AWARD-winning actor, director, singer, musician, screenwriter and author, Hugh Laurie CBE, will receive the Edinburgh TV Festival’s Outstanding Achievement award at the prestigious TV Awards, it was announced today (WED).
Ahead of receiving the award on Thursday 22nd August, the festival will also honour Laurie’s career with a special ‘In Conversation With…’.
From one half of comedy double act, Fry and Laurie, to a film career and the phenomenal success of award-winning US medical drama, House, and BBC One’s The Night Manager, the conversation will offer delegates an insight into his career, his experiences and influences in this fascinating session.
Hugh Laurie CBE said: “I’d have been excited to receive an award just for Sticking Around – but this is overwhelming.”
CEO and festival director, Lisa Campbell, said: “Hugh Laurie resonates with so many generations of TV viewers – for some, it’s George in Blackadder, for others it’s Jeeves, Dr Gregory House or Richard Onslow Roper in The Night Manager – to name a few.
“It’s a phenomenally diverse range of iconic shows for one man to be across from so many different genres – he’s brilliant and I’m thrilled he’s coming to the Festival – not just to receive his award but also so we can hear from the man himself about his career highlights so far.”
Executive chair, Graham Stuart, said: “Hugh Laurie has only ever been on the best shows on television and now he’s coming to the Edinburgh Television Festival. We look forward to celebrating a star of great taste and style at the biggest television industry event of the year.”
Previous recipients of the Outstanding Achievement awards include: Michael Palin CBE, Beryl Vertue CBE and award-winning writers Russell T Davies OBE and Sally Wainwright.
As a festival and a charity, the Edinburgh Television Festival is committed to helping young people from all backgrounds gain access to the TV Industry. It runs two young talent schemes, Ones to Watch and The Network.
Both schemes aim to ensure that the people working in television are as diverse as the audience watching it.
For more information log on to thetvfestival.com
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Note to editors:
The Edinburgh TV Festival is further expanding its remit as the foremost charity dedicated to supporting the television industry with the launch of a new division – The TV Foundation – ushered in by a living wage campaign.
The TV Foundation has tied with the Living Wage Foundation to substantially increase the number of employers in the industry which pay staff the real living wage.
As part of the launch, The TV Foundation has also unlocked a £150k dedicated development funding pot, which it expects to be matched by funding grants and industry support.
This includes the launch of nationwide talent labs, alongside TV Foundation Bursaries for industry schemes, including writing initiatives backed by Thousand Films, Kudos and Hartswood West.
The TV Foundation will also take control of long-running talent schemes The Network and Ones To Watch, supported by YouTube, as well as more recent year-round initiatives including the Social Mobility Summit and New Voice Awards.
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