The Beeb will be offering coverage on TV, Radio and Online…
The BBC returns to the Edinburgh Festivals this summer with a line-up of comedy, music, arts and literature as well as a daily dose of news reporting across television, radio and online – promising a cultural feast for audiences across Scotland and beyond.
Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning at BBC Scotland:
“We’re thrilled to be back at the heart of the Edinburgh Festivals with a line-up that celebrates the richness of Scotland’s cultural scene. This year’s programme brings together some of our most popular BBC Scotland titles alongside much-loved shows from across the wider BBC network – offering a vibrant mix of comedy, music, literature and the arts. Whether you’re joining us in person or tuning in from wherever you are, the BBC is proud to share the very best of the festivals with audiences across the country.”
Audiences can access festival content across TV, BBC iPlayer, radio, BBC Sounds and in-person events at key venues including the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), the Pleasance Beyond, Leith Theatre, Edinburgh Future’s Institute, the Queen’s Hall and the Usher Hall.
Among the highlights is the return of the popular series Edinburgh Unlocked, where comedian Mark Nelson lifts the curtain on the Fringe and the wider festival. Expect behind-the-scenes antics, interviews with big-name acts and emerging talent, all airing on the BBC Scotland channel and BBC iPlayer
Book lovers can enjoy The Big Scottish Book Club, where Damian Barr will host conversations with some of the biggest names in fiction, non-fiction, poetry and the world of entertainment across three weeks at The Leith Theatre. Guests this year include Brian Cox, Chris McQueer and Rachel Kushner, with more names to be announced. And there’ll be special Edinburgh editions of Radio 4’s Take Four Books with James Crawford and James Naughtie’s Book Club.
Comedy fans can also catch the nominees for this year’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards in a special programme on BBC Radio 4 at 11pm on the 21 August. Tickets will be available for festivalgoers, with further details will be announced soon.
From 4 to 8 August, the BBC at the EICC and Pleasance Beyond will host a week of live recordings and broadcasts from BBC Radio Scotland and Radio 4, popular programmes lined up to feature include Front Row, The Afternoon Show, Loose Ends, Breaking the News and Scotcast. Tickets for these live events are available via the Pleasance Festival Box Office.
For classical music fans, Radio 3’s In Concert, Classical Live and Opera on 3 will be broadcasting 14 concerts and recitals from The Usher Hall and the Queen’s Hall including the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra’s performance on 21 August. BBC Radio 3 will also broadcast special editions of Saturday Morning with Tom Service on 2 August and In Tune with Petroc Trelawny on 4 August. Both programmes will be broadcast from The Hub, the home of the Edinburgh International Festival.
There will also be coverage of the Edinburgh festivals across TV, radio and online news, with special reports from Arts Correspondent Pauline McLean.
