JLA - Key Persons


Alan Chambers

Job Titles:
  • Expedition Leader

Alastair Campbell

Job Titles:
  • Writer, Strategist, Campaigner

Alexander Armstong

Job Titles:
  • Actor, Writer
Alexander Armstong is an actor, writer, singer, and one of the most accomplished, recognisable hosts in the country. He is one half of Armstrong & Miller, writing and starring in the comedy sketch show with fellow actor and university friend, Ben Miller. He is also the co-host of the popular quiz Pointless, has presented Have I Got News For You more times than any other guest host, and is a presenter on Classic FM. Other TV credits include the dramas Life Begins and Mutual Friends and an appearance in Dr Who. He's played the animal-hating vet in Beast, and David Cameron in The Trial of Tony Blair. He has also appeared in Saxondale with Steve Coogan, and provided the voice for Dangermouse in the return of the children's favourite. Alexander has chaired Channel 4's The Best of the Worst, and Don't Call Me Stupid. He's explored the history of Naples, Florence and Venice in Italy's Invisible Cities, and frequently pops up on Radio 4. He has also turned his hand to singing, producing two albums of popular classics and taking them on tour with a live orchestra, as well as a recording of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.

Amy McKerracher

Job Titles:
  • Admin & Accounts

Andrew Neil

Job Titles:
  • Media Owner & Broadcaster

Andrew Stoney

Job Titles:
  • Associate Director Recommendations »

Anke Schuster

Job Titles:
  • Associate Director Recommendations »

Bonita Norris

Job Titles:
  • Record - Breaking Adventurer

Charlie Webster

Charlie has presented sports coverage on Sky, Channel 4, BBC and ITV. She was the first female football host in Asia and the first to anchor a world heavyweight title fight. She is an ambassador for Women's Aid, sits on a Ministry of Justice's advisory panel, and hosts and produces the Undiscussable podcast examining the stigma and effects of domestic and sexual abuse. A versatile and experienced host, she also speaks on gender discrimination in sport, and women's rights and leadership. Charlie is an active campaigner around domestic and sexual abuse, and an ambassador for the Women's Aid charity. She hosts and created the Undiscussable podcast, giving a voice to abuse survivors and examining the law, perceptions and wider social effects around the subject. As well as being part of the Ministry of Justice's Victims Panel, she has spoken in Parliament, the UN, and the UN Senate, has appeared on This Week, and directly influenced legislation.

Chris Turner

Chris Turner is a sharp-witted performer of clever puns and deadpan observations. His wordplay has made him a hit on YouTube, on the live circuit around the world, and at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Claudia Winkleman

Job Titles:
  • Editor for Tatler
One of the country's best-known and most popular presenters, Claudia Winkleman is the co-host of Strictly Come Dancing. She took the role after hosting the show's results programme and the spin-off Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two. She is the host of the gloriously twisted gameshow The Traitors, which is a smash hit on the BBC and a double BAFTA winner. Claudia previously fronted Britain's Best Home Cook, The Great British Sewing Bee, and the BBC's Film show.

Colin Jackson

Colin was ranked among the top ten hurdlers in the world for nearly two decades - retaining the 110m record for thirteen years. He has since picked up his spikes to train young athletes. Away from the race track he's become a polished presenter, and one of the driving forces behind Sport Relief. Colin speaks about the winning formula, the mental visualisation techniques and the unwavering dedication needed to stay at the top of your game. Colin has put himself under the microscope in The Making Of Me, and co-hosted the sports talent search Born To Win. Other TV credits include Holiday and Strictly Come Dancing, in which he was narrowly beaten into second place by Darren Gough and Dancing on Ice, in which he placed third. He also continued his Olympic involvement in 2012 featuring as a regular BBC pundit and presenter. Colin's modesty comes across the moment you meet him. In fact, his story about learning not to be cocky is one of many lessons to take away. Whether he's doing a lap round the room with an Olympic flame, exciting you about the possibilities open to you or just making you laugh, he gets everyone involved. And he doesn't mind being asked about Strictly! JLA Agent Siobhan Jackman

