This year on Saturday the new man from the ministry Jeremy Hunt will be quizzed on his vision for British television, his plans for the BBC and the licence fee and what he thinks the industry must do to future-proof itself against the backdrop of deep recession in a face-to-face conversation on stage with writer, broadcaster, and media consultant Steve Hewlett.

Helping to bring a new generation of 3D to the big screen, this year at the Edinburgh TV Festival Hollywood’s 3D man Sandy Climan will deliver this year’s Futureview Address by joining us to inspire those interested on the advances of 3D technology today.

One of Hollywood’s most powerful dealmakers, Sandy Climan has represented stars such as Robert De Niro, Robert Redford, Kevin Costner, and brokered deals for Sony (SNE), Mastushita, and Seagram to buy Hollywood studios. Sandy will be discussing his intentions and those of his peers to bring 3D movies, television shows, and live events to the masses on movie screens and on TV sets.

And finally, Shane Meadows’ new 4 part drama This is England ’86 launches on Channel 4 in September and MGEITF are thrilled to be hosting an exclusive screening of the first episode at this August’s Festival in partnership with Edinburgh Filmhouse on Friday 27 August. After the screening, Shane and producer Mark Herbert will be interviewed on stage by Channel 4’s recently appointed Chief Executive David Abraham, this will also be David’s only appearance at this year’s Festival.

This is England ’86 is acclaimed British filmmaker Shane Meadows’ (This Is England, Dead Man’s Shoes) television debut and the much anticipated follow up to his BAFTA award-winning film. Reuniting the original cast, the four-part drama for Channel 4 is co-written by Meadows and Jack Thorne (The Scouting Book for Boys), directed by Meadows and Tom Harper (Misfits) and produced by Warp Films.

The Festival will take place from August 27 – 29 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. To find out more about the programme and to register, please visit www.mgeitf.co.uk.

Press Enquiries to Taylor Herring PR

LONDON, Thursday 24th June 2020; Independent production company Pricey Media has signed a multi-million pound production deal with Virgin Media Television in a landmark two-year contract that will see tabloid star Katie Price join multichannel superbrand LIVING on an exclusive basis, after her current deal with ITV ends in November.

The deal includes a long-running observational documentary series, a factual entertainment series, a factual formatted series and a number of pilots for both LIVING and Bravo. It will make Pricey Media the largest independent producer of content for VMtv.

Katie herself will feature and star in an exclusive ob-doc series, which picks up the journey from the highly successful What Katie Did Next, and is expected to air in 2011. On ITV2 the show has attracted impressive audiences of up 1.8 million and 8% (3m viewers across a week) making it consistently one the most watched programmes on multichannel television, beating Channel 4, Five and BBC2 in its slot on a number of occasions.

Pricey Media will expand Katie’s TV career into new genres and will develop a brand new factual entertainment format for LIVING, fronted by the star, which is confirmed for an initial run of 6 x 60 , also in 2011.

Virgin Media Television have also announced that Pricey Media will produce two additional broadcast pilots for factual and entertainment series across LIVING and Bravo, involving and developing new on-air talent, as well as producing exclusive new digital content for VMtv’s online and mobile platforms.

Pricey Media Joint Managing Directors Mark Wagman and Jane Robinson commented “Viewers continue to be fascinated by Katie Price, and we are delighted that this new deal offers the perfect springboard to evolve her television career as well as grow and develop our media business in partnership with VMtv who have given Pricey Media the creative freedom and scope to develop some really exciting new projects for their channels.”

Claudia Rosencrantz, VMtv’s Director of Television said “I’ve always loved and admired Katie as she has always combined her beauty with her very good brain, and I’m thrilled to be working with her again. I am delighted to be reunited with Mark, Jane and the rest of the Pricey Media team. I know we’re going to come up with some amazing, must-see TV together.”

Mark Sammon, Head of Commissioning added “I know Katie is going to feel right at home on LIVING and I can’t wait to start working with her.”

Pricey Media

Pricey Media was created in 2009 by Katie Price and Mark Wagman, former ITV Studios Talent Executive who oversaw talent across a range of ITV’s Entertainment output. Mark Wagman and Jane Robinson have recently merged their respective consultancy groups to create Wagman Adair, a Talent Consultancy firm that works across a range of talent led shows including The Royal Variety Performance, Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, An Audience With, Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford, The Military Awards, 71 Degrees North, Live From studio 5, Scream If You Know the Answer, Heads or Tails, Don’t Stop Believing as well as a number of clients including broadcasters and producers such as ITV, FIVE, WATCH, Virgin Media, The Shine Group, RDF, All3Media, Eyeworks, Fever Media, Rain Media and Universal Music.

