Arts speakers

Adam Kay is well known for his television writing credits including Mongrels and Crims.

Adam Richman grew up in the food Mecca of New York City and began his love affair with food early on, sampling all of the diverse culinary specialties The Big Apple had to offer. From samosas to sushi, even at a young age, Adam had a desire to taste it all. A self-educated food expert and trained sushi chef, since 1995 he has kept a travel journal including each of the restaurants he visited and what he learned from the trip. Adam has subsequently worked in nearly every echelon of the restaurant world coast-to-coast. The nature of his work allowed him to feed his appetite for discovering the best local dishes across America, all of which found their way into his ever-expanding food journal. Although described as a bit on the husky side, to maintain his health while indulging for his show on The Travel Channel’s Man v. Food (which he began hosting in 2008), Richman exercises twice a day while he is on the road.

Alan’s history, as a rock ‘n’ roll promoter from the 1960′s to the present day, lends a unique understanding and experience of this particular field, as well as specialising in early tinplate toys.

Alex Macqueen is an action, comedian, presenter and former lawyer best known for his roles as Julius Nicholson in ‘The Thick of It’ and Neil’s Dad in ‘The inbetweeners’. He is also a superb conference chair, awards host and after dinner speaker.

Arthur Smith has become one of comedy's elder statesmen: an Edinburgh Fringe stalwart and a club compere since the early days of the alternative scene. As a comedian he has played all over the country, including the Comedy Store, Jongleurs and assorted West End Theatres. His show Arthur Smith Sings Andy Williams played Edinburgh and then the Comic Strip in New York.

Benjamin Zander is known throughout the United States as one of the most inspiring teachers and trainers of young musicians, as well as a musician at the cutting edge of interpretation of music of the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Now as well regarded for his work as a speaker as for his teaching and conducting, Zander has been invited to share his knowledge and experience with organisations the world over. As a lecturer to corporations, he reveals the distinctions of leadership, teamwork, creativity and coaching gained in a life-time of conducting.

Aside from his talent as an entertainer, for which he received a British Comedy Award for Best Live Stand-up, Bill Bailey has also made his mark as an actor. He starred in the Channel 4 sitcoms Black Books and Spaced, and in the feature films Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang, Burke and Hare and Hot Fuzz. Bill is best known as a former team captain on Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Other TV credits include Monster Night, Is It Bill Bailey?, The Stand Up Show and Space Cadets, as well as numerous spots on Have I Got News For You. He regularly pops up on QI and radio panel shows, and presented the nature programme Wild Thing I Love You.

An amazing story of triumph over adversity and cultural criticism, driven by a positive mental attitude and a phenominal comic talent, Brendan O’Carroll has enchanted audiences with his creation “Mrs. Browns Boys”. His control of an audience and motivational rise to success make him the perfect speaker for your corporate events.

Edward Upcott (five time British acrobatic champion) and Doug Fordyce first claimed major success with their 2010 winning gymnastic duo at the Polish world championships. Through their participation with the act Spellbound, Edward and Doug excelled their success by winning the 2010 ITV TV talent show, Britain's Got Talent. Since their departure from Spellbound, Edward and Doug have continued their victorious partnership with their new act, Brothers of Eden.

Cheryl Baker is an English television presenter and singer, best known for winning Eurovision in 1981 with the band Bucks Fizz.

Clemency presents Breakfast on BBC Radio 3 and numerous other arts and music programmes for TV and radio including The Culture Show, the Proms, BBC New Generation Artists and BBC Young Musician of the Year, which she has fronted since 2010. In the current affairs sphere, she is a reporter on Channel 4’s award-winning documentary strand Unreported World and a regular commentator on Sky News Sunrise and BBC Radio 4.

David Baddiel is known for his work alongside Rob Newman in The Mary Whitehouse Experience and partnership with Frank Skinner. Besides comedy, Baddiel is also a published novelist and a screenwriter.

