Top Names Boost MediaGuardian Edinburgh Festival

Leading lights in the creative industries including Father Ted writer Graham Linehan, creators of BAFTA award winning comedy FoneJacker, Ed Tracy and Kayvan Novak, PR guru Max Clifford and Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry, will speak at this year's MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival, which takes place from 22-24 August.
Linehan, whose writing credits include Father Ted, The IT Crowd, Big Train, Harry Enfield and Chums, The Fast Show and Black Books, will give a Masterclass offering advice on how to create a hit sitcom.
In their Masterclass, Ed Tracy and Kayvan Novak creators of surreal characters including Terry Tibbs, Mr Doovdee and polite African scammer George Agdgdgwngo, will be interviewed by Channel 4 Head of Entertainment and Comedy Andrew Newman.
Celebrating new talent, two young writers from E4's hit series Skins, Daniel Kaluuya and Georgia Lester, will be giving a Masterclass with the show's creator, writer and executive producer, Bryan Elsley, offering advice on how to get to grips with writing processes and how to make a low budget drama for a digital channel.
Award winning documentary director Molly Dineen will also be giving a Masterclass during the Festival.
Cross dressing artist and Turner prize winner Grayson Perry, best known for his ceramic creations, drawing and embroidery will be joined by fellow creatives on a panel offering advice on How to Have a Good Idea.
Max Clifford, who has been a leading figure in public relations for over 40 years, will join Sharon Osbourne on the panel for I'm a Celebrity: Get Me on TV.
The man who's guided Simon Cowell's TV career for the last seven years both here and in America is also responsible for securing Kerry Katona's reality TV show Crazy in Love with MTV. The show had a record breaking 4.5million viewers for the final episode.
In the session It’s TV News Jim... But Not As We Know It, panelists including Peter Horrocks, Head of BBC Newsroom, Chris Shaw, Senior Programme Controller, Five and David Mannion, Editor in Chief, ITV News, will discuss the changing face of British News and whether traditional TV news bulletins can survive.
(BMcC)