Prodigy to head Fringe festival

Franz Ferdinand, The Prodigy and Rolf Harris will be among the stars to headline Edinburgh's famous Fringe festival. Also performing at the Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world, will be comedians Jim Bowen and Jimmy Carr, techno outfit Basement Jaxx and new Scottish rock band Sons and Daughters.

Writers from Saturday Night Live, Seinfeld and Third Rock from the Sun will come and author Louis de Bernieres, famed for his novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin, will also take centre stage.

The war on terror is the central point of inspiration for many of the shows at the 59th Fringe, which will boast 26,995 performances in 300 venues.