TV pulls out stops for parliament broadcast

BBC Scotland is finalising plans for its biggest ever outside broadcast to cover the state opening of the Scottish parliament on July 1.

More than 40 cameras will be located at key positions along the procession route and within the parliament building itself, four times the number used for covering the Scottish Cup Final. Kirsty Wark will be in the hot seat fronting the programme.

Scottish Television will be screening a two-hour pro-gramme in partnership with Grampian TV and will have 30 cameras closely following the days events, but an STV spokesman said they have still to finalise arrangements on who will present the live broadcast. BBC Scotland's coverage from the streets of Edinburgh will be screened UK-wide and is expected to be picked up by foreign television companies. Wark will present the two-hour programme from a specially constructed studio in the capital's Princes Street Gardens. Cameras will be positioned in the chamber and along the route of the ceremonial processions, which includes the Crown of Scotland being taken from Edinburgh Castle to the parliament building in an open car. The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince of Wales will be escorted by 16 troopers from the Household Cavalry as they make their way in an open carriage from Holyroodhouse to the parliament, receiving a gun salute from nearby Edinburgh Castle en route. Atholl Duncan, producer of the BBC programme, said: "It is one of the largest, most complicated outside broadcasts ever mounted by the BBC in Scotland. Linking cameras from Holyroodhouse to the top of the Mound presents quite a challenge for our resources staff." The BBC have been holding talks with STV and Grampian to share some resources, and some parts of the coverage will be pooled because of camera restrictions at several points. There will be 50 production and technical staff working on the programme and BBC Scotland have sought advice from colleagues in London who have first-hand experience of covering the state opening of Westminster. Around 1500 Scottish youngsters will escort another civic procession led by a pipe band from Parliament House to the nearby parliament chamber. And Radio Scotland presenter John Milne will provide the commentary as the Queen performs the opening ceremony. As well as the pomp and pageantry of the official opening, a #700,000 public party will be staged in the city, masterminded by Peter Irvine, the man behind Edinburgh's Hogmanay party. Bands will play in Parliament Square and Princes Street Gardens with giant screens broadcasting the ceremony at the Mound and in East Princes Street Gardens and relaying the images of the official procession.

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