Scotland's culture secretary is to host a "chat show" during this year's Edinburgh festival season.

The event, on August 1, will be hosted by Fiona Hyslop and will take place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC).

She will interview the leaders of the three festivals founded in 1947.

The event will include Fergus Linehan, director of the Edinburgh International Festival, Shona McCarthy, chief executive of the Fringe, and Ken Hay, chief executive of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Ms Hyslop joins a group of leading SNP politicians taking part in the festivals this year.

Former First Minister Alex Salmond is to host a show at the Fringe, and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is taking part in two events at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Ms Hyslop said: “I look forward to celebrating the 70th anniversary by interviewing the directors of the three founding international festivals and discussing the phenomenon which has become the Edinburgh Festivals and their national and international impact.”

Marshall Dallas, Chief Executive of the EICC said: "We are delighted to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to the EICC for this unique event in our Innovation Nation lecture series.

"The EICC has a strong relationship with many of the festivals and recognises that their enormous global appeal is crucial to positioning Scotland as a creative, outward looking country."

The event is a free but ticketed.

The Edinburgh Festivals summer season begins this weekend with the opening of the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival which will host two free events in the city centre on Saturday and Sunday.