Dame Joanna Lumley

Job Titles:
  • Comedian and Author
Joanna Lumley is one of Britain's favourite actresses. Her early films include On Her Majesty's Secret Service and two Pink Panther comedies. She made early television appearances on General Hospital and Coronation Street, before becoming immortalised as Purdy in The New Avengers. However it was Joanna's BAFTA award-winning role as the chain-smoking Patsy in the award-winning Absolutely Fabulous which brought her renewed fame: the series proving itself one of the classic sitcoms of British television. She later appeared in Jam and Jerusalem, penned by French and Saunders. Since Ab Fab Joanna has also acted in Class Act, Cold Comfort Farm and Sensitive Skin. She played the over-the-hill star of a daytime TV hospital drama in Dr Willoughby and was nominated for a Best Actress BAFTA for her role in A Rather English Marriage. She also worked with Martin Scorsese in his acclaimed The Wolf of Wall Street, Paddington 2, and played The Queen in the adaptation of David Walliams' Gangsta Granny. In her autobiography No Room for Secrets, Joanna reveal the aspects of her life that she has never talked about publicly before including people, memories, journeys, regrets, beliefs, life as a model in the 1960s, success, failure, and survival. Joanna is known for her support for Gurkhas, the exiled Tibetan people and government, the Kondha indigenous people of India, and the Prospect Burma charity which offers grants to Burmese students. She became the public face of a campaign to provide all Gurkha veterans who served in the British Army before 1997 the right to settle in Britain. In the documentary In the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon, Joanna charted the journey her grandparents made in the little-known country of Bhutan, and in the BBC special Girl Friday she tried her hand at surviving on a desert island - and wrote an accompanying book about her experiences. In Silk Road Adventures, Joanna went on a journey of exploration along the historic Silk Road route, travelling from Venice to the border of China. Her other shows include Joanna Lumley's Nile, where she journeyed up the River Nile from sea to source in Rwanda, and Trans-Siberian Adventure, which saw Joanna travel from Hong Kong to Moscow along the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Dara Ó Briain

Dara Ó Briain has earned a reputation as the most versatile of presenters and one of the finest comedians in the business. He is as quick-witted in cabaret as he was playing maestro of Mock the Week, equally at home on the Apollo stage or chatting to physicists and astronauts. He has sold out shows all over the world, from Melbourne to Shanghai. In his first appearance at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, he made such an impact that space had to be made for him in the gala bill hosted by Joan Rivers. Dara started his career in television as a children's presenter on RTÉ whilst performing his first stand-up gigs on the Irish comedy circuit, after studying at University College, Dublin, where he read Mathematical Physics. His many TV credits range from Stargazing to The Apprentice: You're Fired! He's interviewed Stephen Hawking, fronted revivals of Robot Wars and Blockbusters, enjoyed road trips with Ed Byrne, boating with Rory McGrath and Griff Rhys Jones, and hosted Channel 4's quiz show One and Six Zero's. Dara is also one of the most sought-after award show hosts in Britain, and has regularly hosted the BAFTA Games Awards. Since writing his bestselling book Tickling the English, Dara has published a string of books designed to engage children in science. His book Beyond the Stars, was nominated for the Blue Peter Book Award for Best Non-Fiction. The follow up Secret Science - The Amazing World Beyond your Eyes, was released to critical acclaim. His third children's book Is There Anybody Out There? Is an illustrated helpful guide to sort out what is science fiction and what is science fact.

David Harewood

Job Titles:
  • Actor, Homeland, the Night Manager

Dr Ed Coats

Job Titles:
  • Adventurer
  • Obstetrician

Dr Linda Papadopoulos

Job Titles:
  • Psychologist & Commentator
Dr Linda Papadopoulos is one of the best-known and well-respected psychologists in the UK. An author, broadcaster and academic, she combines professional research on human behaviour and trends with the ability to deliver advice and insights in accessible, relevant ways. Linda has worked in the NHS, advised government, and worked with businesses examining areas from communication and branding to body image to general mental health and wellbeing. Tackling a wide range of psychological, behavioural and wellbeing themes, Linda looks at how we see ourselves in the modern world. From the pressures of career and family life to dealing with uncertainty, she examines how we can maintain focus as well as a healthy balance in our lives. She considers what happiness means, and what motivates us, for right and wrong, in our personal and professional lives. She explores how we identify what changes we want to make, and how understanding the nature of that change helps us move towards it. And she reflects on themes like vulnerability and how to admit to and share problems without letting those problems dominate or become our identity. Linda's books have covered both academic and popular approaches to psychology with titles including Unfollow: Living Life on Your Own Terms and Whose Life Is It Anyway? She has often focused on the effects of social and peer pressure, expectations and stress in both personal and professional lives. She has applied her work in self-image and psychodematology to heath and beauty brands, as well as consulting with businesses on mental health, leadership, confidence and diversity. After appearances on the early series of Big Brother (when the programme took a more serious approach to the effects of confinement and stress), Linda became the resident psychologist on The Big Breakfast. Soon after, she joined Cosmopolitan as a Contributing Editor with her monthly I'm Listening column. Since then she has delivered psychologic insights on programmes from Tomorrow's World to Britain's Worst Driver, Tonight with Trevor McDonald to The Wright Stuff. She's a regular news contributor on BBC, CNN and Sky, has presented a regular happiness and wellbeing segment on This Morning, and has fronted a series of true crime programmes. Away from the media, Linda has led a large-scale study into the psychological effects of skin disease in collaboration with dermatologists from St Thomas' Hospital, London. She has been published widely in the field of Counselling and Medical psychology, and has been invited to give specialist lectures at universities and medical schools around the world.

