Actor, writer, comedian and author Meera Syal will deliver the Alternative MacTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival. 
 

The recipient of the Bafta Fellowship this year, Syal’s TV and film credits include the upcoming Acorn series Mrs. Sindhu Investigates and Prime Video’s Wheel of Time, as well as Goodness Gracious Me, The Kumars at Number 42, Roar, The Split, The Devil’s Hour, Anita and Me, Yesterday and Paddington 2.  

Syal will speak to festival executive chair Fatima Salaria in a session produced by Nisha Parti, about the highs and the lows of being a trailblazing British Asian woman in the film and TV industry and will reflect on the importance of representation. 

Advisory chair Kiran Nataraja said: “As an icon who has always been at the forefront of the industry, I know her unique perspective will make for a fascinating and lively session.” 

Other festival sessions announced include: 

• How to Navigate the Next Global Crisis 

• TV’s (Not So) Guilty Pleasures – Does TV have a Snobbery Problem? 

• Reboots session in which experts examining what the reboots boom means for the industry 

• Banijay UK chief executive Patrick Holland on the future of docs 

• Secrets of Scheduling with Disney’s Liam Keela 

• What’s Next for British Comedy? 

• Fulwell 73 co-founder Ben Winston in conversation with Richard Bacon about his move to the US 

• Ex-Paralympian and broadcaster Ade Adepitan tests two teams of TV bigwigs, comedy stars and creatives about building an inclusive broadcasting industry by 2030 via quiz rounds.  

Speakers already announced include Succession creator Jesse Armstrong, Happy Valley Sally Wainwright and MacTaggart speaker Louis Theroux.  

Last year’s Alternative MacTaggart was delivered by Rose Ayling-Ellis who accused the industry of tokenism when it comes to representation.  
 

This article first appeared on our sister site, Broadcast.