Madeleine's father to speak at Edinburgh

The father of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann will speak at this year’s MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival.

Gerry McCann will be interviewed by Kirsty Wark about the use of television in the search for his daughter and the role that the media has played in his family’s tireless campaign to find Madeleine.

Gerry McCann is among the names confirmed for this year’s MediaGuardian Edinburgh International TV Festival, which today announced the 2007 Festival events programme.

Peter Barron, 2007 advisory chair and Editor of BBC Newsnight, said: "I'm delighted we've managed to attract such a strong, diverse and newsworthy line-up for this year's Festival. Whether it's the hot industry issues, new technology, masterclasses or entertainment you're after, it's all here in a packed and must-see schedule."

Other highlights include the Worldview Address which will this year be given by award-winning novelist Lionel Shriver, and see her attack what she calls the "hyper-narrative" in modern TV news moments such as the trial of OJ Simpson and the death of Princess Diana. 'Trust Me, I'm a...TV Producer' will sees BBC Economics editor Evan Davis look back at the scandals that have dogged television this year.

Following the success of his return to television on UKTV, Jim'll Fix It Strikes Again will see Jimmy Saville grant the wishes of a group of TV executives. A Top Gear event 'Star in a Car' will see four TV executives race against each other and the programme's infamous Stig, and a University Challenge: Edinburgh Special will see industry teams of boys and girls battling it out with Jeremy Paxman as host.

Paxman will also be making the James McTaggart lecture. An alternative MacTaggart lecture will be given by Vint Cerf from Google, who is widely regarded as the father of the internet having co-designed TCP/IP protocols.

Channel 4's head of entertainment, Andrew Newman will chair a Masterclass with Peep Show writers Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain and producer Andrew O'Connor around the success the show. The writer of 1970s ITV sitcom, Mind Your Language Vince Powell, will also look at whether TV has become obsessed with political correctness, along with Life on Mars writer Ashley Pharoah, American stand-up comedian Reginald D Hunter and Flame TV’s creative director, Narinder Minhas.

In his first speech since becoming Channel 4’s director of television and content, Kevin Lygo will outline how the channel’s public service vision is evolving to meet the challenges of emerging media platforms, and writer and broadcaster Andrew Neil chairs a debate called ‘Has Channel 4 lost its way?’ with panelists including Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan and Stephen Lambert RDF director of programmes.

For the first time MGEITF has spawned its own fringe event, the Un-Festival. The day-long event, will centre around the clash of the well established TV world and the constantly accelerating Internet world.

The full programme can be found on the festival website, www.mgeitf.co.uk.