Katie Price

Mother, wife, businesswoman, model, author, TV star, singer and icon of a generation… are just some of the ways to describe Katie Price. In a career that saw her start modelling in 1998, she has forged a path that has seen her become one of the most photographed and famous women in the UK. With a business empire that spans from television production to being one of the UK’s best selling authors, Katie is also the proud patron of both Vision and The Pituitary Foundation charities. Having raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for both, her passion knows no bounds having been personally effected and inspired by the work of both.

Virgin Media Television

Virgin Media Television (VMtv) has eight wholly-owned channels, some of the strongest entertainment brands in UK multichannel television: LIVING, LIVINGit, LIVING HD, Virgin1, Bravo, Bravo 2, Challenge and Challenge Jackpot. The portfolio spans pay and free-to-air television – reaching 26 million adult viewers each month – and has a growing presence on broadband, mobile and on-demand platforms with services such as the LIVING Player and short-form online channel Liv.

For Pricey Media contact Taylor Herring PR 020 8206 5151

This year SUNDAY gets a makeover starting with ITN’s Mark Austin, who has been given his very own chatshow. He will be joined on the sofa by some high-profile, fascinating guests and promises to delve in to their lives and get the answers to the questions that we all want to know.

Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat will share the secrets behind the continuing success of a beloved British institution, and in a special live edition of More4’s psychological talk show, Shrink Rap, Dr Pamela Connolly will interview pin-up turned reality star and entrepreneur Katie Price about living life under the media spotlight.

Finally, bringing a bit of light comic relief to the closing session of the festival and competing for your vote is The Last Laugh – a talent search for the funniest person working in TV, which will feature as the Closing Session as part of the SUNDAY lineup. We’re pairing up some of the biggest names from behind the camera and some of the funniest people behind the scenes, with the nation’s top comics. Top execs will joinin Jon Snow and Helen Veale, whilst comedian mentors include Shappi Khorshandi, Russell Kane, Sarah Millican, Mark Watson, Steve Amos, Pete Johanssen and Kevin Bridges. Judges include Jill Offman from Comedy Central.

New to the agenda is co-founder and Managing Director of Hat Trick Productions, Jimmy Mulville, who will host the Richard Dunn Memorial Interview. As a man pivotal in the creation of the critically-acclaimed BBC series Outnumbered, Have I Got News for You and Father Ted, he also knows how to turn commercial adversity into success.

Andy Harries – one of the leading independent producers in British television with success ranging from Cold Feet to Wallander, The Royle Family to The Deal – will present a frank session looking at the changing face of drama and the challenges of raising co-production finance. The session will also explore his strong relationship with writers, his tricks of the trade as well as the highs and lows of an illustrious career.

This year’s opening session will embrace the dance fever that is sweeping the nation as MGEITF stages its very own version of the Sky1, Princess and Shine TV show Got To Dance. Judges Ashley Banjo, Kimberley Wyatt and Adam Garcia invite entrants from the world of television to pull on their legwarmers and showcase their fancy footwork in this all-dancing extravaganza. From ballet to ballroom, any style and any age is welcome, from groups (maximum 15 people) to solo performances – if you’re brave enough.

The MacTaggart lecture will be given by the BBC’s Director General Mark Thompson and for the first time, the festival will host a pre-MacTaggart session, Build Your Own BBC. This session invites you to ditch and divinize key BBC areas to address its size and scope – what would you keep – and what would you lose? Jeremy Vine will chair, whilst the panel includes John Simpson CBE.

EastEnders and Coronation Street celebrate landmark anniversaries this year and each will hold a session on their successes. The Wonderful Wizards of Weatherfield: 50 Years of Coronation Street masterclass will be chaired by David Liddiment, BBC Trustee & Creative Director, and the panel includes writer and creator Tony Warren, recently-appointed Producer, Phil Collinson, actress Katherine Kelly and journalist Nancy Banks-Smith. Producers will reveal how potent plots and sizzling storylines continue to excite and engage audiences young and old. Other soaps may have evolved, but the DNA of Coronation Street remains the same: strong characters, family ties, brilliant writing and a huge injection of humour.

