New Cumnock celebrity hair stylist Sam McKnight has said he is thrilled to be "coming home" when he attends this year's Boswell Book Festival.

This year's festival will take place at Dumfries House from May 12-14 in what is looking set to be another excellent weekend.

Boswell Book Festival is the world’s only book festival dedicated to biography and memoir, and is named in honour of the great biographer James Boswell, the first festival was in 2011.

READ MORE: Boswell Book Festival announce action-packed weekend

Many guests come from right across the planet, but it's a fairly local face who has been stealing some of the headlines.

Hair guru Sam McKnight was born and raised in New Cumnock, before moving south to London to pursue his dreams in the 1970s.

On moving to London, Sam was employed at the luxury hair salon, Molton Brown.

He then moved to New York in the 1980s, and has since worked with a host of A-list celebrities, including Princess Diana, Madonna, Kate Moss and Lady Gaga.

After travelling the world doing what he loves, Sam McKnight is now looking forward to coming back to his East Ayrshire roots.

READ MORE: New Cumnock man who styled Princess Diana's hair 'delighted' at New Year MBE

Speaking about his delight of coming home and being part of the festival, Sam said: "I love coming home. I’m looking forward to a stroll around the gardens.

"The whole area is incredibly beautiful. I get to visit my family albeit fleetingly, and I’m looking forward to experiencing the festival myself. 

"Also, I might have a wee dook in the pool at New Cumnock."

Although he was back not so long ago, Sam said he misses the spectacular scenery, the famous Pathead Bakery, and, of course, friends and family when he's off rubbing shoulders with celebs.

Sam will be one of many famous faces involved in this year's festival.

This is something the New Cumnock is delighted to a part of.

He added: "It’s exciting and humbling. I’m a keen reader, I always have several books on the go, so I’m quite looking forward to seeing a few of my favourites."

Many of the weekend's events will also be live-streamed.

Tickets and further information is available on the Boswell Book Festival website.