Irvine Welsh

Leith Fort 21 storey flats nearing completion in April 1963. The tower blocks on Lindsay Road became synonymous with drug use, antisocial behaviour and some of Edinburgh’s worst troublemakers. They were demolished in 1997.

19 photos of Leith in the 1950s and 1960s

Heavy snow hits the Royal Mile in Edinburgh in February 1996.

25 photos to take you back to Edinburgh in 1996

Men and women in the Firth of Forth at South Queensferry, taking part in the Loony Dook for charity on 1 of January 1993.

13 great photos which will transport you back to Edinburgh in 1993

Widely regarded as one of the best films of the 1990s, Trainspotting portrays a group of friends - including Renton, Sick Boy, Begbie, and Spud as they navigate through life and battle heroin addiction. Filmed across Glasgow and Edinburgh, many remember the iconic opening scene where Renton and Spud sprint down Princes and Calton Road after a shoplifting spree

13 of the best films and TV shows filmed in Edinburgh

Exclusive Irvine Welsh on 30 years of Trainspotting and its Booker Prize snub

A Mr A Mackay prepares the last diesel train to run on North Leith Suburban Line, at Central Station in 1962.

Looking back at Leith Central Railway Station - in pictures

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-94) was born at 8 Howard Place on Inverleith Row but the family moved soon afterwards to 1 Inverleith Terrace and then to 17 Heriot Row (pictured) in the New Town. He was often ill as a child and it is said that looking out from the house into Queen Street Gardens, just across the road, he saw a small pond with a little island in the middle, which inspired him to write Treasure Island. He studied at Edinburgh University and qualified as an advocate but never practised law. He spent a lot of time abroad, often for his health, and finally settled in Samoa, where he died.

9 famous authors and where they lived in the Capital

Argyle House at Lady Lawson Street in the city centre is a well known landmark at the top of the hill from the Grassmarket.

'Eyesore' building used in TV drama series sells for £38m

Irvine Welsh lifts the lid on plans for ‘Trainspotting the musical’

Michael Pedersen is the new writer-in-residence at Edinburgh University.

New events set to champion Edinburgh's ‘city of literature’ status

Irvine Welsh's classic novel Trainspotting, which was later turned into a film, was almost entirely written in Edinburgh (or more accurately Leith) slang

A to Z of Edinburgh slang words and phrases

Irvine Welsh says he's cheated death many times

Irvine Welsh on cheating death in 'reckless' youth

Hibs have plenty of celebrity fans as you will see from our photo gallery

12 celebrities who support Hibs

Greg McHugh brought his Gary: Tank Commander to a Fringe benefit for the Scottish stand-up Raymond Mearns.

Festival Diary: Dark humour as stars turn out for Raymond Mearns benefit

Irvine Welsh’s Edinburgh-set police thriller Crime is set to return for a second series – with Dougray Scott starring as troubled cop Ray Lennox.

Dougray Scott admits he finds it 'exhausting' playing Ray Lennox in Crime

Artist Maria Rud is appearing at St Giles' Cathedral with saxophonist Tommy Smith. Picture: Douglas Robertson

Festival Diary: A contender emerges for the most zen-like show of the Fringe
Festival Diary: A contender for the most zen-like show

Take a look through our picture gallery to see nine Edinburgh pubs with literary connections.

In pictures: 9 Edinburgh pubs that inspired authors

Iván Fischer. Picture: Daniel Nemeth

Festival Diary: Surprise link between International Festival and Gilded Balloon

Phoebe Waller Bridge won a Scotsman Fringe First Award for the stage version of Fleabag in 2013.

Festival Diary: Celebrity spotting off to a flier thanks to Ewan and Alan

14 highlights in Edinburgh International Film Festival comeback line-up

Students at Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University holding white boards in support of the White Ribbon campaign. Photo: Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt named Scotland's first 'White Ribbon' university

Sam Heughan, who is know to millions thanks to his role as highland warrior Jamie Fraser in Outlander, moved to Edinburgh as a young boy so his mother could enrol at Edinburgh College of Art. He recalled in his recent memoir how big a change it was from his New Galloway birthplace, writing: “After years of living in a quiet community, my mother, my brother and I packed our belongings for what felt like a whole new world. Swapping the stable and the castle ruins for a suburban street in Edinburgh, we set about settling in for this new chapter in our lives.” The 12-year-old Heughan attended James Gillespie's High School, which he recalls as having “very strong on rules and discipline”.

15 Edinburgh celebrities and the school they went to

Irvine Welsh has announced the eagerly-awaited Trainspotting stage musical will hit theatres next year.

Irvine Welsh shares release date for Trainspotting musical

In 2007, after his Leith restaurant The Kitchin had been in business for six months, Edinburgh-born chef Tom Kitchin was awarded his first Michelin star. Aged just 29, this made him the youngest Michelin star recipient in the world. He now owns a string of restaurants including Scran & Scallie, The Bonnie Badger and KORA. Kitchin had a stint as guest presenter on BBC’s The One Show, and has appeared numerous times on Saturday Kitchen Live and MasterChef.

15 of the most famous faces from our city - in pictures

Irvine Welsh's cult novel Trainspotting, which was made into a hit film by Danny Boyle, is full of hilarious Edinburgh slang.

