Programme Outline
In this programme Scots is used in contemporary writing. Mary McIntosh reads an alphabet game in Scots. Janet Paisley recites the poem ‘Skelp’. Sheena Blackhall talks about Scots words and recites her poem ‘The Check-Oot Quine’s Lament’ while pupils from Dunblane Primary School re-label supermarket goods in Scots.
The Proclaimers sing ‘Throw the R Away’ and discuss their experiences of being a Scots pop group. Matthew Fitt recites a poem about the Proclaimers while criticising stereotypical attitudes to Scots.
We visit Portobello High School, where pupils and teacher Alan Keay talk about the school Scots magazine Porty Blethers. Pupils deliver a rap called ‘D & C’s Guide to Scotland’.
Researcher Alisdair Allan explains how he sat all his degree exams in Scots.
We go to Ayrshire, where Billy Kay and pupils from Park Primary School, Stranraer, visit the cave of Sawney Bean, a cannibal from the past. A pupil recites ‘The Ballad of Sawney Bean’ by Lionel McLelland.
