Dame Laura Kenny Among Guest Editors for Radio 4’s Today Christmas Broadcasts

The BBC has announced that Dame Laura Kenny will serve as a guest editor for Radio 4’s Today programme during the Christmas period. The British cyclist is one of six individuals selected to editorially contribute to episodes of the news programme throughout the festive season. Author Frank Cottrell-Boyce, who holds the title of current children’s laureate, along with former chancellor Sir Sajid Javid and television presenter Baroness Floella Benjamin, are also slated to assume guest editing duties. Completing this year’s roster are adventurer and presenter Dwayne Fields, and Irene Tracey, a neuroscientist and the vice chancellor of the University of Oxford. The practice of public figures guest editing during the Christmas and New Year period has been an annual tradition for the Radio 4 programme for over two decades. Past guest editors have featured notable personalities such as Angelina Jolie, Stephen Hawking, Bono, Margaret Atwood, David Hockney, Raheem Sterling, Greta Thunberg, Carey Mulligan, Jamie Oliver, and Ellie Goulding. Frank Cottrell-Boyce’s segment, scheduled for broadcast on Christmas Eve, will investigate the influence reading has on children’s development and explore the effects on a child’s brain during reading sessions. On Boxing Day, Dwayne Fields will oversee a programme featuring discussions on homelessness and the importance of volunteering for communities. Sir Sajid Javid’s broadcast on December 27 will cover topics such as the advantages and disadvantages of artificial intelligence (AI), alongside a segment on the BBC children’s programme Grange Hill. Professor Irene Tracey’s programme, airing on December 28, will delve into advancements in chronic pain relief and examine the societal role of universities. Baroness Floella Benjamin will address subjects including the standard of children’s television and the transition from public service broadcasters to unregulated online platforms during her programme on December 30. Dame Laura Kenny’s New Year’s Eve episode will feature the UK’s most decorated female Olympian investigating the effects of elite sport on women’s physiology, specifically addressing fertility concerns, and the availability of physical education in schools. Owenna Griffiths, editor of Today, commented: “Every year I look forward to the fresh ideas, hidden stories and unexpected perspectives the guest editors bring to Today. “This year is no exception with an outstanding line-up that promises to bring great warmth and light to the festive season. I’m very grateful to all of them for giving up their time to edit Today.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.