Past 'Grillees' have included Rooney Anand, Jeffrey Archer, Martin Bell, Luciana Berger MP, Henry Bolton, Vince Cable MP, Tim Campbell, David Campbell-Bannerman, Douglas Carswell MP, Shami Chakrabarti, Ken Clarke MP, Michael Cockerell, Piers Corbyn, Caroline Criado-Perez, Tracey Crouch MP, Simon Danczuk MP, Nigel Farage, Frederick Forsyth, Mike Gatting, Chris Grayling, Damian Green, Lord Peter Hain, Margaret Hodge MP, Graham Jones MP, Lord (Anthony) Lester, Ken Livingstone, Jon Moulton, Eleanor Mills, Lord David Owen, Esther Rantzen, John Redwood, Alec Salmond, Emma Sayle, Vaughan Smith, David Starkey, Peter Tatchell, Richard Tice, Chukka Umunna.
Richard Tice
|
Having the Chairman of the Brexit Party, Richard Tice, as our guest 9 days before the 2019 General Election was something of a coup. It was also our first live streaming thanks to PIC PR and Richard laid the blame very firmly with the Tories if they failed to achieve a majority and said that the Brexit Party would continue to be active in British politics after Brexit and campaign for investment in infrastructure and a modernisation of the electoral system. Watch the video here.
|
Peter Hain
|
The former Labour Cabinet Minister Lord Peter Hain joined us as Grillee during the early days of the December 2019 election. The questions raised covered a plethora of topics including the retiring Speaker, who he thought had done a good job, Extinction Rebellion, an elected House of Lords, and the current state of the Labour Party. This included Anti-Semitism and whether or not having joined the Labour Party from the Liberals in 1977, he would have made that move today. The issue of Parliamentary privilege was covered, not just Sir Philip Green but also President Zuma, and given this membership of the Constitutional Reform Group, he was asked whether he felt many of today's problems emanated from the devolution bills rather than the 2016 EU referendum.
The final question Lord Hain immediately identified as being Tebbit test was on who he supported in the Rugby World Cup final. To some surprise, he said given his Welsh connections where he was a Member of Parliament and still lives, he supported Wales in the semi-final but South Africa in the final. Watch the video of the entire event here. |
Rooney Anand
|
We returned after the summer break with Rooney Anand as our guest. In his 14 years as CEO of Greene King, he quadrupled the turnover to £2bn and in an era when pubs were closing, increased the number of outlets to 3,000, partly by shrewd acquisition and retention of much loved brews such as Old Speckled Hen. Now Chairman of WorldSkillsUK, he enjoyed himself so much that he’s offered to come back in a couple of years! I suppose sitting David down with a brewer was always likely to create chemistry, add to that the brewer of one of his favourite ales and alchemy! To see the video, click here.
|
Emma Sayle
|
David interviewed the founder of one of the UK’s most exclusive sex party clubs, Emma Sayle at the final hotly-anticipated summer 2019 London Grill Club interview. Since Emma founded Killing Kittens back in 2005, it has grown rapidly to more than 100,000 ‘sexually liberated’ members, who take part in exclusive global events from New York to Sydney. To see the video, click here.
|
|
Tom Olsen Memorial Lecture
David chaired the 25th Annual Tom Olsen Memorial Lecture at St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street, on 8th July 2019. He is pictured here with Dr Courtney Radsch, Director of Advocacy at the Committee to Protect Journalists, who delivered the address. To see the video, click here.
|
|
Tracey Crouch
In the midst of the Tory leadership election, former Sport and Media Minister Tracey Crouch joined us and explained why she resigned from the government. It was a resignation that wasn’t Brexit driven, but has government policy ever changed so quickly following a ministerial resignation? View video here.
|
|
Lord (Anthony) Lester
David interrupted his and Tracy’s LEJOG raising money for Sepsis to return to London for the Grilling of Lord Anthony Lester in May. A fascinating 45 minutes with the man who was one of the driving forces of the Human Rights Act who had recently resigned from the House of Lords following unproven claims made against him about improper behaviour. A wide ranging grilling giving an insight into the politics with large and small Ps of the last 50 years. To see the video click here
|
|
Damian Green
Damian Green the former De Facto Deputy Prime Minister was our guest on yet another Brexit day of reckoning. A more light hearted grill than might have been anticipated covering far more than Brexit but with Green adamant that whatever the outcome there would not be a General Election because not enough MPs would vote to over rule the Fixed Parliament Act. To see the video click here |
|
Henry BoltonOur first guest of Brexit year was Henry Bolton who from September 2017 to 17th February 2018, less than 150 days was Leader of UKIP and was removed by members over his affair with Jo Marney, 30 years his junior. Not so much over the affair but because of a racist text she had sent. Jo was with him as we are told she always is. She has repeatedly said she regrets the text. David ignored the matter completely in the Grill but obtained some interesting admissions! See the video here.
