THE Scots writer, director and producer, Armando Iannucci, is to deliver the keynote speech at this year’s Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival: the James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture.
Say the festival organisers: “Iannucci, who co-wrote, produced and directed situation comedy I’m Alan Partridge, as well as the incredible political sitcom The Thick Of It and HBO’s political comedy Veep, will discuss the theme of what TV channels are for, as well as the future of BBC funding, and the changing dynamic of how the public view TV.”
Read more, here (The Guardian) and here (The Scotsman).
* * *
BEGINS an announcement from the BBC: “One of Scotland’s most knowledgeable music broadcasters and writers, Tom Morton, is hanging up his latenight mic following a bout of ill health.
“The Radio Scotland presenter, who currently hosts the Morton Through Midnight programme, has decided to stand down from his three-hour weekend evening shows while he battles back to full health.
“Tom, who regularly broadcasts from his home in the Shetland Islands and who will return to the Radio Scotland airwaves for one final latenight swansong on Sunday May 31, said he had been touched by the many messages of support for him since news of a heart problem emerged.”
Read more, here.
* * *
SAYS STV, in a media announcement yesterday: “A brand new version of the STV Player is available for consumers from today.
“The third version of the STV Player offers a faster, more robust and flexible service for consumers within STV’s licence areas in Scotland to enjoy programmes live or on catch-up.”
Read more, here.
* * *
THE head of news at the Sunday Herald has been promoted to the newly-created role of deputy editor.
Neil Mackay was part of the Sunday Herald launch team, back in 1999.
Prior to being head of news, he was investigations editor, and, before that, home affairs editor.
* * *
THE Herald and Sunday Herald’s Ian Bell today writes at length about the BBC, including to what extent the commercial media might want to see it ‘reduced’ and the possible implications following the appointment of a new Culture Secretary at Westminster, John Whittingdale.
Read more, here.
* * *
WIDELY reported (including in The Scotsman, the BBC and The Guardian): the former editor of the now defunct News of the World newspaper, Andy Coulson, is to stand trial in Edinburgh, on Friday.
Reports Severin Carrell, in The Guardian, Coulson “is accused of lying on oath during the trial of Solidarity party leader and former MSP, Tommy Sheridan, for perjury in Glasgow in December 2010″.
* * *
SEEN anything you think readers of www.allmediascotland.com should be made aware of? Then just send the weblink to here and we’ll do the rest. All suggestions gratefully received. We’re back at noon tomorrow.