EastEnders at 25 discovers the secrets of writing, producing and directing one of the most successful soap operas in the world. The masterclass, chaired by Danny Cohen, Controller of BBC Three, and featuring Charlie Clements (Bradley Branning ), will explore how EastEnders skillfully tackles social taboos time and time again, helping to create defining moments of television. And find out how this year, the production pushed the boundaries even further ’simply’ by keeping a secret, and producing its first ever live episode, watched by 17 million people. BBC Controller of Drama Production, John Yorke and Executive Producer, Diederick Santer will also join the panel.

The Festival will take place from August 27 – 29 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. Delegates can register for the Early Bird rate of £425.00 plus VAT until 22nd June.

BBC Four, BBC Three, Cartoon Network, Comedy Central, E4, Five USA, Sky1 and Sky News have been shortlisted in the Best Non-Terrestrial Channel Of The Year category. The channels in the running for Best Terrestrial Channel Of The Year are BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, Channel 4 and Five.

Dr Who (BBC One) will go head to head with The X Factor (ITV1), Harry Hill’s TV Burp (ITV1), Outnumbered (BBC One), and Flash Forward (Five) in the Best Terrestrial Programme Of The Year category.

The nominees for Best Non-Terrestrial Programme are 30 Rock (Comedy Central), Glee (E4), Newswipe with Charlie Brooker (BBC Four), Pineapple Dance Studios (Sky1) and The Inbetweeners (E4).

Votes were cast by members of the public, festival delegates, industry professionals and The Network and Fast Track alumni via an online survey designed by YouGov. A total of five categories are being judged at this year’s award ceremony: Best Terrestrial Channel Of The Year, Best Non-Terrestrial Channel Of The Year, Best Terrestrial Programme Of The Year, Best Non-Terrestrial Programme Of The Year and The Network & Fast Track Choice Award.

The winner of Best Terrestrial and Best Non-Terrestrial Channel will be decided by a 50% live audience vote and 50% Festival Executive Committee vote while the Best Terrestrial and Best Non-Terrestrial Programme will be decided solely by an audience of industry peers on the night of the awards.

To vote register to attend the live ceremony and three day festival at www.mgeitf.co.uk. The festival audience will decide.

Winners will be decided during a live vote at an awards ceremony hosted by comedian Jack Whitehall during this year’s festival on Saturday 28 August.

The nominees are as follows:

Terrestrial channel of the year
BBC1
BBC2
ITV1
Channel 4
Channel Five

Non-terrestrial channel of the year
BBC3
BBC4
Cartoon Network
Comedy Central
E4
Five USA
Sky1
Sky News

Terrestrial programme of the year
Doctor Who (BBC1)
The X Factor (ITV1)
Harry Hill’s TV Burp (ITV1)
Outnumbered (BBC1)
FlashForward (Five)

Non-terrestrial programme of the year
30 Rock (Comedy Central)
Glee (E4)
Newswipe with Charlie Brooker (BBC4)
Pineapple Dance Studios (Sky1)
The Inbetweeners (E4)

Edinburgh is the first stop on the media calendar following the general election, and BBC Director General Mark Thompson’s MacTaggart will set the agenda for the weekend in what promises to be a pivotal year for the BBC. The festival weekend will feature sessions examining what the new government will mean for media, and what role television had to play in the most unpredictable election in recent memory.

BAFTA award-winning screenwriter and producer Paul Abbott will deliver the Alternative MacTaggart Lecture entitled The Truth About Long-Term Thinking.

Abbott commented: “I’m thrilled to be giving the Alternative McTaggart Lecture because I believe it’s an exciting time to comment on the British TV industry’s reaction to, and performance since, the credit crunch.”

Mark Austin interviews former ITV executive chairman, Michael Grade while new Doctor Who showrunner, Stephen Moffat and award-winning producer, Andy Harries will both deliver Masterclasses. Channel Four’s newly appointed Chief Executive David Abraham is also confirmed to attend the festival.

And don’t plan to leave early – tabloid star Katie Price will be revealing what makes her tick in a revealing, live interview on Sunday.

New regime, new reality. The BBC has already laid out plans for major changes, but will more savage cuts be coming their way? What should they cut, and what deserves protecting? The Festival audience will decide in a session entitled Build Your Own BBC, chaired by Jeremy Vine. There will also be a special, Edinburgh edition of Question Time which will feature those new to power, and in opposition.