|
|
Ken ClarkeKen Clarke was in his usual good humour as he and David raconteured their way through 50 years of British Politics. To see the Grilling, click here
There is some background noise and at one point a band even started playing outside the restaurant! They were both undaunted! |
|
Douglas CarswellThe Daily Telegraph on the morning of the Grilling of Douglas Carswell carried copies of what it claimed were email exchanges involving Douglas Carswell trying to prevent Nigel Farage being honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. The event was on off all morning and after David said it was too late to pull the event so it would happen and the audience would discuss the questions Douglas Carswell agreed to attend but under the Chatham House Rule, so there is no write up or film but at the end Carswell agreed it would have been good to film it as he put his side of many issues, including the claims in the Daily Telegraph.
|
|
Simon DanczukWith David keeping question on Sextext until the final segment of the Grill there was an air of expectancy throughout. When it came to it the reply reflected some of the other replies. He hadn’t said what he was accused and it was all the fault of the press. He wouldn’t however say what he had said.
Read the full interview report here it was quite enlightening! |
|
Frederick ForsythFrederick Forsyth was his usual crisp, clear incisive self despite saying that due to his age he had written his last thriller. A complete professional he had researched in fine detail all his plots and his wife was worried that he might now come a cropper!
The questions ranged from Brexit, which he supports, his favourite book and film, his role with MI6, his “low output” compared to other more prolific authors, his support of Reg Keys when he stood against Tony Blair, his Chairmanship of the Special Forces Club and from a journalist who had worked on the Eastern Counties Newspaper when he had, about the future of printed news. He also forcefully reaffirmed his support for the release, which subsequently happened of Sgt Alexander Blackman who had been sentenced to three years in prison for an incident in Afghanistan. |
|
Jon MoultonDescribed by David as “the grandfather of venture capitalists” Jon explained the real role of venture capitalists in creating jobs and saving businesses. Probably most famous for the deal he never did with British Leyland we were treated to a real insight into a private world where the venture capitalist certainly doesn’t always win.
|
|
Margaret Hodge MPWith the Labour Party almost at civil war over anti Semitism it was interesting to hear from a Jewish Labour MP in a grill that included question son tax evasion, Article 50 and Labour MPs being out of tune with the Labour voters in the Country, housing and diversification and inclusion.
|
|
Alex Salmond SMPOur first evening Grill was not as popular as we would have expected for such a big name. Asked if the UK voting to leave the EU in a referendum would justify Scotland having a second referendum if Scotland voted to remain, he said yes. Question ranged across all aspects of the United Kingdom and his relationship with businessmen such as Donald Trump and Fred Goodwin including a humorous one about his interest in Star Trek. View interview here.
|
|
Tom Newton DunnTom Newton Dunn, Political Editor of the Sun. Grilled 18th September 2018 Listen to this interview here.
|
|
Vince CableOur first guest of 2018 captivated the audience and was frank about the problems we face but short of practical answers. Pushed on whether he would still be leader of the Lib Dems at the next election he was categoric that he would be – it changed not long afterwards! View video here.
|
|
Chukka Umunna A wide ranging Grilling with a potential future Labour Party leader and Prime Minister, despite his denials! Although seven months after the signing of Article 50 the Grilling was not dominated by Brexit and the full Grilling can be seen here
|
|
Graham Jones
The planned tube strike couldn't kill off our first Grill of the year but although the strike was cancelled, London was seriously quiet but not the Grill! It was a full, red-blooded event as one would expect with a man who had resigned his position as Shadow Whip following the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party.
Politics, of course, has always been about communication but the whole of modern life is and the first question covered the incident of a child in Graham Jones' constituency who had written in his weekend news for school that he lived in a terrorist house. Read more here. |
|
Luciana Berger
The last Grill of 2015 saw Luciana Berger, recently appointed Shadow Minister for Mental Health, put to the flame by David at Corney and Barrow's Devonshire Terrace wine bar in Devonshire Square. An excellent grill for lunch was followed by an interesting session.
Introducing Luciana, David referred to the fact that she seems to have courted controversy to which she replied 'You should not believe everything you read on Wikipedia'. Read more here. Watch the video here |
|
Shami Chakrabarti
Shami Chakrabarti joined us on 13th October. David began by asking her how she became interested in the issue of human rights, freedom and liberty. Her engaging reply started with her parents coming to England in the late 1950s when Harold Macmillan was Prime Minister. Read more here.
|
|
Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone says he’s not changed since his Red Ken days but backs tax cuts and the use of CCTV. The former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone was grilled on questions ranging from why the Labour Party lost the election, if he supported Jeremy Corbyn, what should be done to counter terrorism. Read more here.
