Andy Dougan

Andy Dougan has been living and breathing film for more than 30 years, and says he reckons he has interviewed every major film star of that period.

The exception is Paul Newman. "He remains on my wish list, but he seems serious about retirement so I guess that will go unfulfilled."

Noted for his accessible style and knack for quickly getting to the core of a film, Andy is the film critic for the Evening Times, and also teaches at the RSAMD, training the award-winning Scottish film-makers of tomorrow. "Honest," he says. "We have the BAFTAs to prove it."

Andy has written ten books on film, including biographies of Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, Robin Williams, George Clooney, Michael Douglas and Richard Attenborough. He says his career highlights include meeting Clint Eastwood and being turned down by Gene Kelly, "whose refusal to be interviewed was done with considerably more grace than has been shown by a number of people who have given interviews".

Alison Rowat

Alison Rowat is The Herald's new film critic, taking over from Hannah McGill in September 2006.

She became a journalist in the year Rain Man won the Oscar for best picture, and has worked for news organisations including the BBC and The Guardian.

After a decade in London, she returned to her home city of Glasgow to join the staff of The Herald, and in 2004 she was named Columnist of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards.

Both she and Dustin Hoffman are still working.