Dean is best known as DS Ray Carling from BBC's best drama in years 'Life On Mars' and is soon to be seen in the spin off series 'Ashes to Ashes' in the spring of 2008. Life On Mars won countless awards and regularly had a viewing audience of over 7 million each week. Dean Andrews is an accomplished Actor and After Dinner Speaker and continues to be a huge favourite with the public.

Award winning inspirational Poet and Spoken Word Educator. Dean is both charismatic and reflective in his writing and delivery. Available for keynotes, readings, workshops and Masterclasses on a range of creative, artistic and LGBT briefs. Atta's debut poetry collection was shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize 2014 sponsored by Société General UK LGBT Network.

Originally from Bolton, Diane studied at East 15 Acting School before getting the role of Dawn in Peter Kay's 'Phoenix Nights'. Her work as a stand up comedienne has seen her placed second in the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year Award 2006 and runner up in the Funny Women Awards 2006, for new and aspiring female comedy talent. Since then she has appeared on numerous episodes of BBC's 'Mock the Week' and has continued to work with fellow comedian Joe Wilkinson as part of the deadpan sketch group 'Two Episodes of Mash'.

Dumi Oburota is the Nigerian-British entrepreneur credited for engineering Patrick Okogwu AKA Tinie Tempah's rise to stardom. He is also attributed to being behind strong acts like WizKid and asides music, he boasts a clothing label under his "Disturbing London" company. Now he is on a mission to make Disturbing London "a stamp of coolness for millennial, urban culture".

Gilly is a Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Cambridge; she is also a Fellow of St Catharine’s College. She has published widely in the fields of history, archaeology and the heritage of the German occupation of the Channel Islands, 1940-1945. She also regularly speaks at international conferences in these areas. She is particularly passionate about victims of Nazi persecution and has pioneered the concept of ‘Occupation Archaeology’, the archaeology of military occupation during WWII. She is a firm believer in the role of academics as activists and interventionists in the memory and heritage of those they study.

Greg Davies is a Welsh stand-up comedian and actor known for his roles as Greg in We Are Klang, Mr Gilbert in The Inbetweeners and Ken Thompson in Cuckoo as well as for his guest appearances in Mock the Week, Would I Lie to You? and Fast and Loose.

Gyles Brandreth is a writer, broadcaster, actor, former MP and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, now Chancellor of the University of Chester and one of Britain's most sought-after award ceremony hosts and after-dinner speakers. A veteran of QI and Have I Got New For You, a reporter on The One Show and a regular on Just a Minute, his many books include The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries and two recent best-sellers.

Harvey is a world-famous music mogul and visionary producer and promoter of rock concerts, Charity events and television broadcasts. He has produced, managed and promoted shows with most of the world’s major artists. He has worked with, among others; Andrea Bocelli, Muse (band), Genesis, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, Santana, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, Luciano Pavarotti, Sheryl Crow, Shania Twain, Bee Gees, Jools Holland, Sting, and many other.

Hugh shot to fame recently for playing the much loved character of Dr. House, the arrogant yet brilliant diagnostician. Hugh has appeared in numerous roles, being a prominent figure in the Blackadder series with Rowan Atkinson, and appearing with Stephen Fry in the hugely popular ‘A Bit of Fry and Laurie’ as well as ‘Jeeves and Wooster’. In his acting career, Hugh has received multiple awards, including two Golden Globes for his role in House, and five time winner of the Peoples Choice Award for favourite TV and Male actor. Since the end of the series ‘House’, Hugh has become an internationally critically acclaimed musician, producing two bestselling albums.

As a successful and much sought-after stand up, actor, writer and presenter, Jack Whitehall has firmly established himself as one of the UK’s most exciting and successful new comedy talents.

Jameela Jamil is a British television presenter, radio presenter and model. She has appeared on various Channel 4 programmes and has been a presenter of T4 from 2009 until 2012 when T4 ended.