For the first time, MGEITF delegates will be able to pose their questions via Twitter to channel controllers who will be revealing their priorities and looking ahead to 2011. Controllers who have already confirmed to take part include Jay Hunt (BBC One), Janice Hadlow (BBC Two), Peter Fincham (ITV1), Julian Bellamy (Channel 4), Richard Woolfe (Five), Danny Cohen (BBC Three), Richard Klein (BBC Four), Stuart Murphy (Sky1), Paul Mortimer (E4), Zai Bennett (ITV Digital), Hamish Mykura (More4) and Matthew Littleford (UKTV).

MGEITF’s opening session will embrace the dance fever that is sweeping the nation by staging a festival version of the Sky 1 HD show, Got To Dance. Six teams — from one solo tap dancer to a 20-strong dance crew — from channels and leading independent producers will perform an array of dances from hip hop to jazz and ballet to street. Each performance will be critiqued by the judges Ashley Banjo, Kimberley Wyatt and Adam Garcia who will award those iconic red and gold stars – with the winner decided by a live audience vote.

In a landmark year for British soaps, MGEITF are celebrating 50 years of Coronation Street and 25 years of EastEnders. For Coronation Street – festival goers will be taken on a trip down memory lane. Masterclass line-up includes writer and creator Tony Warren, actress Kate Kelly and journalist Nancy Banks Smith. Producers will reveal how potent plots and sizzling storylines continue to excite and engage audiences young and old. Discover the secrets of writing, producing and directing and learn how Eastenders skillfully tackles social taboos time and time again, helping to create defining moments of television. And find out how this year, the production pushed the boundaries even further ’simply’ by keeping a secret, and producing its first ever live episode, watched by 17 million people.

Millions watched the debates and the election night shows live on TV whilst tweeting and following online – it brought social media out of teenage bedrooms and into the living room. MGEITF will reveal how can broadcasters and producers harness the social power of Twitter and Facebook to drive deeper engagement and build bigger audiences in a session chaired by prolific tweeter @richardpbacon.

There will also be the unique chance to grill some of Fleet Street’s most prolific TV pundits including Ally Ross and Ian Hyland in a Meet The Critics session chaired by Endemol’s Tim Hincks.

With 3D TV now a reality in the UK, MGEITF will be dedicating a number of sessions to the subject which will explore different genres and budgets, a step-by-step guide on how to produce in 3D, a debate on how 3D could change and reinvigorate the popularity of various genres, plus a showcase of the latest 3D content and kit.

MGEITF has teamed up with the UK’s leading games conference, Edinburgh Interactive, so delegates can swap ideas with leading figures in the games industry. In How To Get Into Games gaming commissioners will be pitched ideas by TV producers and TV commissioners will be presented with ideas from games producers in order to learn what each thinks is important in a good entertainment proposition.

The Channel of the Year Awards will be jointly selected by the Festival’s Executive Committee and a live vote during the ceremony, hosted by top funny man Jack Whitehall on Saturday, August 28 at The Festival in Edinburgh.

Bringing a bit of light comic relief to the closing session of the festival is The Last Laugh – a talent search for the funniest person in the TV industry. MGEITF will pair up some of the biggest names from behind the camera and some of the funniest people behind the scenes, with the nation’s top comics. Which top execs will join Jon Snow in trying their hand at stand up? Comedians who have agreed to mentor TV industry talent include Shappi Khorshandi, Russell Kane, Sarah Millican, Mark Watson, Steve Amos, Pete Johanssen and Kevin Bridges.

Deborah Turness, 2010 MGEITF Advisory Chair and Editor of ITV News, said: “In keeping with our times this year’s Festival will be a coalition of agenda-setting content that will shape the direction of the industry and inspirational, creative stimulation. With the Conservative/Murdoch Alliance now in Number 10, Mark Thompson’s MacTaggart could not be more timely. The big question: will David Cameron demand “savage” cuts at the BBC, and is radical change coming our way? While the festival is about addressing key industry issues, it is also about celebrating and learning from our top creative talent and we are delighted that Paul Abbott has agreed to deliver the Alternative MacTaggart Lecture.”

