General Interest

Kate Adie

People used to joke that if you find yourself in the same place as Adie you should get out immediately. As Chief News Reporter she broadcast from the front line in the Gulf War and riots in Tiananmen Square. Kate talks about Britain’s home front, and when women started going to football matches.

Hugh Dennis

The ex-Unilever brand manager and Outnumbered dad revisits the news on MTW and R4’s Now Show. He also co-stars in Lee Mack’s Not Going Out and made a cameo in a Bond film. 

Lyse Doucet

One of the BBC’s most widely respected journalists, Lyse has covered some of the most tumultuous events around the world, from the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan to the Arab Spring uprisings and the war in Ukraine. Despite the conflict and terror, she’s an unshakeable optimist, seeing the humanity and unity of people in the toughest of circumstances. She analyses the political and social uncertainty the world faces, and considers the nature of risk. She also reveals the lighter side to reporting from some of the world’s most dangerous places.

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Mariella Frostrup

Mariella has moved from film review to Panorama and writing about menopause. She has also served as agony aunt on The Observer and has interviewed luminaries of stage, book and screen from Oliver Stone to Kermit the Frog.

Misha Glenny

After reporting on the Balkan wars and the collapse of the Soviet Bloc, Misha worked with and advised EU and US governments. He remains an expert on Central and Eastern Europe and an acclaimed writer on global crime, most notably in his book McMafia, which was adapted into a hit BBC drama.

Baroness (Susan) Greenfield

One of the world’s leading authorities in neuroscience, Susan Greenfield is a scientist, academic, writer and broadcaster who considers how the brain works and how it’s changing. As well as leading research into Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, she writes and speaks about the potentially damaging effects to the brain of technology and living our lives online.

Tim Harford

The BBC presenter, Oxford Fellow, data detective and million-selling author is a compelling storyteller on economics, psychology and the unexpected bits in between. Tim explores innovation and how ideas spread, what disasters teach us about ourselves, the power of price, and the use of uncertainty as a competitive weapon. He also reveals truths and myths in data – whether public information, misinformation or deliberate disinformation.

Dr Chadden Hunter

Producer and director Chadden has worked on some of the best-known natural history series of recent times, including Wild Arabia, Planet Earth, Frozen Planet, and Seven Worlds, One Planet. He reveals the huge challenges of making these spectacular series that combine detailed planning, technical excellence, personal risk and a lot of patience. With stunning images and never-before-seen footage he looks at lessons in creative thinking, problem-solving and working in a team as well as inspiring yet cautionary examples of the fragility of the natural world.

Nigella Lawson

One of the most popular food writers and broadcasters around, Nigella is famous for her unpretentious, friendly take on cooking, revelling especially in indulgent dishes. From Nigella Bites to The Taste, her shows have been international hits, as have her books, including How to be a Domestic Goddess and Nigella Christmas.

Adam Rutherford

Adam has explored synthetic biology, evolution and science in art for radio and TV, and written about the truth behind popular ideas of genetic inheritance. He co-hosts Radio 4’s The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry, has toured with Brian Cox and Robin Ince’s Uncaged Monkeys show, and worked on films including Ex Machina, Annihilation, and Life.

Dominic Sandbrook

Historian, author and presenter Dominic hosts the world’s most popular history podcast, The Rest Is History, alongside Tom Holland. He has been a book critic for the Sunday Times for almost twenty years and is the author of Never Had It So Good, State of Emergency, and White Heat, which was adapted into a BBC TV Drama series. 

Kate Silverton

Kate has presented all the network bulletins. Away from the news desk she’s been off-road for Top Gear, kayaked for Ultimate Wild Water and has qualified as a counsellor.

Prof Sir Jonathan Van-Tam

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam was Deputy Chief Medical Officer. He led on health protection and played a significant part in the UK's response to the covid pandemic.

Jeremy Vine

The stalwart of Radio 2 and of election night broadcasts has covered everything from events at Westminster to developments in the Big Brother House in his varied career. He marked his first 25 years at the BBC with his autobiography It’s All News To Me. After dinner Jeremy tells audiences how news gets to the screen, reveals the phrase he’s too terrified to utter on air, and recalls run-ins with the high and mighty.

Ellis Watson

Tackling leadership, transformation and navigating disruption with an energy and forthright humour that engages and informs, Ellis has an impact few speakers can match. With lessons from a diverse career leading businesses from media to transport, he delivers practical, sometimes provocative ideas on how to nurture and retain talent, adapt to technological, social and economic disruption, and place purpose at the heart of any organisation.

Justin Webb

Before he joined the Today programme Justin was the BBC’s first North America Editor. He also co-hosts the BBC podcast Americast, and writes about the USA for The Times. He explores the key differences and misunderstandings when it comes to Trump and US-UK-Europe relations, and considers leadership and leaders on all sides, with stories from behind the scenes in broadcasting and in the corridors of power. 

Levison Wood

After serving as a Captain in the Parachute Regiment, Lev took his experience of challenging and dangerous environments to become a photojournalist and leader of expeditions. His love of Africa led him to undertake a one-man trek along the length of the Nile where he learned how communities survive in the harshest of climates. He then took on the Himalayas, Central and South America, and the route from Russian to Iran. He considers the lessons both personal and witnessed, in motivation, survival, and the nature of risk.

Alex Bellos

In an earlier life Alex was a Guardian correspondent in South America and Pele’s ghost-writer. Now he is known as the person who reclaimed maths from the geeks. He’s the author of bestsellers Alex’s Adventures in Numberland and Alex Through the Looking-Glass which, like his speeches, celebrate the magic of maths and how it underpins everything we do. He also exposes the predictability of random behaviour.

Caspar Berry

Whether in leading a team or negotiating, risk plays a role in all our lives. The former professional poker player (and advisor on Casino Royale) shows how to distinguish between a calculated risk and a reckless gamble. He believes there’s a long way between the edge of our comfort zone and the acceptable limits of risk in almost any organisation. Offering practical insights into the science of decision-making, Caspar helps combat the fear of short term failure. Poker School: Even if one or two guests start off not recognising a flush or a full house, the former actor and Las Vegas...

Gyles Brandreth

The diarist, novelist, and panellist is a reporter for The One Show, a regular on This Morning and brings his extraordinary wordplay to Radio 4 comedy. After dinner he reveals the part he played in the biggest cheque in British history, the 7 secrets of happiness and how Westminster and Whitehall really work.

Oliver Burkeman

Known for his long running Guardian column, This Column Will Change Your Life, Oliver has also written The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking and Four Thousand Weeks, Time and How to Use It. He explores happiness, productivity and how to make the most of the time that we have in an ever accelerating world.