An evening with Professor Laurie Taylor, the presenter of BBC Radio 4's Thinking Allowed and one of Britain’s most distinguished sociologists and broadcasters, as he shares insights from his remarkable career.

Laurie Taylor’s diverse career spans acting, teaching, academia, journalism, and broadcasting. Originally from Liverpool, he was an actor and English teacher before joining the University of York’s new Sociology Department, later becoming Head of Department in the 1970s and a Professor in the 1980s.

For over 30 years, his satirical Times Higher Education column, The University of Poppleton, earned praise from Malcolm Bradbury, who called it “one of the really great columns.” His books, mainly on crime, include Deviance and Society, Psychological Survival, and Escape Attempts, as well as What Are Children For?, co-written with his son, Matthew.

Taylor began broadcasting on Radio 4’s Stop the Week and became a regular on radio and TV. As the longtime host of Thinking Allowed, he explored social research with Radio 4 and the Open University. His Sky Arts series In Confidence featured in-depth interviews with figures like Harry Belafonte, Mike Leigh, and Richard Dawkins. He remains active as a writer, consultant, and commentator.