TV FESTIVAL SPECIAL: The Wire’s Dominic West mocks media mogul Murdoch

By Rory Reynolds

@ the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival

AWARD-winning actor Dominic West has mocked media mogul James Murdoch while collecting the award for the hit TV show The Wire.

West ridiculed the News International boss on Saturday after Murdoch launched a savage attack on both regulation and the BBC the night before, during the keynote James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture.

Both the lecture and the television awards were held as part of the Edinburgh International Television Festival at the weekend.

West collected the Non-Terrestrial Programme of the Year award from comedian Michael McIntyre before poking fun at the media boss at the packed awards ceremony.

He said: “I heard two things here yesterday – David Simon said The Wire is essentially about what happens to a country when it embraces unchecked free market economics.

“The next thing I heard was Mr Murdoch saying that the only guarantee of quality and independence is profit.

“So I accept this on behalf of everyone at The Wire with gratitude and in contempt of the Murdoch doctine.”

Peter Andre to speak about Katie Price love-split at Media Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival

By Shaun Milne

POP STAR Peter Andre is to lift the lid on his heartbreak over splitting from former glamour model Katie Price in Edinburgh later this month.

He is taking part in a ‘masterclass’ at this year’s Media Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival and is expected to talk in depth about the break-up.

His appearance on Saturday, August 29, comes as he joins Neville Hendricks, executive producer of ITV2 reality show Katie & Peter: The Next Chapter Southside, where they will discuss what is to happen with the franchise following the split.

It will also coincide with promotion of his new single, Behind Closed Doors, which is released next Monday on iTunes.