With over 25 years experience in future analysis, James is a remarkable record as a writer, analyst, and presenter. James is also a leading futurologist and author of considerable reputation. James has a zealous interest in key trends and statistics facing current and future businesses. James' work challenges organisations to better anticipate change and adapt faster.

James Nesbitt is one of the most popular and familiar actors on British television. Cold Feet made him a household name and he has since excelled in everything from Gothic horror to wacky comedy. On the big screen he's starred opposite Ralph Fiennes in Coriolanus, and plays one of the dwarves in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit.

Joanna Lumley OBE is an esteemed TV and stage actress, voice-over artist, author, comedienne, and former model. Her most remembered role is as 'Patsy' in the nationally loved 'Absolutely Fabulous'. Beyond her acting roles, Joanna has worked alongside multiple charities and has been an avid activist for campaigns such as Survival International, the Gurkha Justice Campaign. Joanna is also the Patron for multiple charities, including PENHA, the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust, and Trust in Children. In early 2013, Lumely was ranked as one of the 100 most powerful women in the UK by Radio 4's Radio show, Woman's Hour.

John Barrowman MBE is a Scottish-American actor, singer, dancer, presenter and writer who holds both British and American citizenship. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, he emigrated to the United States with his family in 1975.

Jude Kelly became Artistic Director of the Southbank Centre, Britain's largest cultural institution, in 2005. In the course of her career she has directed numerous award-winning theatrical productions. Since then she has founded and is the director of the WOW Foundation which runs WOW - Women of the World Festivals.

Julian Fellowes is an actor and writer, best known for his work in Downton Abbey (2010), Gosford Park (2001) and The Tourist (2010).

Kanya King CBE is the founder and CEO of the MOBO Organisation, launched in 1996 to celebrate and celebrate urban music. She now employs hundreds of people and The MOBO Awards is Europe's largest urban music awards show, attracting the largest primetime multicultural audience of over 250 million people around the world.

Kay Alexander MBE was a BBC Midlands news presenter, working as Anchor on the Midlands Today flagship programmes. She is very proud to have been the face of Midlands Today News for 40 years. In 2013, Kay was awarded an MBE for services to broadcasting and charity, and given an Honorary Doctorate by Birmingham University, recognising services to broadcasting. Kay won the Royal Television Society Award in 2003 which marked 30 years in the business. In 2016 she presented a feature film "The Path of Inspiration" premiered at the Venice Film Festival.

Through campaigns such as the Great British Refurb and his regular columns for Grand Designs Magazine and national newspapers Kevin McCloud now champions sustainable development, context, the historic environment and ecological construction.

Kimberly Wyatt is best known as a former member of the American pop/R&B girl group and dance ensemble the Pussycat Dolls. Kimberly is a super awards host, presenter and equally happy doing fireside chats and keynotes.

Lenny Henry is the founding member of Comic Relief and an award winning comedian. His media career spans over 30 years as a documentary maker and communicator. Lenny has recently completed a BA Honours in English Literature with the Open University.

Through his career Luke Goss’s versatility has earned him a solid reputation in the entertainment industry with this roles in music, music theatre and the world of film.

Lulu is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality.

Marcus Brigstocke is an English comedian, actor and satirist who has worked extensively in stand-up comedy, television, radio and theatre.

Mariella has firmly established herself at the top end of opinion forming journalists and TV presenters in the UK. Defying any attempt to pigeonhole her skills and talents Mariella has made her mark on a wide variety of programmes and writes regularly for the Observer, and other publications.

Mark Cuban is an American businessman, investor, and owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, Landmark Theatres, and Magnolia Pictures, and the chairman of the HDTV cable network AXS TV.

Michael Finkel is the author of the New York Times bestseller “The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit,” about a highly intelligent man who lived alone in the forest of Maine for 27 years, as well as the book “True Story,” about Finkel’s bizarre and unhealthy friendship with a murderer, which was adapted into a 2015 major motion picture produced by Brad Pitt and starring James Franco and Jonah Hill.

