John Simpson: BBC War Correspondent, recognised for his frontline reporting from both Iraq conflicts.

Examples of Past & Future Speakers

Dame Stella Rimington
Former Head of MI5

Andrew Marr
One of our most senior political commentators

Sean Fitzpatrick
Most successful All Blacks Captain of all time

Lord John Stevens
Former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police

James Naughtie
Eminent broadcaster and commentator

General Sir Michael Jackson
Former Head of the British Army

Sir Christopher Meyer
Chairman of Press Complaints Commission

John Humphrys
Renowned acerbic political commentator

Professor Lord Robert Winston
One of the world's most respected medical academics

Patience Wheatcroft
Editor of The Sunday Telegraph

Lord Sebastian Coe
Olympic Gold medallist, MP and leader of the 2012 London Olympic bid

Frank Gardner
BBC security correspondent and author severely injured whilst in Saudi Arabia

Sue Lawley
Former BBC newsreader and host of Desert Island Discs

Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Famed explorer to both the North and South Poles