Irvine Welsh: ‘The white male rage of Begbie is in the culture today’

The Trainspotting author, 58, on the destruction of masculinity, loving Iggy Pop and the terror of hangovers

My first memory is saying goodnight to my toys. One was a rabbit called Bunny that had no arms. One was a golliwog. And the other was a teddy bear called Elaine. I’m not mad keen on rabbits and I’m not mad keen on racism, but I’ve always retained a fascination with bears. I’ve been to forests in the Carolinas to see them, and even up to the Arctic.

I’m not mad keen on rabbits and I’m not mad keen on racism, but I’ve always retained a fascination with bears