Long before Monday's announcement confirming Brian McMaster's retirement next year as director of Edinburgh International Festival, the pundits had been speculating on who might fill his shoes.
The first female winner of the Perrier award for 10 years is already being courted by broadcasters who want to make her the next big thing in TV comedy. By John Plunkett.
Suck it and see
Should it be a French flick about a moustache or Britain's first Dogme movie? Andrew Pulver visits the Edinburgh film festival to pick this year's winner of the first-time directors award.