Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh is revealing an unexpected soft side to one of his most infamous characters.
Psychotic hardman Francis Begbie, it turns out, has moved on from the violence of the 1993 book and follow-up Porno by being rehabilitated through art and falling in love.
Welsh has written an exclusive short story with the character who was brought to life by Robert Carlyle in the 1996 film adaptation of Trainspotting.
The new chapter will be played out in The Big Issue and other street papers around the world to help tens of thousands of homeless people at Christmas.
Welsh said there will be even more revelations about the character in the exclusive story, called He Ain’t Lager.
The plot of the story, written for the Glasgow-based International Network of Street Papers, centres on Begbie visiting his family at Christmas after being released from prison.
Paul McNamee, editor of The Big Issue, said: “As we push for sales to help vendors at the most difficult time of the year, we run a series of bumper seasonal editions.
“We start next week, in fact, with a Doctor Who special. And we’re delighted that Irvine Welsh, who has long been a big supporter of The Big Issue and street papers in general, has come up with a new piece of work for us.”