Clarkson puts event in top gear

Published on Monday 29 June 2009 21:29

TOP Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson is to deliver a masterclass at this year's Edinburgh International Television Festival next month.

He is expected to be joined by the show's executive producer, Andy Wilman, to discuss why Top Gear, co-hosted by Richard Hammond and James May, remains the highest-rated programme on BBC 2.

They are also expected to talk about a recent stunt where F1 legend Michael Schumacher was jokingly unveiled as the mystery 'Stig' test driver. The hoax earlier this month saw 7.1 million viewers tune into the hour-long show – just 53 per cent of them men.

A date for the event will be revealed today, when the full programme for the festival, which takes place in Edinburgh on 28-30 August, is announced.

Also in the programme is a session on how TV must change to create a successful business online with a panel including Peter Bazalgette, formerly of Big Brother creator Endemol, plus an event looking at the impact a monopoly on news broadcasting would have on democracy.

More light-hearted sessions include Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin, creators of sitcom Outnumbered reflecting on their 30 years in TV comedy.

Other speakers include News Corporation's James Murdoch; ITV stars Ant and Dec and David Simon, creator of The Wire.