Dr Nighat Arif

Job Titles:
  • GP and BBC Breakfast Resident Doctor
Dr Nighat is a GP specialising in women's health and family planning. She is a medical educator and provides teaching to local trainee GPs as well as at national and international conferences. Nighat was nominated for the National Bevan Prize for Health and Wellbeing to acknowledge her commitment to advancing wellbeing in her community. She has worked to raise awareness on menopause and women's healthcare in Black and Asian women, and presented her clinical work at the Menopause in the Workplace Parliamentary committee hearing. Nighat is the resident doctor on BBC Breakfast and has appeared on numerous podcasts tackling taboos around women's health. Dr Nighat Arif is a family GP specialising in women's health and family planning. She is based in Buckinghamshire and is able to consult fluently with patients in Urdu and Punjabi which brings a great deal of trust from her community. Nighat is a medical educator and provides teaching to local trainee GPs as well as at National and International conferences. Nighat has used her experience to write regular medical blogs, allowing patients to refer to these blogs for advice on common conditions. She was a Lead Clinician for a residential Dementia centre, and she has also worked for Oxford Mental Health NHS trust in general adult psychiatry and psychiatry of the elderly. For her Outreach work Nighat was nominated for the Bevan Prize for Health and Wellbeing for her exceptional commitment to advancing wellbeing in her community. She has won awards and had several papers published. She has written and contributed to MegsMenopause, Stylist Magazine, OK, Red, Good Housekeeping Magazine, and Women in Medicine Magazine. Nighat has also made guest appearances on BBC Breakfast for a campaign called ‘Wake Up To The Menopause'. She is passionate about making the menopause a less taboo subject for all but particularly for women for whom English is not their first language. After an immense amount of positive feedback Nighat became the resident doctor on BBC Breakfast, This Morning and BBC LookEast, updating viewers on the latest medical news. She was also a contributor on the Channel 4 documentary Davina McCall: Sex, Lies and the Menopause. Nighat is a campaigner for Organ Donation in BAME communities and has appeared on BBC Breakfast to try to encourage more organ donation. She hosts the Sunday Breakfast show on BBC3 Counties Radio, and regularly appears on Times Radio, TalkRadio, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Asian Network, and BBC Berkshire. In addition to her media work, Nighat is also an influencer via her hugely popular and verified TikTok account. She has amassed 100k followers on the platform and uploads informative, funny, and uplifting content daily. Nighat is a popular guest expert on several podcasts including Her Spirit with Louise Minchin and Annie Emmerson, the HuffPost Podcast, Surgical Spirit, and on the Sikh Forgiveness podcast talking about depression, menopause, anxiety, and other medical issues. Nighat is an ambassador of many charitable causes including Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity and Her Spirit. She is a member of Team Halo - an organisation that works in partnership with United Nations, and works closely with NOON - an online platform empowering woman around their mid-life, as their online health expert.

Dr Steve Bull

Job Titles:
  • Olympic & England Cricket Psychologist

Ed Smith

Job Titles:
  • Writer
  • Writer & Former Cricketer
Ed Smith is a writer, academic, and former cricketer. He served as the chief selector for the England cricket team, was a Times leader writer, and is the author of four books that take a look at the sociology of sport and what it reflects about life, teamwork and leadership. He was a key part of BBC radio's Test Match Special team before returning to international cricket as England's National Selector where he enacted a range of new policies and programmes around talent development. Starting his cricketing career playing for his home county of Kent, Ed went on to captain Middlesex and represent England, becoming a popular and highly respected figure. When an ankle injury forced his retirement Ed turned to writing. While living for a year in New York he wrote Playing Hard Ball, comparing cricket and baseball and their relationship with national myth and identity. He followed this with On and Off the Field and What Sport Tells Us About Life - an exploration of the role of sport, its psychological and cultural effects and the moral lessons it teaches us. He then published Luck: A Fresh Look At Fortune, an examination of what is often assumed to be down to good or bad fortune, and the role in does and does not play in achievement. As a Times leader writer, Ed also covered everything from education to ‘Renaissance Man'. Ed speaks about promoting change by winning over the waverers, rather than wasting too much time on intransigent opponents. He encourages an inquisitive attitude, to ensure continual improvement, and looks at what sport really does tell us about teamwork, leadership, mindset and mental health, and achievement. Ed has written the weekly MindGames column in the Daily Telegraph, was a contributing writer for the New Statesman and has written for The Economist's 1843 magazine. He has also presented a series on Peak Performance for Radio 3 and an episode for the BBC's Inside Sport. He is also the co-founder of the Institute of Sports Humanities at the University of Buckingham, combining academia with sport to equip the next generation of leaders.

