THE Scots actor who played Rebus in the hit television series has insisted the character would "obviously" back independence.

Ken Stott made the assertion after Rebus’ creator, Ian Rankin, told Nicola Sturgeon the inspector would vote No in a plebiscite.

In a letter addressed to the First Minister, published in the Scotsman, Stott writes he was “surprised” by Rankin’s claim.

The actor, who played Rebus in the STV series between 2000 and 2007, points out at that the fictional detective was the grandson of a Polish immigrant.

“Therefore I suspect Rebus would be well aware of the humiliation and degradation suffered by so many immigrants at the hands of the Home Office then and now,” he explains. “This may, in turn, lead him to ‘think carefully’ before voting and to consider how his grandfather might have fared in the ‘hostile environment’ of a pre/post-Brexit UK.”

Stott adds: “So isn’t Ian here just simply projecting himself onto a much-loved character? Because if you could apply the question to Rebus, he would obviously tell you he’s a Yes voter.”

READ MORE: Ian Rankin: 10 things that changed my life

The debate arose after Rankin, during a Q&A with Sturgeon at the the Bloody Scotland crime writing festival in Stirling, told the First Minister his most famous character would not vote for independence.

The author said: "I think Rebus, if you're talking about yes or no to independence, which I assume you are, and not Brexit, the thing about Rebus is Rebus likes the status quo.

"He fears change, he doesn't like change, and is very set in his ways. I think he would be a 'No'."