University news
Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts to host top BBC political show
By: Neil Vowles
Last updated: Tuesday, 12 November 2019
Question Time was last on campus in July 2016 and featured a line-up including Charles Falconer, Tom Tugendhat, Sal Brinton, George Galloway and Ian Hislop.
Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts will host an upcoming episode of BBC1 political debate show Question Time during the election campaign.
Host Fiona Bruce and a panel of to-be-announced guests will be appearing at the University of Sussex campus venue on Thursday 14 November – less than a month before the country goes to the polls.
An audience of around 150 will be selected to watch the debate live with students, staff and city residents all able to apply for free tickets to attend.
Laura McDermott, Creative Director of Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, said: “All elections are important but this one feels particularly significant, with Britain's future in the EU still uncertain - so there’s certainly a lot at stake in this debate.
“We’re hopeful that those lucky enough to attend will hear and participate in a robust and impassioned debate but that participants on all sides will respect each other’s opinions and the right to speak their own minds.
“Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts has hosted a huge variety of events in my time here as Creative Director. We regularly host contemporary dance, theatre, music, film, discussion and debate. We're happy to be hosting the flagship BBC panel debate again - last time they were here was in the weeks just following the EU referendum over three years ago. It’s a wonderfully versatile venue and we’re very proud to have this opportunity to open our doors to a national TV audience once again.”
This month, it is 50 years since the University of Sussex arts centre first opened its doors, as The Gardner Arts Centre in November 1969. It was reopened, under a new name (Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts) in honour of our former Chancellor and legendary film director and actor Sir Richard Attenborough, in 2016 following an £8 million makeover.
If you are interested in being a member of the audience, visit here and select Brighton from the drop down list of venues.