23 bits of slang you will hear in Edinburgh

Boxing champion Josh Taylor is a diehard Hibby and regularly attends Easter Road. The Prestonpans fighter is pictured during the Ladbrokes Premiership match between Hibernian and Kilmarnock at Easter Road, on November 30, 2019, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

11 famous faces who have visited Easter Road - in pictures

Ken (left) in action in his famous 'Battle of Scotland' fight against Glaswegian Jim Watt in January 1973.

Tributes paid to boxing legend and former world champion Ken Buchanan
“He inspired and mentored a generation of boxing talent here in Scotland and beyond.”

So much has Edinburgh changed in the 30 years since the publication of Irvine Welsh's cult novel Trainspotting.

Trainspotting locations which changed beyond recognition

We look at what Trainspotting's cast – and director – have been up to in the years since the film was released.

Where are the stars of Trainspotting now?

Scottish actor Dougray Scott visited WaterAid’s work in Mozambique in his ambassador role, where he met schools and communities who told him their stories of how not having clean water and decent toilets impacted on their lives.

Exclusive: Dougray Scott on Crime 2, Hibs and WaterAid

The 'banana flats' are rated alongside the likes of Edinburgh Castle, the Forth Road Bridge, the Royal Commonwealth Pool and the 1967 glasshouses at the Royal Botanic Garden.

11 photos of Leith's ‘banana flats’ down the decades

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

Irvine Welsh heaps praise on Dougray Scott

Trainspotting was a huge hit when it opened in cinemas in 1996.

25 photos to take you back to Edinburgh in 1996

Edinburgh and Trainspotting will feature in his week’s Big Scottish Book Club on the BBC Scotland channel this Sunday (November 6).

BBC’s Big Scottish Book Club visits Capital

Irvine Welsh’s Edinburgh-set police thriller Crime is set to return for a second series – and Dougray Scott will again star as troubled cop Ray Lennox.

All-star cast announced for Irvine Welsh police thriller

An artist’s impression of the plan for student flats on the school site

More student flats for Gorgie - your views online

Irvine Welsh has deleted a 'crass' tweet about the Queen which was posted on the day of her funeral (Getty Images/ Twitter)

Irvine Welsh deletes 'disgusting' Queen tweet

Irvine Welsh was speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Irvine Welsh: Trainspotting musical is 'darker' than book, film and stage show

Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh loves walking on Edinburgh's disused railway lines

Trainspotting author enjoys walks on disused railway lines

Outlander author Diana Gabaldon was appearing at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Picture: Brian D Anderson/Shutterstock

Festival Diary: From Scrooge McDuck to Outlander via a snub for Superman

Kevin Bridges was speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Picture: John Devlin

Kevin Bridges thanks Irvine Welsh for firing his interest in reading

Scottish actor and Hibs fan Dougray Scott said he 'hated' wearing Rangers top in the film Twin Town.

Dougray Scott 'hated' wearing Rangers top

Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh has married former Taggart star Emma Currie. Photo: Irvine Welsh Instagram.

Irvine Welsh marries former Taggart star Emma Currie

Line of Duty stars Martin Compston, Adrian Dunbar and Vicky McClure could be set to work with Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh in a new drama about James Connolly.

Line of Duty stars in talks for Irvine Welsh James Connolly show

Irvine Welsh pictured at Biscuit Factory in Leith

Irvine Welsh dedicates new book to Bradley Welsh

Signature Entertainment has acquired the UK and Irish rights to a no-holds-barred documentary exploring the life of Edinburgh author Irvine Welsh. Photo: Getty Images

No-holds-barred Irvine Welsh documentary to air

Robert Carlyle will return to play Begbie in the new TV series The Blade Artist.

Author Jenni Fagan lifts lid on adapting Irvine Welsh's Begbie for new TV drama

Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh has given away a Europa League final ticket to a Rangers fan on Twitter

Irvine Welsh gives away Europa League final ticket to lucky Rangers fan

Filming in Edinburgh of BBC drama Guilt. Photo by Lisa Ferguson.

Filming in and around Edinburgh generated £13.9 million for economy last year

Several film and TV productions shot in Edinburgh over the course of last year, including Good Omens and Outlander.

Filming in Edinburgh generated £13.9 million for local economy

Michael Sheen and David Tennant have been making a new series of Good Omens in Scotland.

New studios help Edinburgh generate nearly £14m from film and TV productions

Old romantic: Irvine Welsh has become engaged to his sweetheart.

Romance blossoms for newly engaged author Irvine Welsh

Greg Esplin as Tommy in Trainspotting Live
Pic by: Geraint Lewis

Ground-breaking production acclaimed by Irvine Welsh comes home to Edinburgh

Irvine Welsh: Iconic Edinburgh author reacts to Scottish Conservatives using Trainspotting poster to attack the SNP

Iconic Edinburgh author reacts to latest Scottish Conservative tweet

Franck Sauzee, left, David Zitelli, and Mixu Paatelainen (far right) celebrate John O'Neil's goal against Hearts in the 6-2 Edinburgh derby victory in October 2000

Hibs team of 2000/01, including Sauzee, to reunite for charity match