Borders Book Festival start 'absolutely fabulous'
Comedy star Jennifer Saunders is one of the main attractions on the opening day of the Borders Book Festival which is under way in Melrose.
Others involved in the four-day event include Paddy Ashdown, Gordon Brown, Lynda La Plante and Nina Conti.
The festival runs until Sunday and is part of Homecoming Scotland 2014.
As well as a range of literary events, it will also see the winner of the fifth £25,000 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction announced.
The festival takes place in Harmony Gardens against the backdrop of Melrose Abbey.
Director Alistair Moffat said the line-up reflected the fact that 2014 was a "pivotal year" for Scotland.
He said it promised to be a "truly memorable weekend".