Tim Hincks, MGEITF Executive Chair and CEO of Endemol UK, added: “When it comes to media events in 2010 Edinburgh is convincingly first past the post yet again. The best producers, celebrities , channel controllers and broadcasters will all be there , making it absolutely unmissable. Miss once, regret for an eternity.”

This is just a taste of the amazing line-up for 2010, with many more sessions still to be announced.

The MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival is a delegate entry event which annually attracts over 2000 delegates from all sectors and levels of the industry. To find out more, and to register, please visit www.mgeitf.co.uk

MGEITF Press Information: Taylor Herring PR Tel: +44 208 206 5151

Instituted 34 years ago to open the annual Edinburgh International Television Festival, the prestigious MacTaggart Lecture always attracts major names in UK and international broadcasting and is known for producing controversial and agenda-setting speeches. Past MacTaggart speakers include James Murdoch, Dennis Potter, Michael Grade, Verity Lambert, Ted Turner, Greg Dyke, David Liddiment, Peter Fincham, Charles Allen, Jeremy Paxman, John Mortimer and Rupert Murdoch.

Mark Thompson, Director General, BBC said; “In what is a big year for the BBC as well as the rest of the broadcasting industry, it’s a great privilege to be asked to give the MacTaggart Lecture, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Deborah Turness, 2010 MGEITF Advisory Chair and Editor of ITV News, said, “Edinburgh is the first stop on the media calendar following the general election, and the MacTaggart will once again set the agenda for the weekend. In what promises to be a pivotal year for the BBC, I am delighted that Mark has agreed to share his vision with the Edinburgh audience.”

Tim Hincks, MGEITF Executive Chair and CEO of Endemol UK added, “It’s a real coup that the BBC’s top man has agreed to share his vision about the future of the corporation at Edinburgh . It will undoubtedly be one of the key media events of 2010.”

The MacTaggart Lecture will take place on Friday 27th August at 6.45pm.

Mark Thompson was appointed Director-General of the BBC in 2004, after being Chief Executive of Channel 4 since December 2001. He had previously worked at the BBC for more than 20 years, becoming Director of Television in April 2000, responsible for the management and running of all BBC network television channels. Mark Thompson was previously Director of National and Regional Broadcasting, responsible for all broadcasting activities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and for local and regional broadcasting in England.

He joined the BBC in 1979 as a production trainee, helped launch Watchdog in 1981 and Breakfast Time in 1983 and he also worked on London Plus before becoming an output editor on Newsnight in 1985. He was appointed Editor of the Nine O’Clock News in 1988 and Editor of Panorama in 1990.

Thompson became Head of Features in 1992 and Head of Factual Programmes in 1994, playing a key role in the successful performance of BBC One and BBC Two and introducing series such as Animal Hospital, Modern Times, The House and Ready Steady Cook. As Controller of BBC Two from 1996 to 1998 he saw the channel retain its share of viewing at a time of increased competition. During this period BBC Two won acclaim for its drama (Our Mutual Friend, The Cops, Amongst Women, Shooting The Past), its entertainment and comedy (I’m Alan Partridge, The Fast Show, The Royle Family, Big Train), and its factual, arts and leisure programmes (The Nazis – A Warning From History, Storyville, Naked, Back To The Floor, Ground Force). He was a member of the BBC’s Charter Review Task Force on Entertainment in 1991; the Programme Strategy Review team, led by Alan Yentob and Liz Forgan, in 1993; and he chaired the Edinburgh International Television Festival in 1996.

Registration for the 2010 MGEITF is now open. The early bird rate of £425 + VAT is currently available until 22 June. Click here for more information www.mgeitf.co.uk.

Festival Press Contact: Taylor Herring PR +44 208 206 5151

On Thursday 26th August 2010, the eve of the TV Festival and the closing day of Edinburgh Interactive, the two will host the first ever creative industries event for television and games, providing an insight into technologies, but more importantly bringing the decision makers from games and television together for the first time.

The MGEITF Futureview Keynote Address will be given this year by a games industry leader, with Edinburgh Interactive hosting a Keynote Address from television. There will also be a Creative Masterclass at MGEITF which will bring together games developers and creatives to discuss the game development process and to explore what the opportunities may be for co-development of interactive TV and games formats.

Today there are 13 million new generation static games consoles in UK homes (Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox and Sony Playstation 3), giving access to games, the internet, dedicated content channels and either the BBC iPlayer or Sky Player.

