Professor Laurie Taylor

It’s safe to say that Laurie Taylor has enjoyed a wide-ranging career.

He’s a highly respected broadcaster, author and sociologist but before things really kicked off for him he started off working in industry and sales.

After that he became a librarian, a teacher and even an actor, treading the boards professionally with Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop company.

As a mature student he earned degrees in Sociology and Psychology before becoming an academic at the University of York in 1975.

Laurie has published several books on a diverse range of subjects, and is a regular contributor to the New Statesman, The Independent and The Times.

He’s perhaps best known as the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Thinking Allowed, a show devoted to society and social change.

He’s also written and presented critically acclaimed documentaries and interviewed a diverse range of guests such as Richard Dawkins, Lily Allen and Damien Hirst on Sky Arts show In Confidence.

Laurie was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Liberal Arts by Abertay University in 2016.