Outlander has triggered more interest in Scotland and its history than any other cultural artefact in recent years, according to academics.

The hit TV series has brought hoards of tourists to Scotland and now the University of Glasgow is set to host a conference on the show.

Academics will look at the history, customs, politics, culture, clothes and music featured in series at a four-day conference in June next year.

The event has been given a seal of approval by the American author, Diana Gabaldon, who has also agreed to give a keynote speech.

Professor Willy Maley, Professor of Renaissance Studies, English Literature, at the University of Glasgow, said: “The globally successful Outlander series has triggered more interest in Scotland and its history than any other cultural artefact in recent years.

"Interest continues to grow as Outlander moves into its fifth season.

“While hundreds of fan-based gatherings and interest groups around the world promote and encourage Outlander fandom, and thousands of media articles ponder its reach and appeal, there has not yet been an event which takes an academic approach to the series and brings together the multiple areas of expertise involved in its creation.

“The University of Glasgow plans to do just this: hosting a major international Outlander conference in 2020 will offer the chance to debate, discuss and dissect the elements that make up this remarkable phenomenon.”

Outlander tells the story of English nurse Claire Randall who falls two hundred years through time to the eve of Culloden, where she meets the Scottish Highlander Jamie Fraser, played by Sam Heughan.

The show has led to a massive influx of tourists wanting to visit locations featured including the University of Glasgow, which doubled as Harvard in the third series.

Academics at the university have been directly involved in the production and have played key roles as researchers, advisors and even cast members.

Celtic and Gaelic lecturer Gillebride MacMillan who played Gwyllyn the Bard, said: “It has been an amazing journey since I was first cast as Gwyllyn the Bard in Outlander.

“It has opened huge opportunities for me, and I just love that through Outlander I have been able to bring new songs and the Gaelic language to a whole new and worldwide audience.

“I am looking forward to the conference next year which will bring all the many disciplines at the University of Glasgow together to look at Outlander from an educational and academic perspective.

“I am also looking forward to welcoming the author of the Outlander book series Diana Gabaldon to the University.”