Alison Rowat

Senior politics and features writer

I joined The Herald in 1998. Currently the paper's film writer and columnist, I was previously a leader writer, foreign editor and sub-editor.

I joined The Herald in 1998. Currently the paper's film writer and columnist, I was previously a leader writer, foreign editor and sub-editor.

Latest articles from Alison Rowat

Alison Rowat: Should Scots be more Welsh about Holyrood?

A lot of people in Wales hated the 20mph policy. Half a million of them to be precise, all of whom signed a petition to say so. And what did the Welsh government do? A lovely big U-turn, that is what. Councils were told they could go back to 30mph where it was deemed necessary and safe.

Alison Rowat: As strategists go, Humza is less Succession than Sesame Street

Across television and radio, politics show presenters competed to see who could best convey the mood of the past seven days. Kuenssberg said it had not been “the prettiest week” while The Sunday Show’s Martin Geissler described “another bruising week” for the Scottish Government and the Scottish Greens in particular.

TV PREVIEW Can't get a ticket to see David Tennant on stage? Here's the next best thing

Good Starring David Tennant (BBC4, Sunday, 10pm) brings a filmed performance of CP Taylor’s modern classic to the small screen. This is the National Theatre production that marked Tennant’s triumphant return to the West End post-pandemic. Directed by Dominic Cooke, the filmed version had a run in cinemas last April but now it comes to terrestrial TV and is yours to watch free (save for the licence fee).

Alison Rowat; Now BBC and presenter drawn into Labour 'two homes' row

Asked on BBC1's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg how Labour was handling the accusations against Angela Rayner, the writer and Labour supporter John O’Farrell said it was a “ridiculous non-story” and “a bit of gossip” that Kuenssberg, and the BBC in general, should not feel obliged to keep reporting. “It’s not a story just because the Mail says it is a story,” he said.

TV REVIEW Here's the Scoop on Prince Andrew's train wreck Newsnight interview

At the end of an Attenborough nature documentary there’s a behind-the-scenes segment showing how the sausage is made, as it were. Scoop (Netflix, Friday) did the same for Newsnight’s interview with Prince Andrew. Yes, that interview. There are now two filmed dramatisations of the sit-down. This one, based on the book by Sam McAlister, the booker who secured the interview, is the first to arrive. McAlister comes out of it well, natch, being portrayed as a plucky, working-class single mum who drags the snooty Newsnight lot into the social media age.

Alison Rowat: Oi! JK Rowling! Wind yer neck in about Scotland's hate crime law

I hope you are proud of yourself, JK. Yes, you, Ms Rowling, the one all over the media mocking Scotland’s hate crimes law and daring Plod to arrest you. Here is my problem, JK. I agree with everything you say about the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act, which came into force this week. I just don’t like the way you are saying it.

Mastermind crowns its latest champion, and guess where she calls home?

A quiz show novice from Glasgow lifted the Mastermind trophy tonight, continuing Scotland’s run of success on the BBC show. Ruth Hart, a charity engagement manager, dedicated the win to her late father, who had encouraged her to apply.  “I found out I’d been accepted on to the programme after he died. That was one of the things that kept me going,” she said.