welsh and Robert Carlyle discuss The Blade Artist at The Usher Hall, Edinburgh on 10 April at 4pm as part of Edinburgh International Book Festival's Booked! series; tickets go on sale on 26 Feb at 10am. The Blade Artist is released on 7 April via Jonathan Cape.

Read our full interview with Irvine Welsh in our March issue, available in print and online from 29 February.