Clydebank acting legend James Cosmo has teamed up with VisitScotland to recite the work of Scotland's Bard ahead of this year's Burns Night.

Cosmo is known for his work on hit TV show Game of Thrones, as well as films such as Braveheart and Trainspotting, but the Bankie has turned his hand to poetry for this year's celebration of all things Scotland.

He can be seen reading out Scotland’s favourite Scots poem, ‘To a Mouse’ by Robert Burns, after the national tourism organisation surveyed 1,000 Scottish adults to pinpoint precisely which Scots poems are their favourites and how they felt about learning Scots poetry at school. 

‘To a Mouse’ topped the survey, with more than a fifth (22 per cent) of Scots saying this was their number one.

Speaking about the importance of teaching Burns in schools, Cosmo said: “It’s so important that our children still read Burns...and that language that is so rich and vibrant can’t be lost.

"It's way too important. It’s what brings us together; it has a warmth and a beauty about it that can’t be replicated. 

“Burns remains with us because he speaks of eternal truths and speaks to the human spirit and soul so clearly that I can’t think of another poet that has done that in such a special way.

“So, keeping Robert Burns and his work alive in the school room is incredibly important.”

Whether belting traditional Scottish songs in assembly, singing a cheeky Scots street song in the playground or reciting all 228 lines of Robert Burns’ ‘Tam o’ Shanter’ from memory, most Scots will have some recollection of the Scots language from their school days.  

The research uncovered that a whopping 9 in 10 (86 per cent) Scots say that they have fond memories of learning Scots poems and songs at school.  

A further 9 in 10 (91 per cent) Scots say that they could read and listen to Scots poems and understand what most of the words mean, suggesting that learning Scots poems in school is a skill that sticks with Scottish people well into their adulthood.  

Cat Leaver, head of brand and global marketing at VisitScotland, said: “The words of Robert Burns have touched the hearts and minds of people the world over and Burns Night continues to be a global celebration of Scottish culture.  

“Whether it is attending an event, visiting an attraction associated with Burns or hosting your own Burns Night dinner, there are so many ways to honour our National Bard.  

“This research shows the lasting impression Robert Burns and the wider Scots language has on people right across the country and it’s fantastic to see so many respondents share fond memories of learning these poems.  

“They are an important part of our cultural heritage and one of the many things that makes Scotland so special.” 

VisitScotland found that 7 out of 10 of Scotland’s favourite Scots poems were by our national bard, Robert Burns.

Burns Night takes place on Burns' birthday, January 25, and is marked with a traditional feast of haggis, neeps and tatties.

Find out more at https://www.visitscotland.com/blog/culture/scots-language-poems/