Previous speakers include former Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, comedian and actress Jo Brand, children’s author Michael Morpurgo, Stonewall CEO and activist Ruth Hunt, and musician, journalist and parish priest Reverend Richard Coles.

Our most recent Public Lectures include:

Ben Brown - A life at the BBC and a view of the changing world order

Monday 16 March 2026

Ben Brown is a well-known accomplished journalist and probably best known as a BBC anchor news presenter. In this fascinating public lecture, Ben talks about his extensive career at the BBC and his views about topical global politics.

Professor Sukhi Shergill - Making the mind

Tuesday 27 January 2026

Drawing on research from neuroimaging, psychophysics, and psychopharmacology, this Professorial Beacon lecture by Professor Sukh Shergill examines how perception and imagination interact in the formation of beliefs, including phenomena such as “seeing voices” and strongly held delusional experiences. The lecture offers valuable insight into how the mind actively constructs, rather than simply records, reality. 

Professor David Bates - The people are revolting

Tuesday 29 April 2025

Professor David Bates, Professor of Contemporary Political Thought and Director of Research and Enterprise at CCCU,  delivers the third lecture in the Professorial Beacon Lectures series, exploring the decline of liberal democracy and the rise of new political-economic dynamics. He highlights how national populism and authoritarian capitalism — led by powerful figures allied with wealthy elites — exploit public discontent while acting against the interests of those they claim to represent. Bates warns of a bleak future, particularly for the Global South and all but the wealthiest in the Global North, and while he offers some ideas for resisting these forces, his outlook remains cautious and somber.

Professor Mike Weed - Is sport killing the planet?

Monday 16 December 2024

This Professorial Beacon Lecture examines whether sport can genuinely contribute to combating climate change, exploring its potential to influence consumer behaviour and promote sustainability, while questioning whether the sports industry is committed to addressing its own environmental impact.

Sir Anthony Seldon - What can Starmer learn from Johnson and Truss?

Thursday 21 November 2024

Sir Anthony argues that Boris Johnson and Liz Truss were two of the worst Prime Ministers in British history. Starmer has much to learn from them. Sir Anthony is a bestselling contemporary political historian. He served as honorary historian of Number 10 Downing Street, chair of the National Archives Trust, and has interviewed most of the senior figures who have worked in Number 10 in the last fifty years. His most recent books are Johnson at 10: The Inside Story (2023) and Truss at 10: How Not to Be Prime Minister (2024).