Talking politics in the UK’s City of Culture

7th April 2025

What an enjoyable and stimulating afternoon at Bradford Community Broadcasting (BCB 106.6FM) 📻

I led a session on interviewing politicians for the fabulous volunteers and staff - so good to be back at BCB in this proud and busy year when Bradford is the UK’s City of Culture.

Having covered nine general elections for the BBC and interviewed elected representatives from parish councillors to prime ministers, it’s a subject I care about passionately. Two occasions stand out:

1) an hour long phone-in with Gordon Brown on BBC Radio Leeds in the dying days of the Labour government (2010)

2) acting as compère for a night at the City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds with the former Conservative PM John Major, whose father had performed there. It resulted in me making the radio documentary ‘Major at the Music Hall’ which won a trophy at the New York International Radio Awards.

Hats off to Layla Painter at the University of Leeds for setting up the ‘Developing Confidence in Community Journalism’ programme - and thanks to the School of Media and Communication for the invitation to get involved.

Do get in touch if you think I might be able to work with you in any way, whether it’s presenting a radio programme, talking about broadcasting and journalism, media training, sharing my experiences with my Mum and dementia, recording a voiceover or something else entirely: https://www.theandrewedwards.com/contact