Scottish actor Sylvester McCoy, best known for playing the seventh Doctor in the popular BBC series Dr Who, has been confirmed as this year’s Chieftain at Cowal Highland Gathering in Dunoon.

The well known Dunoon born actor, who now resides in London, was delighted to accept the invitation to what is Scotland’s biggest highland games on Saturday 28th August. The event, which hosts a string of family entertainment, attracts up to 23,000 spectators and over 3500 competitors from all corners of the globe. More than 500 highland dancers and 3000 pipers from across the world compete to win championship titles, including the World Highland Dancing Championship Final and the Cowal Pipe Band Championships.

The role of the Chieftain is very much a ceremonial one where his main duties include presenting prizes to the winners of the Cowal Pipe Band Championships & the World Highland Dancing Championship. An emotional three days for both competitors and visitors comes to a spine tingling climax on the Saturday evening, normally around 6pm, when the Chieftain takes salute during the pipe band ‘march past’. The massed bands, which make up 3000 pipers & drummers, form and play the “salute to the Chieftain”.

Since his legendary role as the seventh carnation of Doctor in Dr Who between 1987 and 1989, Sylvester McCoy, 67, later revived the role in a 1993 charity special ‘Dimensions in Time’ and again in 1996, appearing in the Doctor Who television movie with Paul McGann as the eighth Doctor.

Since playing The Doctor Sylvester has appeared in many TV and Theatre roles as well as TV presenting and recording Audio Books. Presenting credits include the classic shows. Tiswas, Vision On and Jigsaw.

Sylvester McCoy said: “”I am absolutely delighted to be attending Cowal Highland Gathering at the end of August especially considering that as a child I grew up for 18 years watching the pipers marching up Argyll Street. I so look forward to revisiting the location and the happy memories. I am thrilled and honoured to have been asked.”

Malcolm Barclay, Event Manager for Cowal Highland Gathering said: “I would like to thank Mr McCoy for accepting our invitation to be our honorary Chieftain at this year’s event. It is a privilege and honour to welcome Mr McCoy into this role and both myself and the team at Cowal Highland Gathering look forward to bringing him home to Dunoon this year.”