Magnus Linklater CBE is a Scottish journalist, writer and former newspaper owner. He was born in Orkney and studied at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Mr Linklater has worked as an Editor for the Evening Standard, The Sunday Times, The Observer, The Scotsman and The Times. Linklater is also a former chairman of the Scottish Arts Council 1996-2001 and holds honorary degrees from Napier, Aberdeen and Glasgow Universities. He has presented Eye to Eye on BBC radio Scotland and written numerous books on Scottish history and current affairs from, ‘The Nazi Legacy’ to ‘The Secret Life of Jeremy Thorpe.’ 

Events participated in:

Ukraine Three Years On: Join Magnus Linklater CBE as he talks to Scottish journalist, Jen Stout, about her vivid first hand account of life under fire detailed in her remarkable book, Night Train to Odessa. (2024)

From Russia with Love: Watch as Magnus Linklater, former Met Chief Bernard Hogan-Howe and John Taylor, who has spent over 50 years working in intelligence and security, including close contact with human sources like Oleg Gordievsky, as they discuss the state of play concerning domestic and international security. (2021)

Where Next for the United Kingdom?: Listen as political commentators Steve Richards, Sarah Smith, and Jim Naughtie explore the current state of affairs in UK politics and what it takes to leadthis country. Magnus Linklater asks the questions. (2019)

Great Scottish Lives: Join Allan Massie as he interviews Magnus Linklater about his latest book, Great Scottish Lives, a collection of obituaries exploring the lives of iconic figures throughout Scottish history. (2018)

After Chilcot: What Next for British Diplomacy: Join veteran UN diplomats Sir Kieran Prendergast and Andrew Gilmour as they discuss the soft and hard power options for international diplomacy in the wake of the Chilcot Inquiry. Magnus Linklater asks the questions. (2016)

Crossing Borders: Listen to Rory Stewart MP in conversation with Beyond Borders Patron, Magnus Linklater as he talks about his life as a soldier, explorer, writer, diplomat and Borders politician. (2013)

Return of the King: Meet Beyond Borders favourite, William Dalrymple, as he returns to Traquair to read from his new book, which examines the haunting parallels between Britain’s imperial adventures in Afghanistanin the 19th and 21st Centuries, as well as talk about his new project concerning the Indo-Pak rivalry. Magnus Linklater asks the questions. (2013)

The State of the Union: James Naughtie, Sir Menzies Campbell MP, Tam Dalyell and Magnus Linklater discuss the likely effect of the referendum, the banking scandal and the Leveson enquiry on the state of the British Union. (2012)

Cables from Kabul: Listen to veteran diplomat and former UK Special Envoy, Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, as he discusses his experience of Afghanistan and Pakistan with the Scottish editor of the Times, Magnus Linklater. (2012)

How to Win and Keep Hold of Power: Magnus Linklater in discussion with Jonathan Powell on how to wield power in the modern world. (2011)

Tales from Afghanistan: Magnus Linklater talks to William Dalrymple and Des Browne about 19th and 20th-century British rule in Afghanistan. (2011)

A Place in the Sun: Where now for Zimbabwe: Magnus Linklater, MDC Minister of Culture, David Coltart, former Cricket Captain, Henry Olonga, and the film director of Mugabe and the White African, Andy Thompson, as they consider Zimbabwe’s future. (2010)

Tales from Afghanistan: Join Magnus Linklater in discussion with James Ferguson, author of Taliban and Tim Albone, former Sunday Times Foreign Correspondent and film director of Out of the Ashes, about what lies in store for Afghanistan, its people and the West’s presence in the country. (2010)