Scottish TV stars are backing the first-ever Glasgow Telly Festival.
The event, running from May 29 to June 1, aims to celebrate Glasgow's TV talent and address the challenges facing Scotland's struggling TV industry.
The festival was created by Scottish author, producer, and screenwriter Claire Duffy.
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She hopes to spotlight Glasgow's TV talent and drive change to help the crisis-hit Scottish TV industry, which recently suffered a blow with the axing of River City.
The festival has the support of Scottish TV stalwarts, including actors Dawn Steele, Blythe Duff, Colin McCredie, Joe McFadden and Shauna Macdonald, as well as presenter Carol Smillie and director Michael Hines.
A series of events will be held across the city, putting Glasgow's talented writers, producers, directors, and actors centre stage.
The festival will also put the Glasgow public at the centre of spotting potential TV hits through an innovative audience feedback app.
Planned events include rehearsed readings, where audiences can watch live performances of TV pilots, and the TV equivalent of an open mic night, where actors, writers, and directors will perform short pilots of new drama series.
Throughout the festival, there will also be a campaign of one-minute pilot videos shown in pubs across the city, showcasing the work of both Scotland's well-known and undiscovered TV talent.
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Claire Duffy, organiser of the Glasgow Telly Festival, said: "Not many people realise that TV was actually invented in Glasgow, so this is a really exciting and important event for the city, and for the Scottish TV industry more widely.
"It’s no secret that TV work has dried up in Scotland - and we’ve all heard about the recent catastrophic axing of River City.
"The opportunities and the budgets simply don’t exist like they used to, but what does still absolutely exist is the talent and the appetite for great Scottish stories.
“We want to find solutions to these challenges.
"We’ll be showcasing the incredibly talented TV writers, actors, directors - both household names and emerging talent - at all of our events, creating new stages and new opportunities for them to showcase the authentic, ambitious TV they want to create.
“Nobody knows great TV better than the people who watch it and I believe audiences should be at the heart of the TV industry going forward, providing feedback and informing decisions.
"Plus, Glasgow audiences have long been known for their no-nonsense feedback which is exactly what we need!
Scottish actress Blythe Duff said: "This is so exciting and I’m very much looking forward to the festival.
"I know all of the hard work to bring it to the public in this, its first year, will pay off."
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