
Outlander's Sam Heughan to host cocktail class at Edinburgh's International Book Festival
Outlander star Sam Heughan is set to host a cocktail masterclass in the capital this August to promote his new cocktail recipe book and fans will be able to snatch up tickets for the event very soon.
Outlander's Sam Heughan is set to host a cocktail class at the Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF) later this summer to promote his new cocktail recipe book. The beloved Scots actor, who is famed for his role as Jamie Fraser in the Starz show, is also soon to make his Royal Shakespeare Company debut in Macbeth.
As a man of many talents, the 45-year-old is set to discuss the significance of cocktails in his journey to stardom in the Capital in August. He will also show fans and cocktail lovers how to create some of his personal favourites drinks in an event linked to his book, The Cocktail Diaries: A Spirited Adventure, which is to due to be published in September.
Sam reposted the news of his appearance at the festival to his Instagram stories where he boasts 4M loyal followers. The post, which was uploaded by the Scotsman, quickly garnered fans attention as one excited Outlander fan commented: "WHEN?!"
Another user called @german,outlander simply responded with three clapping emojis as they expressed their joy over the news.
Someone else exclaimed: "Yes! Bravo Sam! Slainte!", alongside a mix of love heart and beer emojis.
A fourth penned: "Awesome!", accompanied by a heart eyes emoji.
Sam is expected to be making his appearance to host the cocktail class 'Sam Heughan: On The Rocks' in the Capital on August 23.
The event will last for one hour from 18:15 until 19:15 on the second last day of the festival, which will run from Saturday August 9 until Sunday August 24.
The website details what fans can expect on the day: "Outlander actor, founder of Sassenach Spirits, and local lad Sam Heughan launches his new book, The Cocktail Diaries.
"Journey around the world with Heughan as he shares his favourite cocktails, the stories behind them, and the memories they made. Join us for a truly spirited and intimate evening (and there might even be a wee tipple). Sláinte!"
Fans can snatch up tickets for Sam's cocktail class when they go on sale later this month on June 21 at 10am.
Other actors who are set to appear at the EIBF, which announced its full programme today, include Brian Cox, Viggo Mortensen and Vanessa Redgrave.
The Edinburgh festival will see an element of performance alongside a more traditional schedule of events, with Olivier Award-winning Harriet Walter delivering an overdue voice to the women of Shakespeare, and a cast including Ms Redgrave and Mr Mortensen conveying 'powerful messages of protest from around the world' in The People Speak.
According to publisher Penguin, Heughan's book, The Cocktail Diaries includes chapters on the Outlander star's top ten all-time favourite cocktails.
The book will also feature a final section titled Made by Friends, featuring recipes created by international bartenders for the actor.
Heughan, who originally hails from Kirkcudbright, moved to Edinburgh with his family when he was 12-years-old before going on to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Wet Wet Wet's Marti Pellow raves about Glasgow's best mac and cheese
The Wet Wet Wet frontman took to TikTok to sing the praises of The Food Stop in Merchant City, calling their mac & cheese 'divine' and locals were quick to back him up. Scots star and Wet Wet Wet sta r Marti Pellow claims he has discovered the best mac and cheese in Glasgow. Marti Pellow took to TikTok to praise The Food Stop in Merchant City. He described the food as 'divine', and locals were quick to agree, reports Glasgow Live. Address his 130,000 followers on the platform, he said: "I'm at The Food Stop in Merchant City, where they do the best macaroni and cheese. It is divine. "So, if you are ever in Glasgow, come down to Merchant City and go to The Food Stop. Get in there early and get your mac and cheese. Mmmm, yummy." Locals were quick to agree with the star, with one writing: "oh my that's my favourite dinner, love it. My mom used to make the most gorgeous mac & cheese everyone used to ask her to make it.." Another added: "I agree with you, it's great." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.


Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside Aaron Taylor-Johnson's controversial marriage… and how it survived ‘grooming claims' and vile stepdaughter slurs
SHE'S been labelled a 'cradle-snatcher', 'sexual deviant' and even a 'groomer' - while he has been accused of having 'complex mother issues'. Yet stepping out on the red carpet in London earlier this week for the world premiere of his new film 28 Years Later, Sam and Aaron Taylor-Johnson looked unfazed by the furore that's forever stalked their relationship. Advertisement 16 Posing together this week at the 28 Years Later premiere in London, Aaron and Sam Taylor-Johnson looked loved up ahead of celebrating their 13th anniversary on Saturday Credit: Getty 16 The couple started dating in 2009, when Aaron was still a teenager Credit: Getty 16 The couple have been subjected to vile slurs and 'grooming' accusations Credit: Instagram/@aarontaylorjohnson From where they're standing, they've proved the critics wrong. Tomorrow marks their 13th wedding anniversary, after all - an impressive feat by Hollywood standards. Advertisement But it's even more startling considering the never-ending noise surrounding their age-gap romance, and its very unconventional beginning. They first met in 2008, when Aaron, then just 18, was cast in the role of a teenage John Lennon in Sam's directorial debut Nowhere Boy. Filmmaker and double cancer survivor Sam was 41, more than double his age, and had two daughters with her ex-husband, the art dealer Jay Jopling - to whom she was married for 11 years before they 'amicably' split in 2008. While seemingly worlds apart, the pair connected and reportedly got together upon completing their film. As Sam told Harper's Bazaar in 2019, 'We were very professional through the entire film… But everyone on set knew. Advertisement 'And as soon as we finished, he told me he was going to marry me. We had never been on a date, or even kissed.' She was quick to stress the fact that he pursued her, seemingly trying - and failing - to squash the 'granny groomer' accusations swiftly lobbed in her direction. Filming concluded in March and, by June - when Aaron turned 19 - they were stepping out together on date nights. Neither confirmed a romance, but the PDAs did the talking. By their film's premiere in October 2009 they were officially a couple. Advertisement Walking the red carpet arm-in-arm - Sam in a glitzy gold dress and Aaron in a tux - they started as they meant to go on: loud and unapologetic. Needless to say, the reaction was deafening. Comments from the time included: 'She looks like his mum!' and 'How can she do this to him? He's only a child who barely knows his own mind yet.' Double standards Some were also quick to point out that any positive reactions would have been very different were things the other way around. Sam wasn't just more than two decades older than Aaron. She was also wealthier, more established and - with friends like artist Damien Hirst and Elton John - enviably better connected. Advertisement What's more, as the director of his breakout movie, she was effectively his boss. But despite the cascade of 'casting couch' accusations, the couple remained defiant - and a year after they met, Aaron got down on one knee. Critics loudly declared it wouldn't last, with one commenter suggesting: 'Let's see how long he sticks around if he makes it big.' 16 The couple first met on the set of Nowhere Boy, in which a then 18-year-old Aaron played John Lennon Credit: Alamy 16 The couple went official at the Nowhere Boy premiere in October 2009 Credit: PA:Press Association Advertisement 16 Sam received her OBE in 2011 with Aaron and daughters Angelica and Jessie Phoenix by her side Credit: Getty 16 Sam shares her two elder daughters with ex-husband Jay Jopling Credit: Getty Another scoffed: 'I give it three months.' By 2010 they'd welcomed their first child together - daughter Wylda Rae, now 14 - and second daughter Romy followed in January 2012. They married five months later at Babington House in Somerset - a lavish do attended by Beyonce and Elton John - and combined their surnames. They now live down the road in a £1.85m farmhouse in Bruton. Advertisement Aaron claimed he wasn't nervous about fatherhood as he'd already settled into the role of stepdad to Sam's two daughters - Angelica, now 28, and Jessie Phoenix, now 18 - despite the fact that Angelica was only six years his junior. He's made a point of stating he considers them both his own daughters, affectionately calling Jessie his 'babygirl' in an Instagram caption last year to mark her 18th birthday. Obviously any suggestion he's anything more than a loving stepfather is unfounded - which is why the latest slew of rumours surrounding Aaron and his stepdaughter must have stung. Last December Aaron and Sam were joined by Angelica and Jessie Phoenix on the red carpet for the premiere of his movie Kraven The Hunter. 