Stage & Screen Speakers

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.

John Lloyd

The producer behind Spitting Image, QI, Blackadder and The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy steps out of the shadows for Radio 4’s Museum Of Curiosities. After dinner the ‘Professor of Ignorance’ draws from his Meaning Of Liff, and explains why complaints to the BBC can sometimes be a good thing.

Dame Joanna Lumley

Joanna has had a long and distinguished career on screen. Her notable appearances include On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, two Pink Panther films, Paddington 2, and The Wolf Of Wall Street. Her iconic portrayal of Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous, won her two BAFTAS.

Rory Bremner

Britain’s most celebrated impressionist continues to parody the foibles, cock-ups, excesses and excuses of the Great and Good. After making his acting debut in the West End and working in opera, he is back on I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue. In cabaret Rory offers his own tribute to the famous and infamous of British and international politics.

Reverend Richard Coles

In a previous incarnation the priest, presenter, writer and I'm A Celebrity... scored chart success with Don’t Leave Me This Way. Since the heady days of 1980s pop stardom he’s been an agony uncle, a best-selling memoirist, a regular on Have I Got News For You, and a contestant on Strictly, Masterchef, as well as in the jungle. After dinner he admits to lurid excesses as a Communard, reveals how he got through the interview to train as a vicar, and how they avoid poisoning on Bake Off.

Jon Culshaw

Radio 4’s favourite impressionist broke through on Big Breakfast as ‘the man of 1000 voices.’ With a remarkable, instant recall of 350 voices from politics, showbiz and sport, the star of Dead Ringers and The Impressions Show can respond on the spot to virtually any audience request from Brian Cox to Barack Obama. He’s also a keen astronomer.

Hugh Dennis

From Outnumbered to Fleabag, Mock the Week to The Now Show, The Great British Dig to the Bond film No Time to Die, Hugh has covered comedy, impressions, dramatic acting, and even competed in a stage of the Tour de France.

Anton du Beke

With partners from Ann Widdecombe to Jerry Hall, Anton danced on every Strictly series before graduating to a seat on the judges’ panel. He’s also hosted Hole In The Wall, appeared on Victoria Wood’s Midlife Christmas, and is a regular on Steph's Packed Lunch.

Vincent Franklin

Vince Franklin has two diverse, yet surprisingly well-matched careers. As an actor, he has played managers, spin doctors and sales speakers in Twenty Twelve, The Thick of It and The Office. As a communications expert he has helped multinational businesses understand the importance of clear communication with both staff and customers. With entertaining examples of the right and wrong way of doing this, Vince tells organisations how to deliver an attractive, engaging message as well as the power a personal story has to inspire trust and explain complex details.

Sir Stephen Fry

The actor, novelist, autobiographer, presenter, poet and digital evangelist has also retold the Greek Myths, and narrated the Sherlock Holmes books and appeared in the Hobbit films.

Bob Geldof

Bob has inspired hundreds of projects across Africa and ensures the continent, and debt relief more broadly, remains on the political agenda and in the public consciousness. He reminds us that we are all defined by what we do, not what we say. This isn’t confined to philanthropy, but encompasses business, including those that Bob has led, from media production to data and communications software.

Andy Hamilton

Andy re-invented BBC sitcom as writer and director of Outnumbered, and was the brains of Ballot Monkeys, a ‘real time’ sitcom set on the election buses of the four main parties. He’s also behind a holiday movie with Billy Connolly and David Tennant. Andy lends his wit and wisdom to Radio 4 panel shows, and shares his love of politics, science and football.

David Harewood

A popular and acclaimed actor, David made his reputation as the CIA boss in Homeland. He also received plaudits for his portrayal of Martin Luther King in The Mountaintop, starred in The Night Manager, and hosted Have I Got News For You. 

Sir Lenny Henry

Lenny's credits stretch from classical theatre to arena tours, TV dramas, a blues album and Comic Relief. He continues to balance comedy, drama, and entertainment and campaigns for diversity in TV.

Armando Iannucci

Armando made his mark as the co-creator, writer and producer of Alan Partridge and the seminal On The Hour and The Day Today. He went on to win plaudits for The Thick Of It, introducing the gloriously odious Malcolm Tucker to the world. After shining a sharp satirical light on Westminster, and taking both Partridge and Tucker (separately) to the big screen, he created the Emmy-winning hit HBO series, Veep. He also co-wrote and directed a boisterous comic take on Russian history with The Death of Stalin, and an unconventional Dickens adapatation, The Personal History of David Copperfield....

Robert Llewellyn

After hosting Scrapheap Challenge and interviewing guests in his car, Robert has brought Kryten back to the screen whilst also writing, hosting YouTube series, and pursuing his love-hate relationship with tech.

Alex Macqueen

Alex will be recognisable to fans of The Thick Of It, The Inbetweeners and Downton Abbey. Alex is a natural raconteur and awards host. After dinner he reveals how a vital lesson from the criminal bar, saved his career.

James May

From cars to toys, wine to space, James indulges his love of all things engineering, scientific and nostalgic. Mocked by his Top Gear/Grand Tour colleagues for his reluctance to rush, James embraced slowness in The Reassembler taking apart and reconstructing everyday objects in his shed.

Neil Mullarkey

Neil has appeared in Whose Line Is it Anyway, I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, QI and two Austin Powers films. He was a founding member of the famous Comedy Store Players with his comedy partner Mike Myers. He also shares insights from improv and theatre with organisations across the world enhancing communication, creativity, and collaboration skills.

Sue Perkins

One of the nation's most popular presenters, Sue has moved from writing French & Saunders sketches to conducting orchestras, getting the nation baking, and exploring the Mekong River. Her quick fire, self-depreciating comedy has made Sue a household name and a firm favourite on British television for over twenty years.

Jay Rayner

The Kitchen Cabinet host, critic and sometime MasterChef judge is “a greedy man in a hungry world.” Alongside reviews he also likes to slay sacred cows, like the cult of farmers’ markets. As well as a serious look at the food industry, what we eat and why, and the resillience of the restaurant sector, Jay dispenses his view on service and food fads and dips into his one man theatre show My Dining Hell – examining why we’re all so keen to read lousy restaurant reviews.

Sir Tony Robinson

The nation’s favourite history presenter, Tony led Time Team for over 20 years and still continues to front explorations in to Britain's past. As an actor he remains best-known as Blackadder’s luckless aide/servant/underling Baldrick, and more recently has appeared in Greg Davies’ sitcom Man Down.