YOU don’t get to meet a lot of film stars round my way, so excitement levels are high as the locals prepare to welcome two glamorous gals who have racked up millions of views for their latest stints in front of the camera.

Well, OK, in front of an iPhone. Yeah, and maybe YouTube rather than Netflix.

But hey, do they care? Not while there’s breath in their sleek bodies. (One a cool brunette, the other a ditzy blonde). Not while there’s a biscuit in their bowls. Not when they’ve been on a world (okay, UK) tour meeting and greeting thousands of fans.

Now the eighth Cove and Kilcreggan Book Festival has treats at the ready for, drum roll, the two and only Olive and Mabel.

Their alleged “owner”, top sports commentator Andrew Cotter, started filming the girls at food and play during lockdown when all his normal top sporting gigs were either cancelled or postponed.

And, for a laugh, he added the kind of commentaries normally reserved for his tennis/rugby/golf/athletics gigs.

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When he stuck them up on YouTube, the world and its neighbour went crazy. So, with unexpected time on his hands he wrote a book about the adventures - Olive, Mabel and Me. Then another one - Dog Days - published last month. And began writing a column for a Sunday supplement.

Brought up in Troon, Andrew still comes back to Scotland regularly, mostly to indulge his love of mountain and hill walking.

Naturally, the girls go along too. And, naturally, his backpack includes nourishment for three!

His is the hottest ticket thus far for a bill which also includes Kirstin Innes, whose Scabby Queen has just been shortlisted for the Scottish Book of the Year prize, Booker prizewinner Douglas Stuart (on Zoom but with live introduction from James Robertson, who is also appearing to talk about his own new novel News of the Dead), Denise Mina, Gavin Esler, and multiple award winner Graeme Macrae Burnet.

The festival takes place on Saturday, November 27 and Sunday, November 28, and you can get tickets – or a weekend pass – from coveburghhall.org.uk.

Sadly, Olive and Mabel won’t be signing your copies – but Andrew will!

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