Performance at its best

Summer in Edinburgh is party time as festival fever hits the streets. From the Fringe through to films and books, BBC News Online takes you to the heart of the city's entertainment extravaganza and explains why artists and audiences return year after year.

Edinburgh's Festivals would be nothing without the performers that give them life. BBC News Online's Edinburgh Festival team brings you the best of the star interviews.

Winner takes all
Steve Coogan and Jenny Eclair talk about the effect winning the coveted Perrier award has had on their comedy careers.

Boyle's life less ordinary
Renowned sculptor and convicted murderer Jimmy Boyle talks to BBC News Online about his novels.

Back to school: Gregory's Two Girls
John Gordon Sinclair and director Bill Forsyth talk about the long-awaited sequel to Gregory's Girl.

Dave Gorman: In search of a perfect world
Gorman wants to change the world, but even if he fails he still creates an hilarious hour of Fringe comedy.

Phill Jupitus: Never mind the hecklers
Never Mind the Buzzcocks funnyman Phill Jupitus reveals secrets of his stand-up act.

Jim Rose Circus: The shocking truth
Jim Rose may be infamous for shocking acts of onstage depravation, but the man himself says he is just a normal actor.

Stephen Billington: A prize villain
The former Coronation Street baddie is provoking passion again - in the role of a gay Judas at the Fringe.

A cut above the rest
Scottish comedian Craig Ferguson stars in a gentle Hollywood comedy about a Glaswegian hairdresser.

Stuck on Shakespeare
More than one in 10 Fringe shows are based on the bard - some straight, some musical, some downright weird.

The art of improvisation
Manic stand-up comedians Johnny Vegas and Jason Byrne say success is all about taking risks.

Oh my God, they killed Norman!
Bob Godfrey, the godfather of British animation, on his new film The Many Deaths of Norman Spittal.

Live after Red Dwarf
Comedians Craig Charles and Norman Lovett talk about the BBC Two sci-fi hit and life on stage.

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With so many thousands of events to choose from at the Edinburgh Festival, you would be forgiven for feeling confused about what to see. BBC News correspondents try to make that choice easier with a selection of their own show reviews.

Fringe Festival: Comedian Lee Mack's new show is made for TV

Film Festival: The truth about Blair Witch, the horror movie everyone wants to see

Fringe Festival: Dannii Minogue stars in Journey to Macbeth 99

Fringe Festival: Daytime TV heroines Mel and Sue star in Back To Our Roots

Fringe Festival: Controversial play Corpus Christi

Fringe Festival: Celebrated stand-up comedian Dominic Holland

Fringe Festival: Former Perrier best newcomer Arj Barker

Fringe Festival: Challenging acts by Marcus Brigstocke and Patrice Naimbana

Fringe Festival: Exotic dance from Destino Tango and Rajasthan's Musafir

Film Festival: Post-Lewinsky political satire Election with Matthew Broderick

International Festival: Eye-popping Japanese version of Puccini's opera Turandot

Book Festival: Former UN commander General Sir Michael Rose accuses Nato of losing its grip on reality

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In at the heart of the Edinburgh festivities is BBC News Online's Festival correspondent Matt Grant. He'll be bringing you a series of regular reports from Edinburgh, with the lowdown on what's going on behind the scenes.
Part one: Dannii mania hits Edinburgh
Getting to grips with an elusive Dannii Minogue with tips on how to survive the Fringe.

Part two: Stars in their eyes
How the festival's free and easy reputation belies the fiery battle for star ratings between the shows.

Part three: Fatherhood flourishes on the Fringe
From giving birth to winning the coveted Perrier Prize - the last stage of the Fringe looks, for some, like being an eventful week.

Part four: The rumour mill in overdrive
As the Festival moves into its final week the weird and wonderful rumours come to a peak.

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Edinburgh at festival time can be a complete maze. We give the definitive guides to see you through. Then whet your appetite for what the festival has to offer with pictures from some of the choicest films and shows.
A letter from Edinburgh
From Auld Reekie to the Z Theatre Company, a guide to Scotland's capital at festival time.

Festivals galore
Know your Fringe from your Film Festival and your International Festival.

Festival faces
Some of the performers entertaining festival-goers this year.

Edinburgh in the frame
Scenes from some of this year's International Film Festival's best features.

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The Edinburgh Festival started as a high-brow cultural event after World War II - now it's become one of the world's biggest celebrations of the performing arts.
How the festival flourished
How Edinburgh's various festivals cemented their place in the cultural calendar.

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Media

BBC Scotland's Pauline McLean reports from the opening of the Fringe

The BBC's Madeleine Holt looks at some of this year's most shocking shows.

British film Ratcatcher opens the Film Festival

Pierce Brosnan comes to town for the European premiere of the Thomas Crown Affair

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For more Edinburgh Festival coverage from the BBC, go to the Insider's Guide from BBC Online, or the Comedy Zone at the BBC's commercial site, beeb.com.