With TV formats such as I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here, Countdown, Family Fortunes and Ready Steady Cook already available as Nintendo Wii and DS games, it is only a matter of time before the TV industry will develop new games formats for next generation 3D HD TVs with integrated console and internet access. Games are already becoming a major driver for digital entertainment usage, particularly on the internet and mobile phone platforms.

Chris Deering, Chairman of Edinburgh Interactive, said: “Games have had a significant effect on the use of the television in the home. Over the last 12 months this has moved on dramatically with recent research showing that 10 per cent of all BBC iPlayer requests are being driven by games consoles. The debate between the two industries has not yet begun; it will begin in August at Edinburgh Interactive and MGEITF.”

Deborah Turness, Editor of ITV News and Advisory Chair of the MGEITF Advisory Committee, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to explore joint format development between television and games and is a natural evolution driven by major advances in technology. In bringing together executives from these two entertainment industries to discuss, network and share ideas, we place both Festivals at the centre of a new global debate in Edinburgh.”

Edinburgh Interactive takes place on Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th August 2010.

MGEITF takes place between Friday 27th August and Sunday 29th August 2010.

To find out more, and to register, please visit www.mgeitf.co.uk

Do you know anyone who would like a career in television? The Network gives young people the chance to work alongside some of the UK’s best production, marketing and creative teams from the likes of Sky News, MTV, EastEnders and Endemol.

 The Edinburgh Television Festival’s acclaimed scheme, The Network, opens today for applications for its FREE event in Edinburgh in August 2010. Over four days, successful delegates will have the opportunity to meet the best professionals from behind and in front of the camera, listen to talks from senior industry people, get advice from experts, create and produce television. Attendees will come away with new skills, contacts and advice. Attendees must be over 18 years old. No previous experience is needed, just a keen interest in working in television.

Tim Hincks, Chair of the Edinburgh TV Festival Executive Committee and Chief Executive, Endemol UK said today: “Getting a camel through the eye of a needle has long been easier than getting a job in television, but The Network is helping to change that. It is about giving a real leg-up to a fresh and diverse range of new talents”.

Past speakers at The Network have ranged from comedian Russell Howard, Charlie Brooker, Vernon Kay, Sharon Osbourne, Graham Norton, Simon Amstell and Sir Trevor McDonald as well as leading industry figures including the writers of the Inbetweeners, Sky Controller Stuart Murphy, writer Andy Hamilton, Dr Who writer Russell T Davies, crews from MTV News, EastEnders, Emmerdale and BBC Entertainment’s Karl Warner, Jay Hunt and Julian Bellamy.

Applicants should apply online for this FREE event, which this year takes place between 26 and 29 August. No previous experience is necessary; applications are welcome from anyone who has good ideas and an interest in working in television. To find out more about the scheme log on to www.mgeitf.co.uk/thenetwork. Applications close on 16 April 2010.

Delegates who have attended The Network are also given the opportunity to apply for a six month paid work placement at some of the leading TV companies in the UK through The Network at Work programme. Companies taking part include Nickelodeon, Shine, TwoFour Production, Silver River, Endemol and BBC Children’s.

Book your place for the 2010 Festival now

Registration is now open for the 35th annual MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival. As a delegate, you gain access to three days of over 50 sessions, keynote speeches, masterclasses and social events.

Discounts are available for under 26s and students. For more information and to book your place, visit www.mgeitf.co.uk

LONDON, Friday 30th October 2009; Doctor Who will return to BBC One on Sunday 15th November for The Waters of Mars – the second of four specials airing throughout 2009.

Starring David Tennant as The Doctor and guest starring the acclaimed British actress Lindsay Duncan, best known for her roles across stage and screen (Margaret, Lost in Austen), The Waters of Mars is set to be one of the most terrifying episodes of the series to date.

Lindsay Duncan stars as Adelaide – the Doctor’s cleverest and most strong-minded companion yet. She and The Doctor face terror on the Red Planet as they battle against a mysterious alien living within the terrarium of life on Mar’s surface which infects its victims using a water compound it creates.

Neighbours, Flying Doctors and Casualty star Peter O’Brien also guest stars as Ed, Adelaide’s second in command at the base.

The Waters of Mars is the second of four specials which will air throughout 2009.

The Waters of Mars is written by Russell T Davies and Phil Ford and is directed by Graeme Harper. Producer is Nikki Wilson.

Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars, Sunday 15th November at 7pm on BBC ONE

For Further information contact: Taylor Herring PR 0208 206 5151

As Chair, Turness will be responsible for the editorial direction of the Festival’s programme – from commissioning session ideas to overseeing final production. Working closely with the Festival Office, the Advisory Chair brings together a committee from across the entire industry to advise and produce festival sessions.

Turness has been Editor of ITV News since 2004 and is the first female editor of network news in the UK and the youngest editor of ITV News. In 2008 she received the “Women in Film and Television” New and Factual Award. This month her programmes have won an Emmy for coverage of the Chinese earthquake and a BAFTA earlier this year for the same story. Previously, she has presided over a series of scoops and world exclusives including video of the arrest of the London bombers, the leaked report on the shooting of innocent Brazilian Jean-Charles De Menezes and exposing the extent of Charles Kennedy’s drink problem for which ITV News won Scoop Of The Year at the 2007 RTS Awards. Under her leadership ITV News has made history when they became the first news organisation to anchor whole programmes from Antarctica in 2007.

Prior to joining ITV News, Turness was Deputy Editor of ITV News and Deputy Editor of Five News. She was also ITN’s Washington Bureau Producer during the Clinton White House years, spent time in Bosnia during the Balkans War and was North of England producer. Turness began her career at ITN as a freelance producer in the Paris Bureau.

Tim Hincks, Executive Committee Chair 2010 and Chief Executive, Endemol UK, said: “I’m delighted Deborah is going to be Edinburgh’s advisory chair next year. It’ll be a pretty quiet year for her – what with running the ITV news operation, ITV’s election coverage and now the UK’s premier multimedia event, but she’s a force of nature and I know will deliver a brilliant Edinburgh.”

Turness, added: “I am very pleased to have been invited to chair next year’s Festival. Elaine Bedell produced an excellent, headline-grabbing Festival this year, and I am looking forward to working with the committee to create some equally newsworthy, compelling and entertaining sessions next year.”

Previous advisory chairs have included Elaine Bedell, ITV’s Director of Entertainment & Comedy; Andrew Mackenzie, C4 Head of Factual Entertainment; Alison Sharman, ITV’s Director of Factual and Daytime. Tim Hincks, Chief Executive of Endemol UK, Celador’s Head of Factual Entertainment Murray Boland, Tiger Aspect’s Charles Brand, Cheetah Television’s Creative Director Sara Ramsden, ITV’s Director of Global Content Dawn Airey, BBC Director General Mark Thompson and Discovery USA’s Jane Root.

This year’s MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Festival attracted delegates not only from the UK but across the globe from South Africa to Finland, the USA and Australia. The Festival is a charitable organisation which also runs two free talent schemes — The Network and Fast Track — helping young people from a diverse range of backgrounds to get in and get on in the industry. 2009 saw both schemes attract a record number of applicants.

Comedian Russell Howard was the opening night speaker for the Network and then delegates participated in workshops and masterclasses from amongst others the stars and writer of The Inbetweeners (Simon Bird, James Buckley and Iain Morris), Charlie Brooker, Jay Hunt and Julian Bellamy.

Two Fast Track delegates walked away with commissions from UKTV Dave at Fast Track’s live pitch; Sam Ward from Tiger Aspect and freelancer Rob Holloway. They both received a £15,000 commission for 3×3′ programmes which are due to be delivered in April 2010.

The Network and Fast Track are funded through the MGEITF, with approximately one-third of delegate fees going towards these schemes.

–ENDS–

Notes to Editors:

About MGEITF:

Click here for more information http://www.mgeitf.co.uk

A unique opportunity for individuals from across the media to share ideas, make new contacts and reconnect with friends and colleagues, the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival offers delegates a varied programme of topical debates, one to one networking opportunities, Masterclasses and Keynote Lectures from leading UK and international media figures. The Festival programme is developed by an Advisory Committee made up of individuals from across the industry. The MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival is a delegate entry event which annually attracts over 2000 delegates from all sectors and levels of the industry. MGEITF is a charitable organisation which supports and develops new talent from all backgrounds through its two talent schemes, The Network and Fast Track. Approximately one third of the delegate fees go towards supporting these initiatives.

MGEITF Press Information/press accreditation:
Taylor Herring PR. Tel: + 44 (0)208 206 5151