Rock and Roll Politics

This has been the most extraordinary year for British politics. The phone hacking scandal and the resulting Leveson enquiry have hit the news headlines on an almost daily basis and there is still no end in sight. The political response to the aftershocks of the initial financial crash and the emerging and fast moving eurozone crisis and the continuing debate on an appropriate relationship between politicians and the media are all subjects which will be forensically - and humorously - examined by leading commentators and experts - Steve Richards, Political editor of the Independent; journalist and author, Alex Preston and Head of BBC News, Helen Boaden, in a special Rock and Roll Politics chat show at 11am on Sunday 17th June in the Bowland Lecture Theatre.

Now one of the UK’s most respected political commentators, Steve Richards was previously a BBC political correspondent, Political Editor for the New Statesman and presenter of numerous television shows including GMTV's The Sunday Programme, BBC Two's Despatch Box, BBC News 24's Head 2 Head.  

Helen Boaden took up her role as Director, BBC News, in September 2004. In April 2011 she became the Director of BBC News Group, taking on additional responsibility for the Global News division, and joined the BBC's Executive Board.

She oversees UK-wide network news and the BBC's global news division. She also has responsibility for the BBC's 12 English Regions.

Alex Preston was born in 1979 and lives with his family in London. His first novel, This Bleeding City, was an international bestseller and won the Spear's and Edinburgh first book awards. It has been translated into twelve languages. Preston writes and reviews for the New Statesman and the Observer and is a regular panelist on BBC2's The Review Show.

His most recent novel is The Revelations.

Admission: by free ticket only, available from yorkfestivalofideas.com/tickets.