MGEITF Sunday Schedule Announced.

LONDON; Monday 14th June 2010: The MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival announces more industry luminaries to join the 35th anniversary, three day event.

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.