Edinburgh Festivals

The Festival Cafe was broadcast live from the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, providing two weeks of conversation, guests and culture culminating on Friday 28 August with Janice Forsyth presenting a round up of the acts from the 2009 Edinburgh Festival.

Last week's shows

Monday 17 August

Guests included American author Garrison Keillor, and historian Tom Devine shared his views on the Scottish Enlightenment. The cast of 'Woody Sez' bring the spirit of American folk legend Woody Guthrie to the show. See some pictures from the live show

Tuesday 18 August

Novelists Margaret Drabble and Christopher Brookmyre joined in the fun, and Phil Jupitus chatted about the world of poetry. And there was lots of laughter courtesy of Dead Ringers impressionist Jon Holmes. Plus American literary legend – and legendary drinker - Charles Bukowski is the subject of Grid Iron Theatre's play Barflies. See some pictures from the live show

Wednesday 19 August

The Tiger Lillies brought their macabre musical magic to the show and hot comedian Kevin Bridges joined the team in Edinburgh. See some pictures from the live show

Thursday 20 August

Scottish songwriter and musician Edwyn Collins and playwright Mark Ravenhill, live from Edinburgh. See some pictures from the live show

Friday 21 August

In the final Festival Cafe special, guests included Zic Zazou and jazz star Barbara Morrison. Pictures from the live show

Shows in the first week of the Festival

Monday 10 August

The Soweto Festival Choir kicked the festival season off in fine style. Joining Clare in Edinburgh were Ian Rankin, A-Team: The Musical!, Soweto Gospel Choir, and the Newsrevue 30th Anniversary. View the gallery of pictures from the live show

Tuesday 11 August

Featuring Peter Duncan (ex-Blue Peter presenter), Bob Golding (lead actor in the Assembly's 'Morecambe' about the life of Eric Morecambe), the cast from the Muriel Spark adaptation 'The Girls of Slender Means' at the Assembly.See pictures from the live show

Wednesday 12 August

Joining Clare English in Edinburgh were Lynn Ruth Miller AKA The Stripping Granny, human jukebox Abi Roberts, actress Linda Marlowe and Robyn Peterson from 'Catwalk Confidential'. View the gallery from the live show

Thursday 13 August

Janice welcomed Iain Banks to her sofa for a chat about his latest novel. Jim Haynes, Maria Tecce, and Baba Brinkman with his 'Rap Guide to Evolution' also featured. See some pictures from the live show

Friday 14 August

Alistair McGowan, cricket commentator Henry Blofeld and Tom Brown joined the team. See some pictures from the live show