|
|
David Campbell- BannermanBanter flowed easily in a far reaching Grilling between the David’s who go back 30 years or more. There was talk of the promise a referendum on Europe being central to the General Election of 2015, our David thought it would be for political reasons, political manoeuvrings, and having previously served as a UKIP MEP before defecting back to the Tories DCB was confident that Britain would vote to leave. Pushed on his twice changing sides he said what was wrong with that, Churchill had done it! Questioning him comparing himself to Churchill, our David said maybe if was a valid comparison, in his girth at least!
|
|
Jeffrey Archer
The Union Club on Greek Street played host to, at the very least, a polarising character with more than his fair share of media controversy. Following a delectable mixed grill, Jeffrey Archer spoke passionately about politics, writing, women and his well publicised scandals. Read more here. Watch the video here.
|
|
Caroline Criado Perez
The first meeting of The London Grill Club at its new home at the Union Club was a great success with David and Caroline Criado-Perez both in highly combatative and entertaining form. Read more here.
|
|
Peter Tatchell
Peter Tatchell has been campaigning for human rights, democracy, LGBT freedom and global justice since 1967. The questions ranged from his invasion of the Vatican Embassy, Eurovision being won by a transvestite, the current state of life in Ukraine, where he reluctantly accepted freedom would continue to be denied, the inequality of same gender and different gender marriages, to what he thought was his greatest triumph and where he saw his career going. Read more here.
|
|
Eleanor MillsThe Grilling of Eleanor Mills, Editorial Director of The Sunday Times, lived up to expectation and was possibly the most lively yet with both David and Eleanor in light combative mood suitable to the occasion! Other Grills may have been hard fought head to head Grillings in the truest sense of the word, but this produced more than a touch of humour with David not letting Eleanor of the hook and Eleanor politely refusing to be hooked! Read more here and also check out Gorkana's Base Camp Report on The Grill here.
|
|
Vaughan Smith
He’s been shot twice and had his life saved by his mobile phone when it stopped a bullet that would have ripped his stomach out. We knew before he came that Vaughan Smith, the man who forfeit £12,000 on a lost bail deposit for Julian Assange, was going to be a fascinating Grillee and we were not disappointed. More here.
|
|
Andrew Mitchell
Former Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell replied to questions ranging from the effect the false accusation against him over what became known as Plebgate had on him and his family, to his possible return to government, which he said was a matter for others, possible improvements in the Police Force to ensure greater accountability and that the Benefit reforms being implemented by the Government were ensuring that it always paid to work, something he thought most people agreed as being fair. More here.
|
|
Esther RantzenThe Esther Ranzen Grill was a great hit covering a wide range of topics from her ancestry and the Saville affair to the launch of Silver Line. She was also remarkably open about the feeling of loneliness when putting the key in the front door knowing that, after the death of her husband Desmond, she would spend the rest of the day alone. The session ended to much laughter with David presenting her with a seriously deformed vegetable donated by Macknade Fine Foods of Faversham.
|
|
Nigel FarageThe first Grilling of Nigel Farage saw David challenge Farage on how he would have voted in the Common Market referendum in the 1970s which was met by Farage talking about how his parents and grandparents voted. He eventually conceded that he was not against the Common Market though afterwards said he was glad it wasn’t filmed!
The 2013/14 season started with the return of Nigel Farage the week before his party conference. However he didn’t actually answer the question of whether or not he’d return to the Conservative Party and stand in a future leadership election against Boris Johnson if the Tories were to propose an acceptable referendum before the next General Election or in their manifesto with a commitment to honour the outcome. He said he wouldn’t have even discussed it on the BBC! |
|
Carole StoneThe Queen of Networking Carole Stone proved to be a lively and interesting Grillee who answered far reaching questions on more than just how to create an effective business network. “Carole is a good friend” said David, “which made it the hardest Grill I’ve done but I don’t think I gave her special treatment! The audience didn’t seem to think so either!”
|
|
Toby YoungThe Grilling of the journalist, author and Free School pioneer Toby Young was combative, entertaining and informative. The author of How to Lose Friends and Alienate People was passionate in his defence of the free school system.
|
|
Tim CampbellTim Campbell, the winner of the first Apprentice series, was a lively session with the discussion ranging from why he took part and what he considered the risks to be - with David goading him that there were no risks as he had nothing to lose - to the charitable work that Tim does now.
|
|
Martin BellMartin Bell was a far more serious Grill but with a hint of humour around his book “Swindlers List” which was a popular purchase with the lunchers.
|
|
Mike GattingThe first Grillee was Mike Gatting the former England Cricket Captain who David had approached at a book launch at Lords on Neville Cardus by asking him, to the amusement of all around, if he fancied a free lunch one day! It was a good natured and lively session with no punches pulled by the griller or the grillee and closed with Mike Gatting conceding that, after Lords, the cricket ground with the best pies in the world was Old Trafford!
|