Ellie Taylor

Job Titles:
  • Actor, Presenter
Ellie Taylor is a comedian, actress, model, and presenter. She entered ITV's comic talent contest Show Me The Funny with no prior experience of stand-up, and finished fourth with a great deal of acclaim and many new fans. She's now a regular on panel and stand-up shows. Ellie has appeared on 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Live at the Apollo, and Mock the Week. She has hosted Live At The Apollo and series five of The Great British Pottery Throwdown, and was a contestant in the twentieth series of Strictly Come Dancing. Ellie is part of the core cast of satirical shows The Mash Report and Late Night Mash. Her clips from the show have become worldwide viral hits, notching up over one hundred million views online, and being shared by a host of celebrities including Madonna. She can also be seen on the smash hit, multi award winning Ted Lasso. Ellie's book My Child And Other Mistakes, garnered rave reviews, and was a Sunday Times bestseller.

Emilda Etienne

Job Titles:
  • Admin & Accounts

Eniola Aluko

Job Titles:
  • Coach

Giles Duley

Job Titles:
  • Photographer, Writer
Giles Duley is a photographer, writer, chef, presenter, and CEO of Legacy of War Foundation. His work focuses on the long-term humanitarian impact of conflict. Starting his career as a music photographer, Giles worked with Mariah Carey, Oasis and Lenny Kravitz for publications including Q, Vogue, Sunday Times, and Elle. Giles changed his focus to documentary work, partnering with well-respected charities such as HI (Humanity and Inclusion), EMERGENCY, Save the Children and UNHCR, to highlight lesser-known stories deserving of public attention and action. Although documenting challenging, and at times, horrific situations, Giles captures the strength of those who fight adversity rather than succumb. His photographs draw the viewer to the subject, creating intimacy and empathy for lives differing from ours only in circumstance. His work has taken him to Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan, DR Congo, Angola, Bangladesh, Kenya, Ukraine, Jordan, Lebanon, Colombia, Vietnam, and Nigeria. He started his Legacy of War project, which looks to explore common themes of conflict. A core part of the project is collaborations with other artists and writers to reach a wider audience. These collaborations have included the musicians Massive Attack and PJ Harvey. Whilst working in Afghanistan, Giles was severely injured by an IED. As a result of his injuries he is a triple-amputee. He since returned to Afghanistan to continue his work as a photographer, documenting the toll of war on civilian lives - as well as founding and acting as CEO of the NGO Legacy of War Foundation, an international charity supporting communities and individuals as they rebuild their lives after conflict. This work as a campaigner for the rights of both refugees and those living with disability was recognised with an MBE. In addition to his work as a campaigner and photographer, Giles has made and hosted two Unreported Worlds for Channel 4, and produced and presented the six-part VICE TV series, The One-Armed Chef. He also works as the Corporate Impact Advisor for Angelina Jolie's Atelier Jolie venture. The Sunday Times included him in their Alternative Rich List, for those who are ‘rich in experience, rich is spirit, rich in life….' Natasha Kaplinsky said of Giles "Even catastrophic injury has not stopped him doing what he feels he should be doing with his life." He was appointed at the United Nations first Global Advocate for persons with disabilities in conflict and peacebuilding situations. With stories that are turns poignant, inspirational, and amusing, Giles looks at the enduring nature of the human spirit as well as the passion for his work that helped him overcome his injuries. He offers a look at a world few see first-hand, putting things in perspective, and offering lessons in commitment, goals, and values. Giles considers what businesses can learn from the power and importance of telling a story, as well as his resilience and determination and recounts stories such as how getting a drunken tattoo with the men that saved his life didn't entirely go to plan.

Graham Norton

Graham Norton is arguably the UK's biggest chat show presenter regularly hosting the world's biggest stars and asking them questions no other interviewer dare. He's also fronted some hugely popular talent shows gliding from Strictly Dance Fever and The One and Only to the West End audition vehicles Any Dream Will Do, I'd Do Anything and How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? Graham's break came when he stood in for the Jack Docherty Show on Channel 5, winning Best Newcomer at the British Comedy Awards. He went on to unforgettable appearances in Father Ted and to become a BAFTA -winning presenter on Channel 4 - spreading his wings as far afield as Japan, the US and Mexico. His chat show So Graham Norton set the standard for a new type of irreverent format mixing comedy, star interviews and audience interaction. After a high profile move to the BBC, Graham launched a new Eurovision format and has brought his own unique style to the main event's commentary. He has also built a reputation as the country's premier chat show host taking over from the likes of Michael Parkinson and Jonathan Ross. On The Graham Norton Show he has entertained guests from Hollywood legends to the biggest acting and music stars of the day, up-and-coming performers and everyone in between. Away from television he still pops up occasionally on Radio 4 institution Just A Minute. Graham is the author of multiple novels, winning numerous awards and gaining bestseller status. His novel Forever Home, became an instant bestseller in both the UK and Ireland, earning him dazzling reviews. To date, foreign rights to his fiction have sold in over ten countries.

