Sunderland University to host talk from legendary TV producer and arts chief

Photo: Peter Bazelgette University of Sunderland.
Photo: Peter Bazelgette University of Sunderland.

The University of Sunderland is set to host Sir Peter Bazalgette as part of the Public Lecture series.

Sir Peter is the chief of Arts Council England and is also the man who popularised Big Brother and created Deal or No Deal.

He will be giving a free talk to students, staff and the general public on Wednesday, February 24 at Murray Library Lecture Theatre, City Campus from 6.30pm.

The TV producer will answer two questions in his talk; why do we invest public money into arts and culture, and what is the role of universities in this?

Sir Peter, said: “Arts Council England invests public money into the arts as they are a central and positive part of our lives and our communities.

“Universities are broadening their remit beyond academia to place-making. It is therefore imperative that they embrace arts and culture’s ability to tie an institution to its local area and to act as a positive force in its community.”

The creative mogul was once named “the most influential figure in British television”.

Sir Peter was made Chair of Arts Council England in 2012 and has raised funds for arts and media organisations, notably as chair of the Crossness Engines Trust (a steam museum) and as deputy chair of the National Film and Television School, and former chair of English National Opera.

He previously served as the Chief Creative Officer of Endemol where he devised several internationally successful television formats including Big Brother.

Alongside Big Brother he is responsible for creating formats such as Ready Steady Cook, Changing Rooms and Ground Force, which have gone on to become international hits.

Sir Peter was a non-executive director of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and also writes a regular food column for the Financial Times.

He has been awarded fellowships by BAFTA and the Royal Television Society, and was knighted in 2012 for services to broadcasting.

He serves on boards of market researcher YouGov and digital advertiser MirriAd as well as being on the Advisory Board of BBH. He is the president of The Royal Television Society and a non–executive director of ITV.

To book your place, you can go onto the onlinestore.sunderland.ac.uk or email events@sunderland.ac.uk.

Alternatively you can call 0191 515 3265 to book or for more information on the event.

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