New In Conversation series begins in Deal with Polly Toynbee

Press Office
Policy Exchange : Polly Toynbee by Policy Exchange } <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">License</a>

The University’s popular In Conversation series returns on 1 September 2017 with a one-off special at 8pm in the Astor Theatre in Deal featuring the journalist and writer Polly Toynbee.

Launched in 2015, each event in the series consists of an informal conversation between the University’s Chancellor, BBC journalist and author Gavin Esler, and a leading public figure.

Polly Toynbee has been writing for the Guardian since 1998, and previously worked as social affairs editor for the BBC.  She is a former president of the British Humanist Association and its current vice-president.

Audience members can participate in the conversations by submitting questions in advance via Twitter using #GavinAsks or email at events@kent.ac.uk.

Most of the events in the series will take place at the Gulbenkian and the Colyer-Fergusson on the University’s Canterbury campus, but begins with Ms Toynbee in Deal. Guests for the upcoming series include Terry Waite CBE, Owen Jones, Francesca Simon and Michael Gove MP.

The Gulbenkian/Colyer-Fergusson events are:

  • Humanitarian and author Terry Waite CBE on Tuesday 3 October
  • Author, commentator and political activist, Owen Jones on Monday 23 October
  • Conservative politician The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP on Friday 3 November
  • Bestselling children’s author Francesca Simon on Saturday 28 October

For further information and bookings for the In Conversation events, please visit the In Conversation website. Tickets for the Canterbury events cost £5 (£4 for students) and £10 (£5 concessions) for the Deal event. All proceeds will go towards the Kent Opportunity Fund, which supports a broad range of scholarships, student projects to enhance extra-curricular activities at Kent, and bursaries to support students experiencing financial hardship.

Previous guests for In Conversation include actress Dame Diana Rigg DBE, crime writer Ian Rankin OBE, comedian Jo Brand, and film critic Mark Kermode.

Full recordings of previous In Conversation events are available on the University’s YouTube channel.