Broadcaster and writer Joan Bakewell has been a notable figure in broadcasting since beginning her career with the BBC in the 1950s.  She rose to fame with BBC-2’s pioneering Late Night Line Up and was widely acclaimed for her excellent arts coverage as well as her campaigning stance on subjects like censorship, abortion, divorce, race and equality.

Here, she talks about her life and times and the many controversial programmes she has presented on sex, nudity and religion including: Heart of the Matter, My Generation and Taboo for BBC1, Something Understood for Radio 4 and Belief for Radio 3.

A long-time champion of women’s rights, Joan Bakewell was also appointed ‘Voice of Older People’ by the then Labour government in 2008. She was made a Baroness in 2010. She regularly appears on TV and radio, has made many documentaries, writes for the national press and is also an accomplished novelist.  She tours the theatre and festival circuit and is also available to speak at corporate events.