Hugh Dennis

Job Titles:
  • Brand Manager for Unilever
Hugh Dennis made his name as one half of Punt & Dennis. He and Steve Punt still appear together on Radio 4's The Now Show, whilst Hugh also captains his team on Mock The Week, and starred in Outnumbered - the wonderfully inventive semi-improvised BBC sitcom. After originally working as a brand manager for Unilever, Hugh turned a talent for impressions to better use and began to provide voices for Spitting Image. He then became a regular guest on the Jasper Carott Show and joined the team on the seminal standup and sketch show The Mary Whitehouse Experience, which first aired on the radio before becoming a cult BBC2 hit. Hugh and Steve starred in several peak time series of their own, including The Imaginatively Titled Punt & Dennis Show - and Me, You and Him. Hugh has been a guest on panel shows from QI to Would I Lie to You? and has gone on to a host of both comic and serious acting roles from New Tricks to Agatha Christie's Marple, Not Going Out to Doctors, Midsomer Murders to the acclaimed Fleabag. He has even made a cameo appearance as a scientist in an MI6 laboratory in the Bond film, No Time to Die.

Humphrey Lyttelton

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of the Widely Adored BBC Radio 4

Jack Whitehall Fresh

Job Titles:
  • Bad Education

James Kerr

Job Titles:
  • Author, Legacy - What the All Blacks Can Teach Us about the Business of Life

James Nesbitt

Job Titles:
  • Actor
James Nesbitt is one of the UK's most popular and familiar screen actors. Cold Feet made him a household name and he has since excelled in everything from Gothic horror to comedy to gritty drama. On the big screen he's starred opposite Ralph Fiennes in Coriolanus, and played a dwarf in Peter Jackson's Hobbit films. Early recognition of his acting talent in his native Northern Ireland, led to drama school in London and small parts in TV staples like Boon and Lovejoy. James's break came with the BBC's comedy drama, Ballykissangel. Playing Dervla Kirwan's ex gave him the chance to display a roguish charm that would make him a star. He went on to appear in numerous plays including Paddywack, Translations, As You Like It, Philadelphia Here I Come and Can't Pay, Won't Pay. Following his television roles, James worked on his first film, Hear My Song. This led to roles in Michael Winterbottom's Jude, and Welcome to Sarajevo. After more TV work, including Playing the Field, Touching Evil and Jekyll, he gained wider recognition in the film Waking Ned, playing the loveable pig farmer Finn. Since then he's starred in The Hobbit trilogy, the widely-praised series The Missing, police drama Babylon, and Stan Lee's Lucky Man, as well as returning to Cold Feet. James won a British Independent Film Award as Best Actor in Bloody Sunday, as well as Best Actor at the Stockholm Film Festival and a BAFTA nomination. He has also received a British Comedy Award, and others for his roles in Cold Feet and Murphy's Law.

Jamil Qureshi

Job Titles:
  • Performance Psychologist

Jean Tomlin

Job Titles:
  • HR Director, London

Jo Brand

Job Titles:
  • Writer & Performer

John Amaechi

Job Titles:
  • Psychologist
  • Psychologist & British NBA Hero
John Amaechi is a psychologist and performance expert. Prior to undertaking his PhD he enjoyed a successful career in the NBA, one of the first Brits to play professionally at the top level of the sport. After a seven-year contract with the most successful team in American sport, he was duly inducted into the US Basketball Hall of Fame. John now helps individuals and organisations to improve communication, leadership and culture. In doing so he helps them uncover new methods of growth, improvement and achievement. His psychological insight helps individuals and teams understand the barriers to achievement and to overcome them. Transforming and inspiring, he draws together concepts of motivation, personal development and the roots of success and enables these traits to flourish. He also considers the nature of competition, the importance of diversity in group achievement, and aligning personal and business values and ethics. John's experience is immense and his formula applies to anyone, in any walk of life, personally and professionally. Whilst playing, John won widespread respect for his ability to overcome adversity, including life-threatening injury. He was described by one commentator as ‘a player with little innate physical talent, who rose to remarkable heights on the back of terrific will and a tremendous strategy.' Despite never having picked up a basketball until the age of 17, John went on to a starting five position with the Cleveland Cavaliers in just six years. He puts this down to drive, planning and perseverance as much as physical skill. Characteristics he now seeks to instil in others using both academic research and his own inspiring personal story. After retiring from professional basketball, John pursued a PhD in psychology, co-authoring a paper on self-esteem and goal setting, and becoming a leadership and performance expert. He has also founded the ABC Foundation, which seeks to increase physical activity amongst young people and encourage community cohesion. John has also combined his personal, professional and academic experience with the wider social and political landscape to become a prominant voice on issues of race and diversity. He has spoken and written extensively about bias, role models, activism and structural racism and how to tackle some of the most critical problems faced by individuals and organisations. James Kerr Author, Legacy - What the All Blacks can teach us about the business of life

