Principal Lecturer, Radio, Audio and Podcasting
Senior Tutor and Disability Tutor, School of Media and Communication
Before joining the University in 2003, I worked at the BBC in a variety of roles. I was the presenter and producer of a weekly LGBTQ magazine programme at BBC GLR94.9 (1993-2000), as well as producing a 16 part series of oral history programmes about London, The Century Speaks. I won a SONY Gold Award (Best Music Documentary) for producing and co-writing You've Got To Hide Away, with Tom Robinson, which explored hidden gay sexuality in popular music. Latterly, I was the editor of the BBC London website before moving to BBC Nations and Regions to work on two major projects, A Sense of Place and Voices as a senior producer.
My academic qualifications include a BA (Hons) in History (University of Cambridge), a PGCert Education (University of Greenwich), a PGCert (Drama) Welsh College of Music and Drama, an MA in Media Management (University of Leeds) and a PhD (University of Westminster). I am currently an Ordinand at St Augustine's College of Theology.
I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I have been an external examiner at Anglia Ruskin University; Goldsmiths, University of London; Bournemouth University; University of Northampton; UAL: London College of Communication; Sunderland University; University of West of England.
I have served on the Steering Committee of the Radio Studies Network, and as a judge for the Radio Production Awards and the Gillards (BBC Local Radio). I am co-lead for the University staff's Faith, Spirituality and Belief Network.
My research interests focus on radio history, especially local radio. My PhD thesis was completed in 2011: A History of BBC Local Radio in England, c. 1960 - 1980. I've presented papers on my research at the Radio Conference (2007; 2011; 2016) and at Sounding Out 5 (2010).
I’m also researching LGBTQ radio in the UK, a combination of historical and contemporary enquiry (LGBTQ History Conference 2016). In 2017, I organised a symposium to mark the 50th Anniversary of BBC Local Radio. In 2018, I was awarded a grant to research Young People and Radio in the UK by the British Council, resulting in a research paper and a symposium event. I have also conducted further research for the British Council, in particular reviewing their global radio show The Selector.
I am working with the BBC's Oral History team, recording oral history interviews with former and current LGBTQ staff.
Along with co-investigator Aasiya Lodhi, we have been awarded seed funding from the University's Research Communities fund to investigate BBC radio's response to Coronavirus, in a project titled 'Radio in Quarantine'.