MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival 27–29 August 2010 Programme of Events ON TV Contents Welcome to Edinburgh 02 Schedule at a Glance 28 Social Events 06 Friday Sessions 20 Friday Night Opening Reception / Saturday Meet Highlights include: TV’s Got to Dance / This is England and Greet / Saturday Night Party / Channel of the ‘86 plus Q&A / The Richard Dunn Memorial Lecture: Year Awards Jimmy Mulville / The James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture: Mark Thompson Sponsors 08 Saturday Sessions 30 Information 13 Extras 14 Workshops 16 EICC Orientation Guide 18 Highlights include: 50 Years of Coronation Street: A Masterclass / The Alternative MacTaggart: Paul Abbott / Venues 19 The Futureview: Sandy Climan / EastEnders at 25: A Masterclass The Network 44 Sunday Sessions 40 Fast Track 46 Executive Committee 54 Advisory Committee 55 Festival Team 56 Highlights include: Doctor Who: A Masterclass / Katie Price: Shrink Rap / The Last Laugh Keynote Speaker Biographies 52 Mark Thompson / Paul Abbott / Jimmy Mulville / Sandy Climan Welcome to Edinburgh man they call “Hollywood’s Mr 3D” Sandy Climan bacon sarnies. The whole extravaganza will be for this year's Futureview keynote to answer the hosted by Mark Austin who will welcome guests DEFINING question Will it Go Beyond Football, Films and onto his own Sunday morning sofa. Michael Grade F****ng?. In a new tie-up between the TV Festival will give us his perspective on life in his first public and the Edinburgh Interactive Festival we’ve appearance since leaving ITV. Steven Moffat will THE YEAR’S brought together the brightest brains from the be in conversation in a Doctor Who Masterclass. games industry to share their secrets on how to And in what promises to be a controversial create a game alongside your TV format and make interview, Katie Price has agreed to go under the WATERCOOLER millions. And if you’re confused about what psychological spotlight for a special edition of Project Canvas and Google TV really mean for the Dr Pamela Connolly’s Shrink Rap. future of TV as we know it, make an appointment The weekend will kick off with TV execs and stars to view RIP Scheduled TV? These sessions form MOMENTS donning leotards and leg warmers in a Festival part of our “takeaway” strategy where we want edition of Got to Dance, and will close with a you to leave Edinburgh with so much more than a chance to vote them off stage as they try their hangover and a corporate credit card bill. ON hand at comedy in The Last Laugh. In the middle So having justified your delegate fee in these times you’ll also find all your Festival favourites including of fiscal tightening, I feel I now have licence to Controller one-on-ones, the 2010 Channel of the TV share the stunning line-up of creative talent for Year Awards, and the return of an old friend – your bank holiday entertainment. Our headline act yes, the Saturday Night Party will be back at is the man behind Shameless, Paul Abbott, who The George. will deliver this year’s Alternative MacTaggart Our aim was to make this year’s Festival important, If you’re reading this with an Edinburgh TV Festival Lecture. Like many of our most talented writers, Deborah Turness is Advisory Chair of the 2010 useful, inspiring, provocative and fun. I owe thanks delegate pass in your hand, congratulations. Paul cut his teeth on Coronation Street and to MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television to a great committee who have given so much You have secured a ringside seat to the most celebrate the Street’s 50th birthday its legendary Festival and Editor of ITV News. Graham Stuart of their time and creative energy, and to Graham important media event since the General Election creator Tony Warren has agreed to a rare public is Deputy Advisory Chair and Co-Founder and Stuart, Managing Director of So TV and Deputy – one which will set the agenda others will follow. appearance to share his wisdom in The Director of So Television. Chair of this year’s event. Fitting with The New To pursue the boxing analogy a little further...in the Wonderful Wizards of Weatherfield. And if you Politics, together we formed something of a News/ Over the past 12 months, Deborah and Graham blue corner, we have Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of like that, be certain to catch EastEnders at 25: A Showbiz Coalition. So in the spirit of collaboration, have led the Advisory Committee in producing State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, who Masterclass with exclusive clips and behind the it’s over to Graham for the final word... the sessions