Melvyn Bragg

Born in 1939, Melvin Bragg, Baron Bragg, hails from Wigton near Carlisle.

He is a broadcaster, writer, interviewer, producer, commentator and academic.

Perhaps best known for presenting and producing ITV’s long-running art programme ‘The South Bank Show’ which was on screens for 32 years until 2010. The show was revived two years later when it was relaunched on Sky Arts. The arts magazine show was conceived, written and presented by Melvin Bragg. Numerous high profile names from the world of art and entertainment have been featured on the show including Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Richard Attenborough, the Bee Gees, Cher, Dusty Springfield, Liza Minnelli and dozens more. Comic and writer Victoria Wood featured on the show in 1996 at a time in her life when she was moving to London. For many years she lived in Silverdale - on the edge of the Lake District.

Bragg is also the host of a long-running radio discussion programme. ‘In our time’ has been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 for over 900 editions and is still a popular part of the schedule.

Bragg has held several high profile positions in Cumbria including President of Border Television (the ITV region for North Cumbria) until 1996 and he was awarded an honorary fellowship at the University of Cumbria in 2010.

Bragg has written dozens of books throughout his career both fiction and non fiction. His love of the area spilled over into his work in 1984 when he edited the collection of poetry ‘Cumbria in verse’ and the children’s book ‘My favourite stories of Lakeland’ from 1981.

Bragg has also written several acclaimed screenplays including ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ from 1973.

In 1998 Prime Minister Tony Blair appointed Bragg to the House of Lords as a life peer. He received the title Baron Bragg of Wigton in the county of Cumbria.