Melvyn Bragg

Feb 1, 2024 | thetimes.co.uk | Melvyn Bragg

The arts generate more revenue than the life sciences, aerospace and construction industries combined. Add television, films, advertising and broadcasting, and we are faced not with a charming marginal activity but with an industry, ready to grow to the massive benefit of this country. But first the arts industry needs a radical overhaul — today it is dangerously patchy and punching way below its weight. Last year, there were more than three million jobs in the creative and cultural industries.

Jan 25, 2024 | telegraph.co.uk | Charlotte Runcie |Melvyn Bragg

Radio stars: (from left to right): Melvyn Bragg, Sara Cox, Ken Bruce and John Humphrys This week I’ve said goodbye to the regular radio column I’ve written for this paper since 2019, and the radio writing I’ve done in general since 2016. Writing about radio every week has been joyous, exasperating, absurd, occasionally even a little bit profound.

Sep 19, 2023 | telegraph.co.uk | Catherine Lough |Melvyn Bragg

Melvyn Bragg has complained Gary Lineker’s salary is “27 times” higher than his own as he criticised “ridiculous” pay packets handed out by the BBC. The broadcaster and Labour peer highlighted the disparities between his pay and Lineker’s despite claiming weekly audience figures for his Radio 4 series In Our Time were similar to Match of the Day’s on BBC One.

Aug 19, 2023 | thetimes.co.uk | Melvyn Bragg

David Hockney is unmistakable. A chequered suit — one of nine he bought in Monaco. Large yellow-rimmed glasses. A cap — inside and out. Yellow Crocs. A badge on his left lapel that reads “End bossiness soon”. And a lovely smile. His accent is still rooted in Bradford, but there is a twist of Los Angeles to it now. His hearing is beginning to fail him, so one of his greatest pleasures — music — is scarcely available. But these days, David tells me, “all I need is the hand, the eye and the heart”.

Jun 26, 2023 | gbnews.com | Jack Walters |Melvyn Bragg