John Barrowman

Job Titles:
  • Actor & Presenter

John Lloyd

Job Titles:
  • Producer, QI, Blackadder

Jurate Grange

Job Titles:
  • Admin & Accounts

Kate Adie

Job Titles:
  • from Our Own Correspondent

Katherine Ryan

Job Titles:
  • Writer

Katie Piper

Job Titles:
  • Writer
Katie Piper is a presenter and broadcaster, model, writer and campaigner. She is the founder of the Katie Piper Foundation, a charity helping those afflicted by severe burns and scars. After a vicious attack left her with severe facial injuries, she has rebuilt her personal and professional life, becoming an inspiration and role model to millions. As a young women working in promotional and fashion modelling, and with some early TV and website hosting work, Katie's career as a model and presenter seemed to be headed in an exciting and positive direction until her partner physically attacked and threatened her. She ended the relationship but shortly afterwards the man hired an accomplice to assault and throw sulphuric acid in her face. The two men later received life sentences in prison. The attack left Katie with severe burns and, due to swallowing some of the acid, blindness in one eye. A long and painful recovery followed including groundbreaking surgical techniques, scores operations and treatments in the UK and France, and months of rehabilitation. She continued reconstructive surgery for years after the assault. Katie tells her story of physical and emotional recovery from her appalling experiences. She movingly talks about the support she received, her own personal determination, and the work of health and charity professionals. Her story and those of others affected by scars and burns has been told on the Channel 4's Katie: My Beautiful Face and My Beautiful Friends (which Katie presented). She has also delivered the channel's Alternative Christmas Message and has appeared on a number of factual programmes in the UK and US. She's a regular guest and presenter on a range of lifestyle and factual programmes, has competed in Strictly Come Dancing, and has written a number of autobiographical and health and wellbeing books.

Keith Antoine Athletics

Job Titles:
  • Coach
  • Paralympic Coach

Lyse Doucet

Job Titles:
  • BBC Chief International Correspondent

Matthew Syed

Job Titles:
  • Author, Journalist & Broadcaster
  • Author, Journalist & Broadcaster / Professor Green Musician & Campaigner

Meera Syal

Job Titles:
  • Actress & Writer
Meera Syal is one of the country's most popular comic and dramatic performers and writers,starring in hit programmes as diverse as Broadchurch and The Kumars at No 42. She made her name on the sketch show Goodness Gracious Me, and as the acclaimed author of Anita & Me and Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee.

Milli Lewis

Job Titles:
  • Account Manager
  • Assistant

Miranda Hart

Job Titles:
  • Writer
Miranda Hart is a comedy writer and actress whose hugely popular eponymous sitcom earned two RTS Awards (for Best Comedy Performance and Best Scripted Comedy) and a host of other nominations. She has gone on to be one of the UK's favourite performers with dramatic and comedic performances on TV and film.

Nathalie Nahai

Job Titles:
  • Expert in Consumer Behaviour, Persuasive Tech & Marketing

Paul Warran

Job Titles:
  • Associate Director Recommendations »

Petra Velzeboer

Job Titles:
  • CEO of Mental Health Consultancy PVL
  • Mental Health Consultant
Petra is the CEO of mental health consultancy PVL. She was born and raised in the infamous Children of God cult, conditioned to believe that she was being groomed to save the world. Having escaped that world, she now talks to audiences about her ultimate rock bottom, her battle with mental illness including addiction and depression, and her subsequent transformation leading to her founding a flourishing mental health business. Petra Velzeboer is a dynamic, entertaining, and practical speaker, psychotherapist, author, and CEO of mental health consultancy PVL. She brings her expertise on subjects that impact employees, managers, and C-suite leadership with the aim of evolving workplaces and cultures for the new world of work. Petra speaks about the future of work and the narratives around AI. She also focuses on mental health and resilience in a world of change, positive psychology, elite performance, and creating dynamic teams, creating a future of work that is good for health, and sustainable for long term success. She sees the challenges that exist including rising statistics of burnout, anxiety, depression, addiction, and suicide. These are only part of the issues facing the workplace as they tackle an economic downturn, long term absence, and employee health as they experiment with a hybrid office, struggling to enhance belonging and connection.

