Festival boost as Radio 1 tunes in

Published on Wednesday 8 April 2009 22:08

THE BBC has bowed to pressure to give Edinburgh's festivals better coverage after it emerged a major Radio 1 show will be broadcasting from the city in August.

The Scott Mills "drivetime" show will be coming live from the capital in August – the first time Radio 1 has had a major broadcast at the Fringe.

Mills is expected to spend at least a week in the city covering comedy and live music highlights from the Fringe.

The BBC has been under mounting criticism in recent years for scaling back its coverage of the capital's festivals, while boosting programmes devoted to Glastonbury, T in the Park and the Proms season in London.

The BBC has pledged the Fringe coverage will be among the highlights of its live festivals broadcasts over the summer.

The move is expected to bring a huge boost for the Fringe. Organisers are banking on a rise in first-time visitors from around the UK offsetting an expected drop-off in overseas festival-goers.

Jason Carter, editor of BBC live music and events, said: "It's a packed year again for Radio 1 – with a presence at all the major festivals and lots of activity aimed at the younger end of our audience. We're also delighted to be visiting the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the first time."