Rev. Matthew Linfoot
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 in Drama (Welsh College of Music and Drama), an MA in Media Management (University of Leeds), a DipHe in Theology, Ministry & Mission (University of Durham) and a PhD (University of Westminster).
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.
I am ordained a Priest in the Church of England, and serve as Curate of All Saints in Tooting, south London.
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'.
I was awarded an AHRC grant in partnership with the BBC, to mark the BBC's Centenary in 2022, as principal investigator in a public engagement project exploring the relationship between the BBC and the LGBTQ+ audience, using BBC archival material.