Over another mouth-watering lunch, John Goodlad will explore how salt fish from Shetland became a staple food for Europe, powered an economic boom and inspired artists, writers and musicians. The publisher says: “Living on the remote island of Mull has inspired Banjo to be resourceful and inventive in his design outlook. With sustainability and budget in mind, he combines vintage finds with clever design and re-purposes the old, re-imagining it into something new. The tiny home, which features on the latest episode of Designing the Hebrides on BBC Scotland, had no power or running hot water, and was damp and rotting. It’s about community and connection and stopping and being really grounded. And once you’re on [the Isle of Mull], you can’t get off. You’ve got to get a ferry and it’s a logistical challenge. When you’re there everything washes away and it’s just magic.’ On Saturday, guests can join world renowned novelist, poet, librettist, playwright, member of the Really Terrible Orchestra, all-round polymath and raconteur, Alexander McCall Smith as he dissects his latest books with Anna Marshall, author of the 44 Scotland Street Cookbook, followed by dinner.

BBC Designing The Hebrides - Media Centre - BBC

The whole premise of the book is from the perspective of living on an island, embracing the materials that we have, using finite resources and only our own skills to bring them to life. So, it’s about taking that mindset into everything we do. Also on an island, you just have fun, there’s no pressure, and it’s not trying to be trendy. It’s just, it’s just a little bit of fun and tongue in cheek.’ Two of Scotland’s leading artists of nature and landscape, Sarah Ross Thompson and Jane Smith, will be hosting a lunch at An Tobar while showcasing their work and discussing future projects with a delicious meal provided by Mark and Brendan from the Boathouse on Ulva. I turned cowbells into light pendants at a farm because they had no money. Also, some of the spaces are inaccessible, I had to take a boat, full of stuff out to a lighthouse we were designing, and I had to walk two hours to one space. On an island logistics are a big part of it. An Antipodean Hebridean, Brendan ''Banjo'' Beale grew up in central west Australia in the middle of nowhere.We were actually in 'my' bar in Soho, with Alan and and the rest of the nine other guys [10 designers took part in the competition], and the production crew and some others. Watching it with 30 rowdy A type personalities in a Soho bar was all a bit mad for me. It wasn't like watching it in the little hotel room in London I'm normally staying in. Where are you now? The final result sees the bothy retain its rustic feel, while being transformed into a stylish and comfortable living space. Pieces of upcycled furniture add to the authenticity, while the wooden panels that cover the lower half of the walls are painted in neutral colours to reflect the natural landscape.

Banjo Beale : Goodhomes Magazine Designing the Hebrides Banjo Beale : Goodhomes Magazine

Banjo's client wanted a sleek 'British members' club' vibe. Banjo admitted that he'd never been in such an establishment in his life. The winning result? Elegant, understated and so impressive, the bar's owner has now asked Banjo to restyle his own apartment. It doesn’t matter whether you’re living in London or the Hebrides, I think we can just decide to actually make a conscious effort not to run out to these big stores and buy flat things. ‘Because part of the adventure is just getting the free stuff, isn’t it? I love going and meeting the person that I’m getting it off and going into their living room and you’ve got a story then immediately where it’s from. Combining history, myth and travelogue, Dougie Strang’s The Bone Cave recounts a month-long walk following the invisible strands of story across the Scottish Highlands, and Kerri Andrew will be examining how walking is a source of creativity and comfort, a means of expressing grief, longing and desire and an activity full of physical and emotional significance in Way Makers, an anthology and testament to the rich literary heritage created by generations of women walker-writers over the centuries. BB: Well, my dog, for starters. And then my yellow kitchen. I've just moved into a newer place, so I'm trying to add lots more character to it. And it's so gloomy here outside that I wanted to paint a little bit of sunshine inside. It was actually like a kit home, so it came with lots of standard things. I'm wanting to just add a bit of personality to it. Tell us about your childhood home

Sustaining local craft

I have three. I really love the 'drunk botanist' boutique hotel room in week two. It was quintessential, moody dark green. I love a nook anywhere you can curl up in. I really loved my shepherd's hut as well (week five) – it was full of little collections. But absolutely without a doubt, the café in Margate (week eight), with the shutters and especially the owners' reaction, it was such a buzz. And I was really blown away when in the same week, the café was used in that episode of [BBC drama series] Killing Eve, also on TV. What advice would you give to anyone thinking of applying to the show in future? But what was it like to be on the side of the judging panel? ‘I thought it would be really hard because I have empathy for anyone that throws themselves open to judging. But when that camera rolls and then you see someone’s house, you have a visceral reaction, good or bad and there’s no hiding that! If I tried to lie, I’m wearing it on my face anyway. It’s a very lovely show, and all the houses are quite beautiful. But I’m not afraid to give my opinion on it.’ Sustaining local craft My city of Tobermory is one of the most colourful in the UK, but some of the interior spaces are begging for individuality, according to Banjo. Thankfully, some courageous locals are giving me the keys to their homes, including a bothy that is two hours by foot from the closest road and a distant lighthouse, castle turret, and cherished local rugby team. Although they are logistical problems to deliver, they are dream properties to design. In this warm and characterful new series, Banjo and his friendly team of tradespeople travel across the Scottish islands using their craft skills, energy and creativity to bring Banjo’s Hebridean design dreams to life. Designing the Hebrides will air on BBC Scotland, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer later in 2023.