Irvine Welsh praises Dougray Scott after he scoops two major awards for portrayal of Edinburgh cop

Trainspotting author congratulates Scottish actor on his double awards success

Edinburgh author Irvine Welsh has heaped praise on Dougray Scott after he won two major acting awards.

Just 24 hours after winning the best television actor prize at the Scottish Baftas, Scott won the equivalent award at the 50th International Emmy Awards in New York.

Both awards were for his role as troubled detective DI Ray Lennox in Welsh’s Edinburgh-set cop series, Crime.

Edinburgh author Irvine Welsh, left, heaped praise on Dougray Scott, right, after he won two major acting awards.

In a post on social media, Welsh congratulated the Hollywood star, who he claims “battled for years” to play the lead role in Crime.

Muirhouse-raised Trainspotting writer Welsh wrote: “Congratulations to Dougray Scott for his brilliant performance in Crime.

“After winning a Scottish Bafta yesterday (like winning the SPL) he’s now only gone and won the World-Cup-If-it-Wasn’t-Held-In-Qatar-in-Winter in form of the International Emmy for best actor.

“Can’t praise this guy enough.

“He battled for years with me to get this made after telling me he had to play Lennox.

“His passion for the role was off-the-scale and comes out in his performance.

“If an actor ever deserved recognition for a part then it’s him for this one.

“The freaky thing is that we’ve just wrapped on Crime [series 2] and he’s even better this time around.”

As reported recently in the Evening News, the second season of Crime is being shot in Scotland and produced by Buccaneer and Off Grid Film and TV. It sees Scott return as Lennox.

Speaking recently about his involvement, Scott said: “I'm thrilled that I get to continue playing this complex and dynamic character, and to once again get to work with this magnificent creative team. Season 2 takes us even deeper into Lennox's past, and helps us understand his persona even more. I couldn't be happier!”

The 56-year-old actor leads a stellar line up of Scottish talent – including Ken Stott (Rebus, The Missing) and Joanna Vanderham (Dancing on the Edge) who reprise their roles as Chief Superintendent Bob Toal and DS Amanda Drummond.

John Simm (Grace, Doctor Who) and Derek Riddell (Silent Witness) also return for the second season, which also sees Scott’s son Gabriel Scott (House of Dragon) appearing alongside his father.

Rebecca Root (The Queen's Gambit) David Elliot (Kajaki), Laura Fraser (Breaking Bad, Pact), Fiona Bell (Shetland) Sarah McCardie (It’s A Sin), Brian McCardie (Murphy’s Law), John McLarnon (Outlander), Ewan Miller (Skin) and Gordon Morris (The Forgotten) are also confirmed to feature.

In the second season of Crime, Lennox is ready to return to the fray at Edinburgh Serious Crimes, keen to prove he is fully recovered from his breakdown induced by bringing Mr Confectioner to justice. But he’s surprised to find that it’s all change: Bob Toal has lost his mojo, while Amanda Drummond is newly promoted.

And there are two new faces on the team in the form of the devious Tommy Stark and failed actor Norrie Erskine.

When one of Lennox’s former colleagues is attacked, Lennox and Drummond quickly realise all is not as it seems as they become embroiled in a case about vengeance, identity and social justice.

The attack is linked to a gruesome attempted murder on a high-ranking establishment figure at a posh hotel which has been hushed up from the police.

As Lennox investigates via Edinburgh’s saunas, crack dens and poshest hotels, he finds doors slammed in his face. It's not until the killer targets one of Lennox’s own team that the pieces start to fall into place.

Crime 2 comes to ITVX next year.