Morgan Spurlock is a documentary filmmaker, humorist, television producer, screenwriter, and political activist, best known for the documentary films “Super Size” Me and “This Is Us”. Spurlock was the executive producer and star of the reality television series “30 Days”. As of June 2013, Spurlock hosts and produces the CNN show “Inside Man” and is the co-founder of short-film content marketing company cinelan, which produced the Focus Forward campaign for GE.

After working with high-profile bands and musicians around the world for twenty years, singer / songwriter Patti Russo is launching her solo career with a tour of the UK and an EP of her own music. Patti is best known as a duet partner for Meat Loaf, with whom she has toured the world for two decades. She has also worked with Cher, Queen, Bryan Ferry, Betty Harris and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, to name a few. Patti Russo is also no stranger to the theatre stage, having appeared as Esmeralda in the London production of Notre-Dame de Paris and as Killer Queen in the Las Vegas production of Queen and Ben Elton’s smash hit musical We Will Rock You.

Paula runs a successful flower business which has a reputation for innovative floral designs. She has been described as "the most brilliant florist in London". Paula runs a flower school in London and is the author of numerous best-selling books on the subject.

Author of eight books, including "Leading Innovation, Creativity and Enterprise", Peter delivers bespoke masterclasses that fuse together his passion for music to facilitate businesses with leadership, strategy, innovation and creativity. Peter uses a rich mix of business intelligence with the power of music to inspire, inform, and engage his audience in ways that stay with them forever.

Pippa Evans is an award-winning musical performer, songwriter and improviser who’s a core member of the Olivier award-winning, critically acclaimed Showstopper! The Improvised Musical.

Rob Delaney is a well-known American comedian, actor, and writer from Boston, Massachusetts but is currently residing in London.

Born in Scotland, Ronni Ancona is a British Comedy Award Winning impressionist and comedienne. She is an entertaining and charismatic performer be it after dinner or stand up to hosting corporate awards.

BBC Presenter, illustrator and public speaker, Rosie King has achieved great things at the young age of 23. She diagnosed her own autism at the age of nine (a diagnosis that was later confirmed by specialists) and dedicates her considerable talents to raising positive awareness about autism. With a younger brother and sister severely affected by the condition, this has always been a subject close to Rosie's heart. She is an ambassador for the National Autistic Society, and has worked closely with professionals to improve the quality of education for young people with additional needs in mainstream school. After speaking about her condition and the way that it effects her at the TEDMED convention in Washington DC 2014, Rosie received a standing ovation. Graduating with first class honours in Creative Writing from Roehampton, Rosie enjoys being part of the BBC Pablo writing team and voice actor.

Rupert Gavin is the former CEO of the Odeon Cinema Group, the largest cinema group in Europe. Prior to that he was head of BBC Worldwide, responsible for all their commercial activity whilst overseeing a huge and controversial programme of diversification.


Being the founder of YO!, Simon Woodroffe's business ventured spans to include: the hugely successful lifestyle brand and restaurant YO! Sushi which revolutionized eating-out in London and across the world; and the YOTEL, described as a cross between a Japanese capsule hotel and a first class air cabin. Simon is currently working on developing the YO! Home and the YO! Spa. However, before the launch of his first YO! Sushi restaurant in 1997, Simon had spent 30 years in the entertainment industry, with his production companies staging concerts for the lights of The Moody Blues, George Michael, and Stevie Wonder. In 1999, Simon won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and also became a part of the CBI/BCC Ambassador of Entrepreneursism campaign, which he is still a part of.

Sir Bob Geldof is one of the most fascinating public figures of our time. He's both an astute business mogul and one of the greatest humanitarians the world has ever known. As a tireless campaigner for numerous good causes and charities throughout the world, Sir Bob Geldof is able to use his high profile to great effect. From African famines and aid organisations to business, global politics and communications, Sir Bob has raised awareness of a wide range of causes.

