Lecture takes place during this year’s Edinburgh TV Festival, which runs Aug 22-24.

Kevin Spacey is to deliver the James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture at this year’s Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival, powered by YouTube.

The award-winning actor, director and producer recently executive produced and starred in the Netflix original series House of Cards.

Spacey commented: “As a newcomer to the TV industry I am honoured to be invited to give the MacTaggart Lecture. Clearly this has been an exciting period for me personally but also I believe this is a time of huge opportunity, innovation and creativity for all of us who live to tell stories and engage audiences.

“I’m excited to share my thoughts and meet players from across the media industry. I’m also an Edinburgh TV Festival virgin so have no idea what I am letting myself in for!”

The MacTaggart Lecture has previously been given by the likes of James Murdoch, Greg Dyke, Jeremy Paxman and Mark Thompson.

Advisory chair of the festival, Karl Warner, added: “Kevin Spacey sums up everything we want this year’s International Television Festival to be; creative, inspiring, and about story-telling in all forms, across all platforms. He’s a genuine artist and visionary, and I’m thrilled he’ll be at the centre of the Festival, delivering an unmissable MacTaggart lecture.”

The 38th edition of the festival runs Aug 22-24.

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