Scotland has more than its fair share of talent, finds Kirstin Innes, as she chronicles the highs and lows of some of our finest exports over 25 years 25TH BIRTHDAY

1997 2005

2009

2010

Paying the bills with a cameo in Bean. All time career low, not just for Capaldi, but in the history of careers.

After years in the wilderness (bit-parts in My Family and Foyle’s War?), wins sheer gift of a role: Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It. Tucker goes to the big screen with In The Loop; Capaldi shows versatility/brings us all to tears as a repressed civil servant in Torchwood.

After being nominated twice before, finally picks up the BAFTA for Best Male Comedy Performance as (who else) Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It.

2002 2005

2008 2009

The Queen proves herself a Duffy fan; upgrading her 1995 OBE to Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Rapture, an achingly lovely collection of love poems rumoured to be about her split from fellow writer,

Her poem ‘Education For Leisure’ is removed from the GSCE syllabus due to moral outrage. Duffy claims it’s anti- violence and writes satirical poem ‘Mrs Finally, finally named first-ever female Poet Laureate, to almost universal acclaim. Her first public act? A sonnet on the MPs’ expenses scandal.

Jackie Kay, wins the TS Eliot prize, UK poetry’s top award. Schofield’s GSCE’ as revenge.

2000 2005

2007

2010

Rebus moves to telly, but John Hannah looks weirdly skinny in the crumpled raincoat. Nabs himself a Cartier Diamond Dagger Award, the Crime Writers’ Association’s version of a lifetime achievement gong. Probably doubles up as handy murder

Guest-edits The List, obviously an all- time career high. Oh, and Rebus retires, in 17th novel Exit Music. Turns 50 and celebrates by releasing an iPhone app Guide To Edinburgh. Resemblance to Paul Weller increasing every day.

weapon.

1999 2001

2006 2010

‘Through a Looking Glass’ makes De Niro fire that famous ‘You talkin’ to me’ back and forth at himself, a continuation of Aged only 34, gets a retrospective of his works at Geffen Contemporary in Los Angeles. Fills it full of pop culture references, obviously.

Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait follows Zinedine Zidane through the course of one football game.

Back to Glasgow to re-show 24 Hour Psycho, Back and Forth, To and Fro at Tramway for Glasgow International. Also, randomly, does tour visuals for Rufus

Gordon’s fascination with duality, if a bit samey.

Top’s The List’s Hot 100 poll. Wainwright.

2005 2007

2008 2010

After the dark, lovely Young Adam (2004), she manages to be the only interesting thing about Disney’s The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, and had us rooting for the White Witch.

Her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Michael Clayton is overshadowed by tabloid gossip as she turns up with

Founds the deliberately grungy Nairn film festival Ballerina Ballroom Cinema of Dreams with Mark Cousins (yay!), but is in rubbish Coen Brothers film Burn After Lynne Ramsey casts her as the lead in her adaptation of Lionel Shriver’s We Need to Talk About Kevin. We are excited about this.

lover Sandro Kopp, not long-term partner John Byrne. Reading.

2002 2005

2009

2010

Puts out two albums (OK, one of them is a best-of but the other, Dr Syntax, is still pretty great). Also making waves as a record producer.

Suffers a sudden, shocking double brain haemorrhage, from which he makes a slow, against-all-odds recovery.

Following a gradual recuperation, plays T in the Park, receives an Ivor Novello Inspiration Award and publishes a book of illustrations. No, there is no end to his talent. No, you are not worthy. Ascends to National Treasure status and his new album Losing Sleep, with contributions from Franz Ferdinand, Johnny Marr and The Cribs, is a corker!

2001 2003

2007

2010—2011

The first Potter film is released to huge worldwide grosses, making stars of little Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson’s maddening Makes mothers miserable by killing off the only fanciable grown-up Sirius Black, in the long-awaited

diction. Order of the Phoenix.

The final instalment, The Deathly Hallows, is completed in room 652 of the Balmoral Hotel, and released six months later (without much editing). The final film in the series is split into two parts, set to gross eight squillion pounds at box office. Yes, that’s an official figure.

23 Sep–7 Oct 2010 THE LIST 33