Question Time

This evening, “Question Time” will be broadcast from the School Hall at The Bishop’s Stortford High School.

You can watch the programme this evening on the “B.B.C. News” channel and on “B.B.C. “i-Player” from 9:00 p.m.  Shortly afterwards, the programme will be repeated at 10:40 p.m. on “B.B.C. One” television, in its traditional programming slot.  In Northern Ireland, this broadcast will commence at 11:20 p.m., whilst the programme will be further repeated, with subtitles,  at 2:20 a.m., on “BBC Two” television, on Monday morning.

We give all our guests, programme makers, contributors, and audience,  those behind the scenes and on camera,  who are all bringing this very distinguished and historic programme to T.B.S.H.S., a very warm “Black and Gold” welcome.  We look after the School environment, as ever, today, and show great respect to, and look after, our guests.

Fiona Bruce, the first woman presenter of the B.B.C.’s “News at Ten”,  will judiciously present the programme and forensically chair the respectful and rigorous debate and discussion on matters both in the U.K. and around the world.

Fiona Bruce presents, and has presented,  many flagship B.B.C. programmes. Born in Singapore, to an English mother and a Scottish father, Fiona Bruce, a citizen of the U.K. and of the world,  specialised in Languages in her education. Fiona Bruce is an honorary vice-president of the optical charity “Vision Aid Overseas” (V.A.O.) and has been honoured for her work with the “National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children” (N.S.P.C.C). In example, and advocacy, Fiona Bruce promotes women’s leadership and equality.

Joining Fiona Bruce on the panel this evening will be:

• Heidi Alexander, the Secretary of State for Transport and Labour Member of Parliament for Swindon South.
• Helen Whately, the Opposition or Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Conservative Member of Parliament for Faversham and Mid Kent
• Lisa Smart, the Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office Spokesperson in the House of Commons, and Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Hazel Grove, Stockport, in Greater Manchester.
• Ash Sarkar, a senior editor at Novara Media and British journalist, broadcaster, and political commentator, who teaches at the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and contributes to “B.B.C. Radio 4”’s long-running ethics programme  “The Moral Maze”.
• Matthew Syed,  an author, including of the book “What Do You Think?  How to agree to disagree and still be friends”,   a broadcaster and journalist, and a former English number one table tennis player.

In a week where people remembered the 100^th anniversary of the birth of Margaret Thatcher, one of only twenty-five women Members of Parliament when she was elected in 1959,  and nineteen when Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister in 1979,  the panel features 3 of the now 264 women Members of Parliament. And these 3 M.P.  panellists this evening have very important leadership roles in their respective political parties.

At this time, and always, we are also very mindful of the need for:  global peace;  care for people and the environment;  and no negative prejudice and no negative discrimination. Our guest speaker this week, Patrick Hutchinson, spoke of the importance of:  loving our neighbour, mindful of our own flaws;  being an ally to those in need and the vulnerable; treating others as we ourselves would wish to be treated;  and that “there is only one race – the human race”.

The Executive Producer of “Question Time” is Nicolai Gentchev.

The Editor is Daniel Maxwell.

The Production Company is “Mentorn Media”, who also produced  “B.B.C. One” television’s “The Big Questions”, broadcast at T.B.S.H.S. in February 2014.