The Stage

EITF to feature Armstrong and Bain masterclass

Published Wednesday 4 July 2007 at 12:00 by Matthew Hemley

Peep Show writers Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain will share tips on creating a successful sitcom at this year’s Edinburgh International Television Festival.

The pair will give a masterclass in developing storylines and sustaining them, as well as sharing details on how to create characters.

They will be joined by the producer of the Channel 4 show, Andrew O’Connor.

Another masterclass being lined up for the audience of this year’s festival will see Dominic Minghella, writer of BBC1’s Robin Hood, share his knowledge on how to turn a legend into a programme that engages a 21st-century audience.

The festival line-up also includes a discussion panel entitled Are You Having a Laugh?

The session will see entertainment commissioners Paul Jackson, ITV director of entertainment and comedy, and Andrew Newman, head of entertainment at Channel 4, reveal their inspirations and their proudest comedy moments.

They will be joined by Spaced actress Jessica Hynes and former executive producer of The Office, Ash Attala.

Other highlights in this year’s festival include Making a Drama Out of a Crisis.

This will see Channel 4 head of programming Stuart Cosgrove chair a panel looking at dramas that take the traumas of real people as their subject matter.

Panellists on this include Margaret Lockwood-Croft, from the Marchioness Action Group, and Richard Dale, head of content at Dangerous Films.

Jimmy Savile will present a special live version of Jim’ll Fix It as part of the festival.