Prolific British scribe James Graham will ask “why television has a problem with the working classes” in the Edinburgh TV Festival MacTaggart lecture this year.
Graham, whose credits include Sherwood, Dear England, Brexit: The Uncivil War and Quiz, will deliver the 49th address in two months time, an agenda-setting speech that has been helmed down the years by the likes of Michaela Coel, Kevin Spacey and three Murdochs.
The British playwright and screenwriter will “explore why television has a problem with the working classes and how drama can shape the political agenda,” posing questions over how the push for greater representation can more confidently include social class and regionality.
Across a 20-year career, Graham’s oeuvre has repeatedly addressed these topics and recent works include a theater version of Alan Bleasdale’s Boys from the Blackstuff and political thriller series The Way with Michael Sheen and Adam Curtis. He has won an Olivier Award and been nominated for two BAFTAs and an Emmy.
He is widely regarded as one of the hardest working British writers out there and once had three plays on at the West End at the same time. In a moving BBC interview several months ago, he spoke of his struggles with workaholism, describing the addiction as “no different really from drink, drugs or sex.”
Graham said: “I am genuinely honoured to be invited to deliver the MacTaggart lecture this year of all years, following a potentially landmark election. In these difficult and divided times, culture and the arts have never been more important; TV moments can still bring a nation together through shared viewing experiences whether it’s in a drama that brings our collective attention to unbelievable injustices or a sporting performance that unites us in celebration or disappointment.”
He added: “I’m aware that delivering this lecture is a real moment, as well as an opportunity, to consider the future direction for the creative industries. I’m keen to look at the wider role that drama, storytelling and culture can play in politics, society, and in particular those left-behind communities.”
Edinburgh Creative Director Rowan Woods and Advisory Chair Harjeet Chhokar called Graham a “fearless contemporary chronicler of British history, institutions and power structures.”
“A firm believer in the power of television in shaping the political agenda and illuminating social injustice, as well being committed to representation that confidently includes social class and regionality, we couldn’t think of anyone better to speak to where we find ourselves culturally, socially and politically in 2024,” they added.
Last year’s MacTaggart was delivered by Louis Theroux, who warned that an “atmosphere of anxiety” was leading to “less confident, less morally complex filmmaking.”
The festival will take place from August 20-24. The first set of speakers revealed last month include Will.i.am, The Handmaid’s Tale producer Warren Littlefield and Clarkson’s Farm EP Andy Wilman.
The post James Graham To Ask “Why Television Has A Problem With The Working Classes” As He Lands The 2024 Edinburgh TV Festival MacTaggart Address appeared first on Deadline.
