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

TV PREVIEW Separated at birth? Meet Suits' Harvey Specter or is it Scots solicitor Aamer Anwar?

When I recently reviewed The Firm, a profile of Scottish solicitor Aamer Anwar (still available on iPlayer), I could not for the life of me work out what the deal was with tight skirts, high heels and slo-mo walking. The camera seemed obsessed with following the women solicitors in the firm, shooting them from their red Christian Louboutin soles upwards as they walked to the office across Blythswood Square. Sometimes Anwar walked between them, a dapper Don in a bespoke suit. All was revealed later on when he said one of his favourite programmes, the one that steered him toward the law as an interesting career, was Suits.

TV REVIEW New BBC Scotland crime drama is as slow as a week in the jail

On behalf of Scotland, I’d like to put Granite Harbour (BBC Scotland, Thursday, BBC1, Friday) forward as the world’s first slow crime drama. As it begins its second series, not much has changed down Aberdeen way. Following his transfer from Jamaica, former royal military policeman Davis Lindo (Romario Simpson) is still finding his way in Police Scotland under the guidance of his boss, DCI Cora MacMillan (Dawn Steele), and work partner DS Lara “Bart” Bartlett (Hannah Donaldson).

Alison Rowat: welcome to the Alex Salmond Show - anyone seen Ash Regan?

Wherever he went, on television and radio, the former First Minister did his best to make every show The Salmond Show. The first question he should have been asked was, “Where is Ash Regan?” Salmond after all hailed Alba’s sole MSP as the most powerful member of the Scottish Parliament, with her vote critical in deciding Yousaf’s fate. Why wasn’t she the one being interviewed?

TV PREVIEW The Piano is back and there's a visit to Scotland on the cards

The Piano (Channel 4, Sunday, 9pm) is back, promising new station venues, fresh amateur hopefuls ready to make a public piano sing, and the same judges and presenter in Lang Lang, Mika and Claudia Winkleman. One of the ratings smashes of last year, bringing in some three million viewers, The Piano was a word-of-mouth hit for Channel 4. Series one was followed by a Christmas special and the commissioning of two more runs.