The best of this year’s Edinburgh Festivals will be celebrated in a series of special programmes airing on STV this August. Filmed in the exclusive VIP area of Underbelly in George Square at the heart of the Fringe, The Festival Show will be broadcast on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout August, with the first programme airing on STV at 1930 on Tuesday 7th August.
Hosted by presenters Jennifer Reoch and David Farrell, The Festival Show will bring viewers some of the top entertainment stars and acts who are performing during the event. Across the month, Jennifer and David will be joined by celebrity guests including author, actor and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, impressionists Rory Bremner and Jan Ravens, actress Maureen Lipman, who is returning to Edinburgh 53 years after her Fringe debut, comedians Harry Hill and Reginald D Hunter and comedian and novelist Julian Clary.
In addition to hosting celebrity guests, the programmes will also capture the spirit and atmosphere of the event with musical performances and features such as Festival Faces – where viewers will find out more about the people and performers who flock to Scotland’s capital, and Ewen Meets – where late-night chat show host Ewen Cameron is joined by a celebrity guest for an interview they won’t forget.
STV’s on-air coverage will also be complemented by exclusive additional content available online via the STV Player.
STV’s extensive programming builds on the successes of its previous years’ festival coverage which featured top guests including writer Irvine Welsh, comedian Jason Manford, musician Amy Macdonald, and TV presenter Arlene Phillips.
In 2017, STV’s Edinburgh Festivals coverage reached over 1.5 million viewers.
Stephen O’Donnell, Director of Programme Strategy & Marketing at STV, said: “The Edinburgh Festivals are a highlight of the events calendar not just in Scotland but also internationally and the popularity of last year’s coverage on STV created an unparalleled platform for the city and the Festivals.
“Thousands of people descend on Edinburgh during the month of August, and we are delighted to bring our viewers interviews with the biggest names in showbiz and great stories from some the most entertaining and high profile stars in comedy, stage and screen.”
The Festival Show will air on Tuesdays at 1930 and Thursdays at 2030 on STV throughout the Festivals from 7th August to 28th August.