Welsh reveals drama behind Trainspotting prequel

Published on 10/04/2012 12:00

TRAINSPOTTING writer Irvine Welsh has revealed he nearly lost the upcoming prequel to the hit novel, because it was stored on ancient Amstrad computer disks.

Welsh, 53, had to hire a specialist to retrieve the 100,000-word file for Skagboys, out later this month.

Welsh said the new book will be based on unused material from Trainspotting. Skagboys reveals the past of Mark Renton and his fellow addicts, who became world famous when the 1996 film of Trainspotting was released.

He said: “When I wrote Trainspotting I had 100,000 words that I didn’t use. I tried to buy an Amstrad on eBay, then I found a guy who could transpose the stuff.”