Ian McKellen's work has spanned genres from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. He is best known for roles such as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy and as Magneto in the X-Men films. In 1988, McKellen came out and announced he was gay. He became a founding member of Stonewall, one of the United Kingdom's most influential LGBT rights groups, of which he remains a prominent spokesman. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1979, and knighted in the 1991 New Year Honours for his outstanding work and contributions to theatre. In the 2008 New Year Honours he was made a Companion of Honour (CH) for services to drama and to equality. He has received a Tony Award and two Academy Award nominations.

Sophie has enjoyed a long globetrotting career as a travel journalist but moved closer to home when she trained as a London tour guide and wrote a book on the English summer season. She now combines writing and guiding with travelling at home and abroad and spends as much time as she can in her home town of London.

Stephen Mangan is an acclaimed actor who has appeared in some of the UK's best TV comedy of recent years, including Episodes, with Matt LeBlanc. Despite appearing in multiple school plays, growing up, Stephen never imagined he could be an actor, stating "I'd have put it in a category with astronaut or jockey." After studying law at Cambridge University, he auditioned for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and successfully won a place. He spent several years in regional theatre, playing in classics such as The Tempest, Twelfth Night and Hamlet, and his successful seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the touring company Cheek By Jowl earned him a nomination for the Ian Charleson award. He is now probably best known for his role as Dr. Guy Secretan in the TV comedy series Green Wing, a character who was voted 34th in Channel 4's The World's Greatest Comedy Characters. He has also filmed a full series of the comedy Free Agents, previously part of the Comedy Showcase season of Pilots and now currently being broadcast on Channel 4.

As an individual and with her comedy counter-part Mel Giedroyc, Sue has entertained the nation and has been a firm favorite on British television for nearly fifteen years. Sue has recently developed a profile as a foodie, providing a dynamic, insightful, and comedic edge to TV shows such as The Big Food Fight and The Great British Bake Off. Sue is also a regular on current comedy panel shows, including TV's Have I Got News For You and Argumental, as well as radio's Just A Minute.

There are few celebrities who take up an environmental cause and actually move beyond a superficial commitment. Ted is one of those celebrities. He is the co-founding member of the American Oceans Campaign (AOC), an organization established to alert Americans to the life-threatening hazards created by oil spills, offshore development, toxic wastes, sewage, pollution and other ocean abuses. Ted starred in the CBS series Becker, for which he received a Golden Globe Award nomination. Ted Danson is also well known for his role in the long-running series Cheers, for which he received two Emmy Awards as "Best Actor in a Comedy Series" and nine Emmy nominations for his portrayal of Sam Malone.

Tim Minchin is an Australian musician, composer, songwriter, actor, comedian and writer. In his performances, he typically goes barefoot with wild hair and heavy eye makeup, which is juxtaposed with a crisp suit and tails, and a grand piano. His current songs span various musical styles and topics such as environmentalism, rationalism, prejudice(ism), logical fallacies(ism) and his amour de fromage et de boobs(ism). During 2009 and 2010, Tim wrote the music and lyrics for Matilda The Musical with the Royal Shakespeare Company. This adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic ran, from November 2010 until January 2011.

Timo Kiuru is a true global citizen having worked in cities as diverse as Seoul, Istanbul, San Diego, New York, Miami, Barcelona, Paris, Seattle, Tokyo, Helsinki, Abu Dhabi, London, Kazan, Stockholm, Porto, Toronto, Las Vegas, Tallinn, Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Tom Oliver has shared his secrets on leadership, innovation and creativity with Bono, Dalai Lama, Deepak Chopra and Richard Branson and is in high demand as a global keynote speaker and consultant.

Will Gompertz is an Arts Editor and previous director of Tate Media. In 2009 he sold out a one man comedy show called Double Art History at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.