Observer's editor-in-chief to deliver MacTaggart lecture on media landscape
He follows in the footsteps of former keynote speakers that include: Dear England playwright James Graham; I May Destroy You screenwriter Michaela Coel; media mogul Rupert Murdoch; former Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis; and broadcaster Louis Theroux.
Mr Harding said: 'Some years ago, I covered the MacTaggart lectures as a reporter and know how important it is for television, journalism and the wider creative industries.
A post shared by Edinburgh TV Festival (@edinburghtvfest)
'I am hugely honoured to be asked to give the lecture in its 50th year. I hope it will be a moment to call out the challenges to truth and trust – and suggest how we can renew the media to meet them.'
Before he co-founded Tortoise Media, Mr Harding was editor of The Times from 2007 to 2012 and was in charge of the BBC's news and current affairs programming from 2013 up until the beginning of 2018.
He also co-presented On Background on the BBC World Service and wrote the book Alpha Dogs: How Political Spin Became A Global Business.
Jane Tranter, chief executive of production company Bad Wolf and advisory chair of the Edinburgh TV Festival 2025, said: 'James' demonstrable determination to protect truth and trust in public service broadcasting and the media – coupled with his belief that in order to protect we need to change – makes him the MacTaggart lecturer that we need in this seismic year.
'In James' hands, our lecture promises to be a provocative, kick-ass and insightful view from a visionary leader. We couldn't ask for more.'
The festival, which is celebrating 50 years of its MacTaggart lecture, brings together leading industry figures and a broad, diverse range of delegates to debate the issues facing the television industry.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Ozzy Osbourne's wife Sharon's plan to give him a 'better life' as health deteriorated
Black Sabbath icon Ozzy Osbourne is believed to have returned to the UK ahead of his sad death aged 76, following recent years of ill health while living in America The Osbourne family announced the tragic death of Ozzy Osbourne at the age of 76 on Tuesday, which came just days after his final performance with Black Sabbath at Villa Park in Aston, Birmingham. The health of the heavy metal icon had been in decline for some time due to various issues, including a form of Parkinson's disease and a spinal injury. Last year, amid his health struggles, Ozzy and his wife Sharon Osbourne, 72, expressed their desire to return to the UK for privacy, but their plans appeared to be hindered due to his challenges. Discussing a return to England after 20 years of living in the US on their Return of the Osbournes podcast, Sharon replied: "I'm planning, I'm going to try it, so is your dadda, and we'll see." Ozzy added his thoughts, saying: "We've been planning this for the past four f*****g years and we're still here." Seemingly alluding to her husband's health problems at the time, she went on to say she's "learnt that you can't plan anything", and echoed their determination to make a move back home. The former X Factor judge continued: "I just feel like I want to go home, I want your father to have a chance to live his life without being photographed going in and out of doctors' offices, and headlines saying 'he's dying' and 'he's got this long to live'. "I don't want that, I don't want that every week, I want him to have a life. I want him to have some dignity, a life, and we can do what we want more in England than we can here." Ozzy had also shared his desire to move away from "the f*****g ridiculous US" back to his homeland during an interview with The Observer, as he criticised the gun violence in America. More recently, as he geared up for his final performance in Birmingham, he told The Guardian: "It's time for me to spend some time with my grandkids. I don't want to die in a hotel room somewhere. I want to spend the rest of my life with my family." According to The Sun, the rock icon had been documenting their relocation back to England for a series. A source revealed: "After delaying their big move back to Welders in the UK for almost two years because of Ozzy's health, his doctors had finally signed off his ability to travel to the UK and perform at the farewell gig. "After the concert, Ozzy was looking forward to fully retiring at Welders with Sharon, spending their last days together in Buckinghamshire. "Despite all their well known ups and downs over the years, the love Sharon and Ozzy share was strong until the end." Ozzy died in England, in the company of his family. In a statement, they announced: "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. "We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis."
The Guardian
12 hours ago
- The Guardian
Reputation review – front and swagger in brawling portrait of British male rage
Squint and you can picture the two leads of this film playing the Gallagher brothers circa the big Oasis bust-up of 2009 – all front and swagger, eyebrows set into aggrieved furrows. Instead, in this small-time British crime drama, James Nelson-Joyce and Kyle Rowe play old mates dealing drugs in the fictional northern town where they grew up. It's a brawling tale about a man who feels trapped by toxic masculinity, though in the end the film too backs itself into a bit of a dead end of macho violence. Nelson-Joyce is Wes, who has been questioning his life and choices since his best mate Tommy (Rowe) went to prison. Wes and his girlfriend Zoe (Olivia Frances Brown) have just had a baby, and there's even talk of a job. Then Tommy is released, a repugnant bully unwilling to let Wes go. Rowe's ferocious performance feels horribly real, like an angry dysregulated little boy with a need to break anything he can't have. Tommy's rage gives the film some nauseating moments; perhaps even harder to stomach is the casual misogyny in Wes's circle. Reputation is a grim portrait of male rage, though it doesn't seem particularly interested in the reasons behind it. There is a real sense of place though, in rows of narrow terraced houses backing on to wide open expanses of countryside. And for a film put together on what looks like a minuscule budget, it gets a considerable amount done. There's a promising plotline about one of Wes and Tommy's customers, the mother of a murdered 10-year-old boy, as well as little flickers here and there of another life open to Wes. But in the end it all builds to a big grandiose violent ending, which is a bit of a shame. ● Reputation is on digital platforms from 28 July.
Daily Mirror
14 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Ozzy Osbourne's final wish fulfilled by Sharon in heartbreaking move before death
Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76 following a battle with Parkinson's Disease, just weeks after he performed on stage for the final time with Black Sabbat Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne 's death was announced today with a short but moving statement shared by his beloved family. It revealed that the Black Sabbath's loved ones including devoted wife of over 40 years Sharon had gathered around him for one final time as he tragically died. It came just weeks after the frontman performed on stage for the final time for his Back to the Beginning show at Villa Park. The family statement read: "It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. "We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time. Sharon, Jack, Kelly, Aimee and Louis." The family statement was preceded by a location stamp, announcing: "Birmingham, England July 22, 2025" - revealing that Ozzy made it back home for one last time. Ozzy and Sharon had spoken about wanting to move back to the UK from Los Angeles prior to the rocker's deteriorating health. Ozzy stated he was "desperate to come home". While they had hoped to relocate in the past, ongoing health issues for Ozzy have delayed the move. Despite the hold-ups, the couple were expected to settle back in their Buckinghamshire home. Ozzy had spoke about his desire to move back to England way back in August 2022 after more than two decades in Los Angeles as "everything's f***ing ridiculous (in America).' He also cited gun violence in the country as another reason for his desire to leave. 'Everything's f***ing ridiculous [in America]. I'm fed up with people getting killed every day,' he told The Observer. 'God knows how many people have been shot in school shootings. And there was that mass shooting in Vegas at that concert. … it's f***ing crazy.' However, the move was delayed for years due to Ozzy's ailing health. Speaking to Planet Rock's Loz Guest about Black Sabbath's star-studded Back to the Beginning concert on 5th July, Sharon confirmed that the show had given Ozzy the chance to come home. She said: "He's coming over in March. His brothers (in Black Sabbath), he's excited to be here with them.' Asked if they're still permanently moving back to the UK, Sharon replied: 'Yeah, we are.'
