David Olusoga to deliver MacTaggart

Historian, academic, broadcaster, writer and producer David Olusoga OBE will deliver The James MacTaggart Lecture at the online Edinburgh Television Festival on August 24.

David Olusoga

The event’s keynote speech, named in honour of the Scottish television producer, director and writer who died in 1974, has previously been given by media figures such as Rupert Murdoch, Channel 4’s Dorothy Byrne and actor and writer Michaela Coel.

Olusoga is the presenter of shows such as A House Through Time, Black & British: A Forgotten History and Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners.

A British-Nigerian, Olusoga was born in Lagos, grew up in Gateshead in North-East England, and studied history and journalism before starting his career in broadcasting.

“I am enormously honoured to accept the invitation to deliver this year’s MacTaggart Lecture,” he said. “We are living through an extraordinary moment. The pandemic has exposed deep economic and racial divisions and demands for profound and systemic change are louder now than they have been for half a century. Like every industry, television faces a moment of reflection and decision. I’m honoured to have the chance to contribute to that important debate.”