16 Aaron wished his stepdaughter Jessie Phoenix happy birthday last year Credit: Instagram@/aarontaylorjohnson Advertisement 16 Attending the Kraven The Hunter premiere last December with elder daughters Angelica and Jessie Phoenix - in a photo op that sparked controversy Credit: Getty 16 The couple still collaborate on projects - like their 2019 film A Million Little Pieces Credit: Getty Images - Getty Posing for the cameras, Aaron put his arm around Jessie Phoenix and gave her a reassuring stroke on the back. The candid moment - a fatherly gesture no doubt intended to reassure the camera-shy teenager - was catnip to twisted internet trolls who branded the it 'disgusting', while TikTok lit up with clips of the moment. Wild conspiracy theories of an illicit affair flooded the comments, with one commenter questioning: 'Are they flirting?' and another writing: 'What if being with the grandma is all a show and he's with her daughter?' Advertisement A third added: 'If I didn't know their story, I would think that was his girlfriend.' Unsurprisingly the couple, nor their children, dignified the ludicrous furore with a response. Their reaction was the same when, two years ago, vicious rumours swirled that Aaron had an affair with his much younger Bullet Train co-star Joey King, 25. I much prefer being a parent to working. Doesn't everybody? Aaron Taylor-Johnson In his early 20s, father-of-four Aaron claimed he was just as happy playing a stay-at-home dad as he was leading blockbuster films. His early roles in their relationship included Kick Ass, Savages, Anna Karenina and Godzilla. Advertisement When Sam won the highly-contested directing gig for Fifty Shades of Grey in 2015, he took time off to man the fort at home. As he later told The Post, 'I much prefer being a parent to working. Doesn't everybody? The best time I have is with my kids, experiencing their growth and their life with them. I think it's important to have time to enjoy that.' As for Sam, she paid tribute to him while promoting the film, saying, "Being in an amazing relationship, having come out of a difficult one, it felt so good [that he stayed at home while she worked]. 'And I feel like that stability has enabled me to get on with doing this momentous project." She then returned the favour, enabling him to star in 2016's Nocturnal Animals to rave reviews and a Golden Globe Award. Advertisement Paying tribute to his beloved in his speech, he said: "I want to thank my wife for being there with me, supporting me through this. 'Thank you for putting up with me. Jesus, that was not very pleasant in this role, so you're my soulmate and I love you very much… I'm blessed. I have four beautiful daughters: Anjelica, Phoenix, Wylda, and Romy, I love you all very much." Sam has described Aaron as an old soul in a younger man's body, and claims their strong union has come from their ability to ignore the uproar. 16 The couple have been inseparable since the day they met Credit: Getty - Contributor 16 They still post loved-up snaps together Credit: Instagram/@aarontaylorjohnson Advertisement 16 Sam's ex Jay Jopling, now 62, had a fling with Lily Allen, now 40, when she was 23 Credit: Big Pictures In 2017, she said: 'If I gave a second thought to other people, I would be the unhappiest person, probably still in a miserable marriage. 'People like to talk about [the age gap]. I'm like, 'Yeah, but it works better than my last marriage'. It's lasted longer than a lot of my friends' marriages.' Ironically, months before she and Aaron went public, her ex Jay Jopling was embroiled in his own age-gap romance when he was pictured kissing a then 23-year-old Lily Allen in the Caribbean. The fling fizzled out quickly, but he was never tarnished with the same 'groomer' label as Sam. Advertisement Power play Speaking in 2023, Amelia Kelley, a trauma-informed therapist, told Business Insider that criticism surrounding the Taylor-Johnsons was blatant misogyny. "When we see an older woman with a younger man, it underscores that the woman isn't as young as we think they should be,' she said. 'That could be uncomfortable for someone to see.' Yet Elizabeth Jeglic, a professor of psychology at John Jay College in New York, argued against the gendered critique, suggesting it was Sam who could have abused her position of power. "The person who is older tends to be a person who has more power or more experience,' she said. Advertisement 'They often will select individuals who are younger and more inexperienced because they're more vulnerable. And that creates an unequal power dynamic." Aaron's still surprised by the furore and frenzy his age-gap romance stirs up. 16 The happy couple renewed their vows in 2022 Credit: Instagram/@aarontaylorjohnson 16 They also have matching tattoos of each other's names Credit: Instagram/@_dr_woo_ Speaking last year to Rolling Stone, he said, 'What you gotta realise is that what most people were doing in their twenties, I was doing when I was 13. Advertisement 'You're doing something too quickly for someone else? I don't understand that. What speed are you supposed to enjoy life at? It's bizarre to me." General consensus is that Aaron wasn't seeking a mummy figure because of any maternal hole in his life. He's in fact remained incredibly close to his own mother, Sarah, who accompanied him to film sets throughout his young career, taught him 'how to be a man' and has played an active role in raising her grandchildren. As for his early dating life there's no sign of any prior 'older woman fetish', with previous flings including actresses Georgia Groome, 33, and Alice Connor, 34. Likewise, it doesn't seem like Sam was simply looking for someone to baby or boss around. Advertisement She may be a bigwig director, but she's just as happy sharing the spotlight with her incredibly successful, increasingly handsome younger husband. Aaron's role in Danny Boyle's latest epic promises to strengthen his position as one of the UK's most successful actors on both sides of the pond - while whispers that he's favourite to play the next James Bond continue. As the couple hit the red carpet this week, now aged 35 and 58 respectively, one cynic wrote, 'son and great-grandma', while another commented, 'She really got her claws in deep, that one.' But refreshingly, many comments now celebrate the pair, with one writing: 'Good on them for proving haters wrong.' Another added: 'Age is just a number when you love each other as this couple obviously do.' Advertisement It's safe to say they'll never stop courting controversy - as every time they step out together, the public are reminded of how it all began. But over a decade later, the Taylor-Johnsons continue to put two fingers up to their doubters.


Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Fans gutted as popular BBC star leaves radio show – but teases new project
It's not yet known who will step into her mid-morning spot on Heart NEXT CHAPTER Fans gutted as popular BBC star leaves radio show – but teases new project Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BBC star Amy Irons has left fans gutted after announcing she's quit her radio gig. The glam Scots radio and TV presenter, 34, teased a new project as she told listeners she was hanging up her Heart hat for good. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 Amy Irons has stepped down from her DJing gig at Heart Scotland Credit: John Kirkby - The Sun Glasgow 2 She teased a new project as she announced her departure live on air Credit: BBC Amy joined Heart back in 2023, quickly becoming a firm favourite with her mid-morning show as she graced the airwaves weekdays from 10am-1pm. But the popular broadcaster has made the big decision to step down from her DJing duties. Announcing her departure live on air, Amy told listeners: "I've got something to tell you. Just like that, it is time for me to say goodbye to you after two fantastic years here at Heart. It is time for me to move on to what is my next chapter." Known for more than just her radio voice, Amy is the daughter of former Scottish football player and manager, Davie Irons. She's a familiar face to footie fans as a host for BBC Scotland and a trackside reporter for Premier Sports. She's also an anchor for the Beeb's Reporting Scotland: News at Seven and one half of the hit Sacked in the Morning podcast with Craig Levein. On top of that, Irons has also appeared on Sports Personality of the Year, The Adventure Show and the channel's Hogmanay broadcasts. It's not yet known who will step into her mid-morning spot on Heart. Hinting at her replacement, Amy said: "And to my good pal taking over on Monday, I'm going to let her announce the news herself but I will be listening and cheering her on from the sidelines." Addressing her loyal listeners, she added: "Thank you to you for unknowingly being such a brilliant support to me over the last couple of years. There's been lots of ups and downs but I have loved being with you every single weekday. I can at least pretend some of you laughed at some of my terrible jokes." BBC sport presenter Amy Irons reveals awkward wardrobe malfunction as she thought 'just don't turn round' live on air Taking to Instagram, Amy wrote "After two years hosting mid mornings on Heart Scotland the time has come for me to say cheerio for now! Will miss the fantastic team and lovely listeners, it truly has been a joy. I'm very excited for what comes next and can't wait to tell you all about it." Scores of fans quickly flooded the comments to wish her well. One wrote: "What a star, good luck & can't wait to see what you do next." Another added: "Awww good luck with whatever is next I'm sure you will be amazing as always."