Poorna Bell

Job Titles:
  • Writer & Former UK Editor, HuffPost

PY Gerbeau

Job Titles:
  • Visiting Professor, LBS & Imperial College

Rasmus Ankersen

Job Titles:
  • Performance Expert

Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand is one of the most famous faces in English football with one of the most decorated careers on the pitch. Now a regular pundit on TV and a broadcaster in his own right, as a player he won over a dozen major club honours and was picked in four PFA Team of the Year selections. As a youngster, Rio attracted the eye of West Ham's scouts whilst playing central midfield for Eltham Town's under-14s team. He joined the Hammers as a schoolboy, aged fourteen. Upon leaving school at sixteen, he ignored overtures from Middlesbrough, Norwich City, Millwall, Charlton and Chelsea in order to stay with the east London club. Club boss Harry Redknapp, well-known for developing youth players, nurtured Rio's talent and gave his full-team debut as a substitute against Sheffield Wednesday at Upton Park. The following season saw Rio loaned to Bournemouth for two character-building months in the Football League before returning to West Ham. Six goals and 152 appearances later he moved to Leeds United, then a rapidly rising force in the Premier League, for a record £18million fee. He became captain and a key part of the team that reached its first ever Champions' League semi-final. Combining strength with a technical skill and confidence on the ball that few defenders at the time had, Rio gained admirers across football. Already the youngest defender ever to play for England whilst at West Ham, he was a part of the 1998 World Cup team and established himself as a world-class player. He went on to play 81 times for England, was a part of four consecutive World Cup teams, and was vice-captain. Rio broke the transfer record again with a high-profile move to Manchester United. He quickly established himself in Alex Ferguson's team and won the Premier League in his first season with the club. He would be a part of a team that would win the title six times as well as the Champions' League, the Club World Cup, and three League Cups. By the time he left United the team had won 15 trophies and become arguably the most successful club in English football. After a farewell season at Queens Park Rangers, Rio retired from professional football. Since then he has become a regular on TV and a popular pundit for the BBC and BT Sport's coverage. Away from sport he made the BBC documentary Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad where he discussed bereavement and mental health, subjects he has returned to and, along with racism in sport, he is an active campaigner around. He also plays an active part in his own charitable foundation helping young people from deprived areas, and a social housing project near Luton. He has also been involved in a record label, a digital magazine, and a film production.

Ruby Wax Mental

Job Titles:
  • Mental Health Campaigner Communication Expert
Ruby Wax has been an unconventional interviewer, a comedian, writer, actor, and campaigner. She has provided the cartoon voice of The Pope, written for Absolutely Fabulous, and interviewed Donald Trump. She fronted a two-part Channel 5 series Castaway which saw her stranded on an uninhabited tropical island with only body-cams and a handheld camera for her to talk to. Ruby is also a best-selling memoirist and mental health expert. Having studied psychology in her native US she took the unusual move to then study acting in the UK. Ruby joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and formed a writing and directing partnership with Alan Rickman before moving to TV and film. She found her niche in comedy, working with the likes of Tracey Ullman and French & Saunders. She then took on a series of interview shows where she had revealing, enertaining, and sometimes awkward conversations with Madonna, Imelda Marcos, Pamela Anderson, and Richard Branson. Ruby struggled with depression for many years and having suffered in silence, she worked hard to encourage media, business, and society to understand mental illness and remove the stigma. After touring her live show Losing It, in which she spoke candidly about her illness, she realised audiences frequently shared many of the same experiences but needed ‘permission' to talk openly about it. The show inspired her book Sane New World, a look at why so many people felt it was all too much. Her follow-up, A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled, aimed to help minds that are ill-equipped to cope with the modern-day pressures of overwhelming amounts of information, stress and never having enough time. How to be Human is an honest look at how the stress in our lives affects us and what we can do about it. Ruby wrote this book in conjunction with a monk, who explains how the mind works, and gives some mindfulness exercises, and a neuroscientist who explains what makes us 'us' in the brain. With her trademark wit and forthrightness Ruby dispels the myth that there is something embarrassing or weird about any type of mental health problem. She tackles some of the more off-putting aspects of mindfulness focusing on the practical aspects that can help people deal with the stresses of life before they become intolerable. As well as speaking about mental health Ruby also tackles problems of communication within businesses and organisations, especially for leaders. Combining psychological insights with her understanding of writing and performing, and of course humour, she helps individuals and groups understand how to create an open, honest culture that encourages and succeeds. Ruby holds a Masters in Psychology and is a Visiting Professor in Mental Health Nursing at the University of Surrey. She's also a patron for the British Neuroscience Association, has worked with the Home Office to raise awareness of mental health, and has collaborated with Google on how technology can aid mindfulness. Her acclaimed TED speech on the importance of viewing mental health on a par with physical health is one of the most popular on the subject.

