Hello

I’m a novelist, and an award-winning documentary filmmaker living in Glasgow, Scotland and Rathlin Island, Ireland.

If you would like to talk to me about a writing, filmmaking or any other creative project, you can email me at margot@purpletv.tv.

You can find out more about the books I’ve written and the films I’ve made on this site.

I also have a PhD in Film and Media.

If my research area is of any interest, please do let me know.

I’m also on X,  Facebook, Threads, Instagram and TikTok.

Thanks for visiting.

Margot

3 thoughts on “Hello”

  1. Hello. I am Juan Alonso. I am a journalist at BBC Mundo, the Spanish service of the BBC. I am writing an article about Lady Florence Dixie and her role in the promotion on women football in the UK. I would like to know I can talk to you about her.

    Regards,

    Juan

    Like

    Reply

Leave a reply to Juan Alonso Cancel reply

The East Light, BBC Radio 4

I made a documentary for BBC Radio 4. It’s an autoethnographical piece, written and recorded on Rathlin Island, where my father was born, and where his remains now rest alongside my mother. The documentary is called The East Light. Here’s the blurb: Margot McCuaig visits The East Light, a lighthouse on Rathlin which holds memories… Continue reading The East Light, BBC Radio 4

Dr. Margot McCuaig

The day finally came; my PhD qualification has been awarded!! This is the final update in my PhD journey. It’s a strange feeling… euphoria, obviously, and also an incredible sense of achievement for a working-class girl who was the first in her family to go to university. Three degrees and thirty years later and I… Continue reading Dr. Margot McCuaig

Viva voce!

The day of the viva finally came and I am delighted to say that on Wednesday the 12th of November I passed! The viva, held by the examination committee at the University of Stirling, was robust and intense. I have some amendments to make, but to say I’m pleased to have passed is an understatement.… Continue reading Viva voce!

Aye Write book festival

I’m really excited to be featuring on a panel at the Aye Write Book festival, following the publication of Women Who Dared, From the Famous to the Forgotten, published by Edinburgh University Press. ‘This is a vibrant, defiant and deeply human collection of stories about women who have made history – even if history hasn’t… Continue reading Aye Write book festival

PhD thesis submitted.

And that’s it! After two crazy years, which were marred by horrendous grief and major surgery, I’ve managed to stick to my self imposed deadline and submit my thesis. I feel flat, rather than ecstatic, but only because I can’t shake off the feeling that my commitment to my work, and its ability to demand… Continue reading PhD thesis submitted.

The Women Who Built Glasgow City

The Sideline podcast and Glasgow City FC are hosting a special screening of my 2020 Royal Television Society award winning film, The Women Who Built Glasgow City. I’m thrilled about this as the premiere screening scheduled to take place at the Everyman Cinema in Glasgow (pre BBC ALBA transmission) had to be cancelled because of… Continue reading The Women Who Built Glasgow City

Women Who Dared

It’s lovely to be included in this important new book from Edinburgh University Press. It’s called Women Who Dared and is ‘stories of resistance, power and defiance from the women who dared to make history’. It’s edited by Ben Fletcher-Watson and Jo Shaw and the forward is by the amazing Sara Sheridan. My essay is on… Continue reading Women Who Dared

On the road

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a wee update on my thesis progress, but I have a very good reason. I’ve been busy, writing, and as of yesterday (20th March) I completed a full draft of my thesis. I’m going to pause and take a wee moment to appreciate this. The last 18 months… Continue reading On the road

Notes of a life

It has been forty two days since my dad died. In terms of a number it has no real meaning, not in the sense of it being aligned to a specific date, like a month or two months, or even a birthday or an anniversary. It is another day of losing him again. A day,… Continue reading Notes of a life

4 out of 5 aint bad

It’s been a while since I updated on my PhD journey. I may have mentioned that my ambition (intention…) is to complete the four year degree in two years. In theory, this means working full time – times two – every week, but this rigorous schedule is necessary if I am to submit at the… Continue reading 4 out of 5 aint bad

October book launches

Summer has fallen and a ghostly swirl of orange, red and yellow leaves serve as a reminder that we are on the crest of another changing season. Winter will come, but there are still things to look forward to in autumn. October, as well as being the month my two beautiful children celebrate their birthday,… Continue reading October book launches

PhD life.

I’m now four months into my PhD at Stirling (you can read more about my research here). It has passed quickly and it has been a challenging and rewarding time. For the first couple of months of my PhD, my mum was seriously ill in hospital. I tried to visit her every weekday – expect… Continue reading PhD life.

The Way My Mother Lived

Carol Ann Duffy wrote a beautiful poem, The Way My Mother Speaks, and the opening is stunning – I say her phrases to myselfin my heador under the shallows of my breath,restful shapes moving. Recently, I’ve been thinking about the way my mother speaks. Before her words come to me, I experience an odd feeling,… Continue reading The Way My Mother Lived

July is summer.

I love July. As a child growing up in Glasgow, July signified the start of the school holidays and the month we travelled to Ireland to see our grandparents on Rathlin Island. It has rooted me in the island and the tastes, sights and smells of this special month. The summer month. Sadly, my grandparents… Continue reading July is summer.

Writing Character in Fiction

I’m really looking forward to taking part in the latest Linen Press Inside the Linen Cupboard event, “Writing Character in Fiction”. Novelist Susan Clegg  and I will be discussing how to write character, in particular characters who are dark, difficult and yet utterly credible. If you’ve read any of my work then you’ll know that I… Continue reading Writing Character in Fiction

Football Makes Glasgow

I had a lovely conversation with the fabulous team at the Football Makes Glasgow podcast recently, talking about writing novels, working in football broadcasting and making my documentaries, focusing on those featuring football icons such as Rose Reilly, Tommy Burns, Jock Stein and Jimmy Johnstone. Thanks to Lindsay Hamilton from Glasgow Football Tours for inviting… Continue reading Football Makes Glasgow

The ‘Tommy Burns’ Times

Today marks 15 years since former Celtic player and manager, Tommy Burns, died. He was just 51 years old. He was an incredible man who loved his family, his Catholic faith and Celtic intensely. He also had a deep affection for Kilmarnock too! I knew Tommy as a work colleague and he was incredibly fun,… Continue reading The ‘Tommy Burns’ Times

Radio and TV

It was wonderful to have had the opportunity to speak about my Cold War Hockey film on Connie McLaughlin’s Morning show on BBC Radio Scotland, alongside Scotland player Jenna Park. There’s a link to the sequence here. Jenna and I are interviewed from around 2:20:00 to 2:30:00. Cold War Hockey aired on BBC ALBA last… Continue reading Radio and TV

News and events

My BBC Radio 4 documentary, The East Light, airs Sunday 10th May Presenting at the first conference on the history of Celtic FC Book publication, Histories of Women’s Football in Britain and Ireland Aye Write Book Festival event Special screening of The Women Who Built Glasgow City New book: Women Who Dare October book launches… Continue reading News and events