GNP SIGNS UP BBC NEWS TALENT
Management agency GNP Ltd has just added two thoroughbreds of the BBC news team to the select stable of speakers it represents on the conference circuit. They are John Humphrys and Peter Jay.
John Humphrys is the lead presenter of BBC Radio 4’s flagship The Today Programme and was the first of the BBC’s journalists to present front-line news programmes on both television and radio.
Although he was voted Political Journalist of the Year by MPs in February 2000 he has, ironically, been attacked by both Conservative and Labour Cabinet ministers during their spell of office for his tenacious interviewing style.
His first book, Devil’s Advocate, was published in September 1999 and went straight into the best-seller lists to critical acclaim. The Observer said it was “peerless reporting”; the Times said he “touched a raw nerve”; and the Sunday Times called him “a national institution”.
As well as being an ideal conference chairman and presenter, John Humphrys is a highly entertaining after-dinner speaker. His distinctive contribution includes a humorous news report based on information provided by the host organisation.
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Peter Jay is the BBC’s Economics Editor, who is currently presenting a landmark series on BBC Television, The Road to Riches. It tells the economic history of man from caveman to computer wizard. Peter Jay has also published a book with the same title.
His connection with politics at the highest level has been both professional and personal. He was married for 25 years to Margaret Callaghan, daughter of the British Prime Minister, James Callaghan. In the late 1970s he served as Ambassador to the United States.
Peter Jay brings distinction and authority to his presentations and conference chairmanship, combined with wit and a host of anecdotes from his varied and illustrious career, which also includes his turbulent experience as a Director of the ill-fated TV-AM and a spell as Chief of Staff at Mirror Group Newspapers during Robert Maxwell’s idiosyncratic reign.
David Williams, Managing Director of GNP Ltd, said: “We are delighted to welcome these two fascinating and distinguished speakers to our list. They are both superb professionals, who offer a blend of key messages and great stories that make them just right for a business audience.”
GNP posts brief profiles of all its speakers on its website at www.gnp.co.uk, or you may telephone for further details and availability on 01434 608820.
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Press enquiries are dealt with by David Williams. Tel (01434) 608820.
20 July 2000, for immediate use
David Williams