Sanjeev Bhaskar

Job Titles:
  • Actor & Writer

Sarah Murdoch

Job Titles:
  • Admin & Accounts

Sir Craig Oliver

Job Titles:
  • Director of Politics & Communications
Craig Oliver was Prime Minster David Cameron's Director of Politics and Communications for six years. During that time, he faced a news revolution moving from 24/7 media coverage to the constant, inescapable scrutiny, and instant reaction of social media. He dealt with elections, referendums, and controversy during his time in Number 10. Before entering politics and joining the Coalition Government, Craig had a successful career in broadcast journalism. Starting out at ITV, he worked for Channel 4 and 5 before moving to the BBC as Editor of the Ten O'Clock News. He then led the BBC's multimedia news output and eventually took charge of the corporation's global news channels. With rare access to the inner workings of government policy and communications, Craig recounts the lessons of delivering a successful General Election campaign and of dealing with the difficult situations the current government has to face. He examines how policy makers, businesses and institutions can develop strategies to deal with political upheaval and uncertainty. Craig was also a key figure in the remain campaign during the EU referendum. He left Downing Street at the same time as his boss and reveals the atmosphere during and after their failed campaign. Craig's book Unleashing Demons: The Inside Story of Brexit considers why voters made the choices they did, what is says about politics and society, what the future holds for the UK outside the EU, and how the pollsters got it so wrong. The book was the inspiration behind the Channel 4 drama Brexit: The Uncivil War depicting Craig and Dominic Cummings as the main protagonists, with Rory Kinnear and Benedict Cumberbatch playing their respective characters. He is a Partner and Co-Global Head of Strategy and Reputation at FGS Global, working with some of the biggest businesses in the world, and a trustee of the Make a Wish charity.

Sir Lenny Henry

Job Titles:
  • Actor & Comedian
Lenny Henry is one of Britain's best loved and most versatile performers. He is at home on television and on stage, in drama and in cabaret, fronting his band, voicing film characters, exploring how humour differs around the country, touring, and raising money for Comic Relief. After winning the New Faces talent show over four decades ago, Lenny made his mark on Tiswas then progressed to sketch show Three of a Kind alongside Tracy Ullman and David Copperfield. But it wasn't until he landed his own vehicle that his best-known comic creations emerged in the forms of Delbert Wilkins and the one-man sex machine Theophilus P Wildebeest. It established Lenny as a versatile comic pioneer, as comfortable with sketches and stand-up as he was with sitcoms, musical comedy, and impressions. Lenny's career went on to include more sketch series, Christmas specials, his own comedy series, Chef, and a Hollywood debut in Disney's film True Identity. He has also starred in the hard-hitting drama Alive and Kicking with Robbie Coltrane and the acclaimed Hope and Glory, based on the real-life work of headteacher William Atkinson. Other appearances include Broadchurch, Doctor Who and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Lenny has also another string to his bow; treading the boards to great acclaim as Othello, leading to other critically praised stage roles in The Comedy of Errors, Educating Rita, and King Hedley II. His memoir Who am I, again?, charts Lenny's journey from performing prodigy to mainstream entertainer with wit, honesty and immense charm. It tackles the casual racism, he received as a teen and the stresses and strains of fame. His second memoir Rising to the Surface, charts the earlier parts of Lenny's acting and comedic career, taking in the creative and personal highs and lows. Lenny is also well known for his tireless campaigning work. One of the co-founders of Comic Relief he has travelled the world seeing the charity's work first hand and has been a part of every event the organisations have staged. He is also a vocal campaigner for higher profile roles for BAME people in the media, including undertaking a PhD on the subject. His book Access All Areas: The Diversity Manifesto for TV and Beyond, written with Marcus Ryder, considers why efforts to diversify media have been thus far ineffective, and why they are simply not enough. In response to the international outcry at George Floyd's death, Lenny Henry and Marcus Ryder commissioned Black British Lives Matter: A Clarion Call for Equality, a collection of essays to discuss how and why we need to fight for Black lives to matter - not just for Black people but for society as a whole.

Sue Perkins Presenter

Job Titles:
  • Writer, Comedian

Susan Calman

Job Titles:
  • Scottish Lawyer Turned Comedian

Tom Fletcher

Job Titles:
  • Principal, Hertford College, Oxford

Tom Mclaughlin

Job Titles:
  • Director Recommendations »