The BBC has announced a wide-ranging programme of coverage to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Edinburgh Festivals, with a showcase of performances and events across television, radio and online.
Featured talent includes Sir Ian McKellen, Daniel Radcliffe, Stephen Fry, Karen Cargill, Aditi Mittal, Val McDermid, Joshua Bell, Jack Whitehall, Nicholas Parsons and Paul Merton. Highlights include the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on BBC One and special editions of Radio 4 favourites such as Just A Minute and Front Row.
The BBC New Comedy Award final, hosted by Mark Watson, will be broadcast live on Radio 4 on August 13, with performances from six finalists and special guest Tez Ilyas. The Asian Network presents a Comedy Night on August 11, while BBC Comedy’s Lee Dalloway hosts daily Facebook Live sessions with up-and-coming comedians.
At the BBC’s base at George Heriot’s School, visitors can enjoy music performances, the Edinburgh Poetry Slam and family activities in partnership with organisations including Edinburgh Arts Festival, Dynamic Earth and the National Museum of Scotland.
In Festival Tales: Edinburgh at 70, Jack Whitehall explores seven decades of the festival on BBC Two on August 26, with contributions from McKellen, Fry, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Radcliffe. Kirsty Wark presents Welcome to Edinburgh on August 19 and her own showcase Kirsty Wark’s Edinburgh on August 13.
Donalda MacKinnon, Director of BBC Scotland, said: “This is a special year for the Edinburgh Festivals and for the BBC at the Edinburgh Festivals.” She described Edinburgh as “the world’s stage, every summer since 1947.”
