BBC EdFest's 2017 Best Bits
We've enjoyed an August full of fun here at the Edinburgh Festivals - with everything from forensic mind readers to clowns and even an astronomer all performing at our venue. As difficult as it has been to whittle it down to just a few highlights, we wanted to share some of our favourite bits of this August with you...
An epic Irish Dance-off
We kicked things off with a dance battle that took place approximately 175 miles apart! All the way from the BBC Salford studios, Breakfast presenter (& retired Irish dancer) Steph McGovern took on five-time Irish Dancing World Champion, David Geaney who was with us at our Edinburgh Festivals venue.
Breakfast's Steph vs the Irish Dancing World Champion!
Steph McGovern shows off her Irish Dancing skills live.
When Kirsty Wark saw a ghost...
Few people know the Edinburgh Festivals as well as Kirsty Wark so for her BBC Two Scotland programme 'Kirsty Wark's Edinburgh', she invited some pretty big guests including comedian Iain Stirling, cabaret star Meow Meow, and she also enjoyed a very intimate experience with Tape Face...
Kirsty Wark and Tape Face re-enact a famous film scene...
Kirsty Wark and Tape Face take to the stage re-enact a famous film scene.
When Colin Cloud was an actual wizard!
Janice Forsyth and her guests including impressionist Jan Ravens and ABC Adelaide's Sonya Feldoff were stunned by this brilliant trick from Colin Cloud.
Colin Cloud demonstrates his mind reading abilities...
Forensic mind reader Colin Cloud uses his special powers to wow the Janice Forsyth Show
We met Dr Pamela Epps who has enjoyed the Festivals since 1947
We were completely charmed by Dr Pamela Epps who joined the stage for a special recording of BBC Radio 4's Front Row. She told the programme's host, John Wilson, that the weather was slightly better 70 years ago...
Meet the woman who has been to every Edinburgh Festival
90 year old Dr Pamela Epps has been attending the Festival annually since 1947.
We were visited by 'Joke of the Fringe' winner, Ken Cheng
He won 'Joke of the Fringe' but is Ken Cheng really a Chinese comedian? He explained all to the audience for our BBC Presents...The Next Big Thing show.
Ken Cheng is a Chinese comedian... or is he?
Joke of the Fringe 2017 winner Ken Cheng performs for the BBC at the Edinburgh Festivals.
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra celebrated the International Festival's 70th
We teamed up with the BBC SSO to put together a special 70th birthday surprise for our friends at the Edinburgh International Festival. Sing along if you know the words...
Happy 70th Birthday to the Edinburgh International Festival
The BBC SSO perform Happy Birthday for the Edinburgh International Festival.
Sylvester McCoy read us an Edinburgh poem
It's been a while since Sylvester McCoy has performed at the Festivals, but he returned this year to tread the boards for a new comedy play aptly titled, 'A Joke'. We couldn't resist the opportunity to mark his return to the Festivals so were delighted when he joined us at our venue to read that classic poem exploring Edinburgh 'From a Window in Princes Street' by William Ernest Henley.
Sylvester McCoy takes us down Edinburgh's Princes Street
Sylvester McCoy reads us 'From A Window on Princes Street' at the Edinburgh Festivals
Spoiler alert - it's Thrones! The Musical
We were thrilled to be able to share more of what was going on from our Edinburgh Festivals venue as it was happening, thanks to the power of Facebook Live. BBC Arts visited us for a special live broadcast from our garden and they brought some guests with them all the way from the Seven Kingdoms.
The Spoiler Song from Thrones! The Musical
Not up-to-date with Game of Thrones? You might want to put your fingers in your ears.
Jan Ravens brought along some friends...
Making an international impression from our Blue Tent stage was the always brilliant Jan Ravens. Speaking to to both Janice Forsyth as well as Sonya Feldoff from ABC Radio Adelaide, she brought along some pals from as far away as America...
Jan Ravens makes an impression on the Janice Forsyth Show
Jan Ravens showcases her amazing Theresa May, Kirsty Wark and Hillary Clinton impressions
We met up with Nicola Sturgeon at the Book Festival
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is a key event in the August Festivals season so we were proud to partner up with the Festival as well as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to celebrate Scotland's poetry. Sturgeon read an extract from the Edinburgh-born and current Scottish Mackar's moving poem, 'A Lang Promise'.
Nicola Sturgeon reads an excerpt from A Lang Promise
Nicola Sturgeon reads from A Lang Promise by Jackie Kay at the Edinburgh Festivals
The Royal Military Tattoo marched its way to our venue
A Troop from the Royal Military Tattoo joined the Janice Forsyth Show for what we think might be the most thrilling way to open a show at the Festivals.
The Royal Military Tattoo - A Traditionally Scottish Sound
The Royal Military Tattoo open both hours of the show with pipes and drums
We saw the most awesome acrobatics
Our BBC Presents...Cabaret night is always a spectacular night, but we think there were some performances that were head & shoulders above the rest...
Flippin' Heck! Incredible acrobatics from Kin
A taster from the amazing circus show Kin on the BBC at the Edinburgh Festivals stage.
We saw all of Edinburgh - from the inside of a tent...
BBC Arts reporter Lindsay Chapman, joined us at our venue to try out the new Edinburgh 70 VR experience. Whether you're a Fringe virgin or veteran we bet you've never been experienced being flyered in another dimension..
Exploring Edinburgh in virtual reality
BBC Arts reporter Lindsey Chapman tries out the Edinburgh 70 experience for herself.
Some Fringe legends dropped by to show us how it's done
We were delighted to be joined by some Fringe veterans who proved that age is nothing but a number when it comes to being funny.
Edinburgh Fringe "oldies" Arthur Smith, Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden
Three legends of the Fringe talk about becoming the old-timers of the Festival.
...and Radio 2's Michael Ball went busking!
When we found out Michael Ball was bringing his Radio 2 show to the Edinburgh Festivals, we had to get him and his big voice out on the Royal Mile for an impromptu busking session. We think he might be the most successful busker of all time!
See what happened when Michael Ball joined the Edinburgh Street Fringe
Before his live show from Edinburgh we sent Michael busking on the city's Royal Mile!
