20 Questions With

20 Questions With Guy Deacon

Guy Deacon served in the British Army for over three decades. At the age of 49 he was diagnosed with Parkinson's, but in his late fifties and early sixties, having left the military, he drove from the shores of Morocco to Cape Town, taking the western coastal route. On his way he raised awareness about the disease on the African continent and showed the world what can be done in the face of adversity. Here he tells his extraordinary and inspiring story. 

20 Questions With John Simpson

Legendary broadcaster and BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson talks about being punched in the stomach by a British Prime Minister, the different approaches as he sees them of Tory and Labour governments to the BBC, questions of bias, the importance of reflecting nuance, his career reporting from 160 countries, surviving 10 near death experiences, his views on the future of the BBC, his take on public service broadcasting, and his passions outside of work.

20 Questions With Rory Cellan-Jones

The man who became famous for bringing the latest developments and inventions in tech to BBC audiences is now, arguably, less famous than his rescue dog, Sophie from Romania. Here Rory Cellan-Jones explains this canine phenomenon, describes the impact of Parkinson's on his life, discusses the future of technology and the reach of AI, contemplates what might replace the smartphone, and reveals the tech moment he reported on that made him - and so many of us - go 'Wow'. 

20 Questions With Sathnam Sanghera

The author of Empireland and Empireworld, Sathnam Sanghera, explores the impact of British colonialism on Britain and the world, expresses his frustration at the amnesia about the involvement of people of colour in British history, encourages us to understand the past rather than rank it, eschews the culture wars, discusses the Royal Family's involvement in the slave trade, endorses multiculturalism in Britain, evaluates the effects of empire on the UK's contemporary relations with India, reviews Modi's decolonisation programme, explains his passion for journalism, reflects on the hostility he's been subjected to in public and reveals why he's returning to the stage to discuss his work. 

20 Questions With 'The Black Farmer'

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, self-styled as 'The Black Farmer', came to Britain from Jamaica as a small boy and grew up in poverty as one of nine siblings. He was often 'very, very, very hungry'. At an early age he became determined to own his own farm. Despite leaving school with no qualifications, after a career in television and then in PR, he realised his dream and now sells produce into supermarkets across the country as well as at his farm shop in Brixton. Here he tells his story, describes his mission to bring about change and how as an outsider he sees opportunity, tackles issues of race and discrimination, gives his verdict on whether the countryside is racist, recounts his experiences of being mistaken for a delivery driver and a chauffeur, explains the importance of having a Guardian Angel, reveals why he's a Tory, argues that the system failed him, maps out the future of farming, heralds the age of AI in work, calls on the National Trust and Church of England to help diversify land ownership and calls out what he sees as an "appalling" lack of diversity in the food and farming industry, highlights the role of consumer power, rejects quotas and champions the audacity of dreaming big. 
 
For the diversity and inclusion policies of the National Trust, Church of England, Aldi, Lidl and other supermarkets, see their websites. 

20 Questions With John Suchet

ITN newscaster turned Classic FM presenter John Suchet takes us on a passion-fuelled tour of Beethoven's life and music. Is the composer, who began to lose his hearing as a young man, the greatest of them all? What about Mozart or Schubert? Suchet's infectious love of his subject provides a must-listen for any listener to classical music - and for those tempted to try it out. He also takes us behind the scenes of his experiences as a reporter on the front line of some of the most dangerous wars of his generation. 

20 Questions With Alastair Campbell

Who better to talk to in General Election year than Tony Blair's former Director of Communications and Strategy, the man who helped drive New Labour to power and keep it there. Here he gives his verdicts on Starmer and Sunak, sets out a blueprint for growth, reveals why he became so involved in the fallout from the Brexit referendum, laments the move towards populist parties in Europe and says that even he might get to the point of queasiness about rejoining the EU, and talks about his mental health and how he is at the moment. 

20 Questions With Bettany Hughes

Classical historian Bettany Hughes takes us on a revelatory journey through the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. From the Great Pyramid at Giza to the Lighthouse of Alexandria via the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Immerse yourself in the beauty and brutality of a world that lives on in us. 

20 Questions With Matthew Taylor

Matthew Taylor is the Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation. Here he gives his take on the challenges facing the NHS, the shortfalls in funding, the need for capital investment, the under-management of the health service, the choices facing politicians, the problems in social care, huge waiting lists, the cost analyses of prevention and innovation, the economics of an ageing population, junior doctors' pay and staff morale. This is a rare opportunity to learn more about a British institution during an election year. 

20 Questions With Liam Byrne MP

Liam Byrne sets out his manifesto for a British wealth-sharing democracy. Linking wealth to freedom, he makes the argument for a fairer society and sets out an optimistic plan for the future. As Labour's outgoing Chief Secretary to the Treasury under Gordon Brown, Byrne left a note for his coalition successor explaining that the money had run out. It's a note that has dogged his party ever since and his new book, The Inequality Of Wealth, Why It Matters And How To Fix It, is in part an answer to his critics. Byrne explains why inequality matters and offers practical steps towards tackling it.