About this event

Join TV presenters Angellica Bell and Konnie Huq to hear a fascinating discussion about how the Ealing childhood friends both ended up conquering children’s TV and built successful media careers. Chaired by Lorraine Heggessey, former Controller of BBC1 who worked with the pair when she was Head of Children’s BBC. 

From CBBC to The One Show, then the Martin Lewis Money Show, to winning Celebrity MasterChef, Angellica Bell is a twice Bafta-nominated TV presenter. After studying politics at university, she started out in children’s television before moving to primetime entertainment and factual programmes. She is one of The One Show’s longest serving reporters, and has a cookbook out aimed at young people called Fantastic Eats! and How to Cook them! She also presents a classical music show on Scala Radio every Saturday and Sunday.

The longest serving female presenter for the beloved BBC children’s television programme Blue Peter (1997-2008), Konnie Huq is now a best-selling children’s author with books including Cookie! And the Most Annoying Boy in the World. She has also worked on a number of writing projects, including the creation of an episode for the anthology hit series, Black Mirror. Konnie is an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and the British Asian Trust.

Both Angellica and Konnie grew up in Ealing and went to school together before embarking on their respective careers. Both also share a connection to politics; Konnie’s sister is Ealing Central and Acton MP Rupa Huq and Angellica’s father is politician Julian Bell, former leader of Ealing Council.

Lorraine Heggessey was the first woman to run BBC1, where she brought Strictly Come Dancing to our screens and was named by GQ as the third most influential woman in the UK. She has since run talkbackThames and The Royal Foundation. Lorraine is currently advisor to Channel 4’s Growth Fund and is Chair of The Grierson Trust and Pitzhanger Trustee.

Sir John Soane used Pitzhanger Manor to entertain his wide circle of friends, celebrities and potential clients, bringing together opera singers and politicians, academics and poets at eclectic dinners. Inspired by this spirit of Pitzhanger as a forum for interesting encounters and enlightening debate, Pitzhanger Perspectives is a new series of conversations with contemporary thinkers.