‘Communicating Religion Today’ – an evening with Michael Wakelin, Head of Religion & Ethics for the BBC
8pm Saturday May 19th at the Guy Chester Centre, Muswell Hill, N10 1PR
This is a unique opportunity to deepen our understanding of how the media considers issues of faith, in an evening of lively discussion.
Michael Wakelin was appointed as BBC Head of Religion & Ethics in August 2006. He joined the BBC in 1986 as a researcher for the BBC Radio 4 series The Good Book with Brian Redhead and went on to work on a variety of programmes across all radio networks. His radio credits include Talk of the Devil, Sanctified Dance and the Sony Award-winning The Dream for BBC Radio 1. He pioneered gospel music on BBC Radio 2, launching series with Gloria Gaynor, Deniece Williams and, most recently, Beverley Knight. He has also worked on a range of multi-faith programmes and established Radio 2’s acclaimed Faith in the World Week – now in its 15th year on the BBC. Michael worked as a producer and director on Songs of Praise for five years before becoming Series Producer of the series in 2001. He also series produced and directed BBC Two’s Cathedral Calls with Janet Street Porter and was Co-Series Producer of the ground-breaking BBC One series Son of God. Michael spent his early childhood in Sierra Leone and Kenya before moving to Norfolk. He attended Kingswood School in Bath and studied Theology at Birmingham University before working as a teacher – and occasional TV comedy actor – in South Korea. Before joining the BBC he attended the National Broadcasting School where he won the Directors Prize. He has written a biography of the Methodist movie mogul J Arthur Rank. Michael lives in South Manchester with his wife and two children and is a Methodist lay preacher in the Macclesfield Circuit.
Admission is free, by ticket only. Contact the Guy Chester Centre for bookings admin@chestercentre.org.uk
