Harjeet Chhokar named Edinburgh Advisory Chair

The Edinburgh TV Festival has announced that Harjeet Chhokar will be taking on the Festival’s Advisory Chair for 2024.

Chhokar, Unscripted Executive at Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video, joined the service in November 2021 and has worked across recent hits 007: Road to a Million, Clarkson’s Farm, the BAFTA Scotland Award winning Three Mothers, Two Babies and a Scandal and The Greatest Show Never Made, as well sports documentaries, including Ronnie O’Sullivan: The Edge of Everything, All or Nothing: Arsenal and the upcoming 99 and Four Kings.

Prior to this, Chhokar was in the Channel 4 Factual Commissioning team, where he worked on and delivered series and singles including Murder Island, 999: On the Frontline and Sex Actually with Alice Levine. Before his move into commissioning, he worked in production for over 17 years, starting off as a BBC Production trainee and working his way up to series producer, working on show from from Wife Swap and Holiday Showdown to The Family, One Born Every Minute and Educating Yorkshire to The Secret Life of 5 Years Olds, Ambulance and Pilgrimage.

Chhokar will be work closely with new Creative Director, Rowan Woods, to deliver an “engaging, timely and impactful programme.”

Chhokar said: “Television is the most powerful cultural force in the world. You only have to see its impact in the first few weeks of the year so far to witness its ability to touch our lives. Whether it’s being on the edge of our seats during The Traitors, the justified outrage caused by Mr Bates vs the Post Office or being drawn into the icy mystery on the latest, brilliant series of True Detective, TV continues to shape us all in so many ways. However, behind the screen, we find ourselves at a crossroads, with the freelancer crisis continuing, production companies and broadcasters under pressure and the continual challenge of staying relevant in these ever-changing times. There will be a lot to discuss, debate and discover this year and I am excited about not only delivering a Festival that sets the agenda for the following 12 months, but also celebrates the creativity and passion that drives our industry.”

The Festival’s Executive Chair, Fatima Salaria, added: “I’m proud that Harjeet will be at the helm for this year’s Festival. His experience as a filmmaker, Commissioner for Channel 4 and now Prime Video, puts him at the centre of our Industry. His passion for nurturing and supporting new talent, regional Indies and outsiders, is much admired. He has a love for making TV that matters and will bring all of this and his desire to change the Industry for the better to the Festival. He has achieved much in his career through sheer hard work which has made him a role model to many.”