MSP: 'BBC should up Festival coverage'

MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville has called on the BBC to expand its "limited" coverage of the Edinburgh Festival to bring the event to a wider audience.

Somerville has written to BBC director general Mark Thompson and controller of BBC Scotland Ken MacQuarrie asking them to expand the corporation's coverage of the annual arts festival, reports The Scotsman.

Despite acknowledging that the BBC produces some "excellent" programmes about the festival, she claimed that the corporation could play a much larger role in bringing the festival performances and events to a bigger audience.

"The BBC does produce some good quality coverage of the Festival, but I believe there is a growing consensus that it remains too limited," said Somerville.

"We've had another highly successful Festival season and I feel the BBC could do more to bring the best productions and events to a wider audience."

She added: "In particular, the amount of live coverage is very poor in comparison to other events such as the Proms.

"That's why I've written to the BBC for details of the amount of coverage they are providing and asking that they look again at whether the corporation could better serve the public by expanding its role in the Edinburgh festivals."