for this weekend's event. has accused the BBC of “extraordinary and scenes secrets from that groundbreaking live outrageous waste” and refused to rule out cutting episode. Also unmissable in the “inspire me” “There’s a story about a guy whose job it was to the licence fee. In the red corner we have Mark section of this year’s Festival is An Audience with shovel up the elephant shit when the circus had a Thompson, Director-General of the BBC, who will Andy Harries, the man behind Cold Feet, parade. He was offered another job outside the break his silence in the MacTaggart Lecture to Wallander, The Queen and The Deal. He has circus but turned it down with the words, “What, respond, in what will be one of the most pivotal chosen this year’s Festival as the place to pause and give up show business?” speeches any Director-General has surely ever and look back in what the producers tell me will be At Edinburgh this year we plan to give you the had to make. How will he reshape the BBC for a a very frank session. chance to meet the elephant, discuss its bowel future in Austerity Britain? If you think you know Given my day job I am under pressure to deliver a movements, and never stop being in show the answers don’t miss our MacTaggart warm-up decent “And Finally” to keep you in your seats business. Enjoy”. session Build Your Own BBC, where you can be right through to the end. This year, stay for Sunday DG for an hour before hearing from the real thing. and you won’t be disappointed. In fact, if you Deborah Turness Beyond the politics of change, future-proofing don’t you may just miss something very special. Advisory Chair 2010 ourselves against change in all its forms, and All the main action will take place in the same equipping you to stay ahead, is a theme that runs room in a kind of rolling cabaret format, so you through the Festival this year. We’ve flown over the don’t have to move an inch. There will even be 02 03 Welcome to Edinburgh ‘It promises to be a MacTaggart of national significance once again’ When I took on the role of Executive Chair four years ago, I hoped Edinburgh would become a Festival which made news. A Festival which helped shape the broadcasting agenda. This time last year I think it’s fair to say we hit the jackpot. James Murdoch delivered a MacTaggart which Tim Hincks is Executive Chair of the MediaGuardian undoubtedly changed the mood among both Edinburgh International Television Festival and politicians and broadcasters, and arguably Chief Executive Officer of Endemol UK. presaged material changes in BBC policy. As Executive Chair, Hincks heads a committee So this weekend, it’s Round Two. I’m delighted that meets five times a year and takes care of the that Mark Thompson, Director-General of BBC has overall governance of the Festival and its agreed to deliver the 2010 lecture. It promises to be educational initiatives. a MacTaggart of national significance once again. Beyond this a huge wealth of talent, creativity and policy debate is represented in this year’s programme. From Paul Abbott to Jimmy Mulville to Katie Price (not as big a journey as you might From left to right, top row first: ON The Forgotten Fallen, BBC 4. think), from the future of the BBC, to a session on SWITCH the games industry and a look at 3D. All of this is The Tree of Life, BBC 1. The Operation: Surgery Live, Channel 4. testament to the brilliance of Deborah Turness, Here’s Johnny, More4. Editor of ITV News and this year’s Advisory Chair. TO SCIENCE The Great Sperm Race, Channel 4. It’s her programme, and her drive and imagination Routes, Channel 4. which have ensured such a stimulating programme Broadcast of events. Thanks go to her, and to Amy Brown Wellcome who stepped down as Festival Director just a couple of months ago to be replaced by the fabulous Su Moore. The Wellcome Trust is a global charity dedicated FUNDING Finally, I too must hang up my dancing shoes. Like to achieving extraordinary improvements in We fund both development and production for Tony Blair I said I would serve four terms, so having human and animal health. We work with the innovative projects in TV, cinema, radio, multiple done that it gives me great pleasure to hand over broadcast industry to increase the quality, platforms or gaming. We fund a variety of genres to Elaine Bedell, Director of Entertainment and quantity and visibility of science and medicine in from arts, history and science to Comedy at ITV, who will be superb as the new the media. documentaries, drama and comedy. Executive Chair. Think of her not as Gordon Brown, but as Nick Clegg. Oh God, this has ended really TRAINING badly.