New Chair of Judges for WSP

9th March, 2020

Prize sponsor the Duke of Buccleuch has announced the appointment of a new Chair of Judges for the Walter Scott Prize.  Katie Grant, who has been on the judging panel since 2017, succeeds Alistair Moffat, who has stepped down as Chair after ten years.

The Duke expressed warm thanks for Alistair Moffat’s skilful chairmanship, and his delight that Katie Grant was taking on the mantle.  He said:

“Alistair shared the determination my wife and I had that Sir Walter Scott’s pivotal contribution to literature should be recognised through a significant prize bearing his name. His chairmanship through the crucial early years nurtured the prize and helped establish it as the internationally recognised accolade that it has become for writers of historical fiction. Our ties will remain extremely close through the Borders Book Festival, but I am delighted that Katie Grant has agreed to lead it forward into its second decade. She brings wide literary knowledge and a passion for good writing.”

Katie Grant said:

“It’s a great privilege to chair the Walter Scott Prize judging panel; a challenge, too, to steer this prize through the choppy waters of contemporary literary debate. Luckily, I don’t face the challenge alone. As we often remark, our judging meetings are like the best book club in the world, with vigorous analysis in line with the submission criteria, all of us acutely aware of our responsibility towards a prize of such value and influence. This year’s debates have already been lively. They’ll be livelier still before we announce the shortlist. Every year, there are tough calls to make!”

The announcement of the winner will take place once again at the Baillie Gifford Borders Book Festival, which was founded and is directed by Alastair Moffat, who said he was delighted to be maintaining his close relationship with the prize:

“The announcement is one of the highlights of the festival, full of anticipation and excitement, and we love welcoming the shortlisted authors to Melrose. It’s been a wonderful ten years but it’s time to pass on the chairmanship, and I wish Katie all the very best in her new role.”

The judges of the 2020 Prize are Katie Grant (chair), Elizabeth Buccleuch, James Holloway, Elizabeth Laird, James Naughtie and Kirsty Wark.  The longlist of 12 books has just been announced; a shortlist will be chosen in early April and the winner announced at the Baillie Gifford Borders Book festival on 12th June.