Big Talk boss Kenton Allen takes Edinburgh TV Festival role

Kenton Allen, the joint chief executive of Rev and Friday Night Dinner maker Big Talk, has been named the advisory chair for the 2012 MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival.

Allen takes on the role from 2011 festival advisory chair George Entwistle, the former BBC Knowledge controller who became head of BBC Vision in April.

For the 37th festival next August, Allen will engage in a variety of activities, including commissioning sessions and overseeing production, reports The Guardian.

Allen, who was creative head of BBC Comedy between 2003 and 2008, has production credits on The Royle Family, That Mitchell and Webb Look and Johnny Vegas's Ideal. He has also previously worked for Elisabeth Murdoch's Shine and Granada TV.

"I think George did a brilliant job this year, and I relish the prospect of getting stuck in and making 2012's festival the best it can be," he said in a statement.

"There has never been a more creative and exciting time to be working in television and no other event showcases this like the MGEITF. It's a very special event and I haven't missed one in 15 years. I feel very honoured to be taking on the role and I'm really looking forward to helping make it unmissable."

Festival executive chairman Elaine Bedell, who acted as advisory chair for the 2009 event, added: "I'm very pleased that Kenton is taking on the role of advisory chair.

"In recent years, the role has been held by executives working for the main UK broadcasters, and I think it will be a real benefit for the UK's main television festival to be chaired this year by someone with such standing from the independent sector, who perfectly understands the pressures and demands of the UK production business."

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