First speakers announced for the Edinburgh TV Festival 2026

Including Vicky McClure MBE.

Ahead of this year's Edinburgh TV Festival, which takes place at the EICC from Tuesday, 25th to Friday 28th August, the first speakers have been announced.

Journalist, broadcaster and writer Amol Rajan will take on the Alternative MacTaggart slot at this year’s Festival, a combination of a keynote speech and an in-conversation that helps shape debate in the global television industry from an alternative perspective.

Amol's session will explore his take on the industry, the role of journalism in a post-truth world, and why now is the time to “jump into the great digital Narnia of the creator economy”.

With a varied career across print and broadcast journalism, Amol became editor of The Independent in 2013 and moved to the BBC in 2016, where he was their first media editor, and has since hosted multiple shows, including University Challenge, Amol Rajan Goes to the Ganges, The Media Show for BBC Radio 4, and podcast Radical on BBC Sounds.

Soon, Amol will leave as the key anchor on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, which he has presented since 2023. Having set up his own production company, Amol will be focusing on the creator economy.

Also appearing at the Edinburgh TV Festival for an In Conversation session will be award-winning actress Vicky McClure MBE, who'll be joined by her partner, filmmaker and co-CEO of All3Media-backed indie, Build Your Own Films, Jonny Owen.

Vicky is a keen campaigner for dementia awareness with her award-winning dementia choir documentaries, and both she and Owen are champions for working-class representation, establishing BYO Films in a bid to support and nurture new voices from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.

Her session will explore the social and economic barriers to television jobs and how to positively inspire the next generation of film and TV makers.

Speaking about these first sessions, the Festival’s Advisory Chair, Adam Hawkins, said "This year's Festival lands at a pivotal time for the TV industry. Never have there been more challenges and more opportunities. Amol and Vicky are unique and dynamic voices whose perspectives can help shape the future of TV in all its forms."

Further speaker and session announcements will be made in the coming weeks.

This year’s Festival, by Screen Scotland, will once again be held at the EICC in Edinburgh, and passes are on sale now here.

Edinburgh TV Festival runs Tuesday 25th to Friday 28th August