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Some Media I have worked for
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Category Archives: Features: Interviews
Understanding Pope Benedict XVI
In 2010, with Pope Benedict XVI coming to the UK, I interviewed award-winning film-maker Mark Dowd, whose Benedict: Trials of a Pope was being shown on BBC1 and BBC2 in advance of the visit. I wanted to know what he … Continue reading
Held by Trees – Finding Solace
Over my life, I’ve witnessed the evolution of how people reproduce other’s music. When young, it was either orchestras playing classical pieces or choirs singing popular songs, often from musicals. As I began to buy records, the cheap copies came … Continue reading
Posted in Features: Interviews, Interviews: Musicians
Tagged David Joseph, Derek Walker, Held by Trees, Interview, Solace, Talk Talk
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John Smith on Hillsong: Money, Sex and Power. Part 1: Prosperity Gospel.
It’s a very ordinary name for an extraordinary man. Rev Dr John Smith, Founder-in-Chief of God’s Squad Christian Motorcycle Club, was a one-off. Likened to John Wesley on a bike, he was a minister to the marginalised – but he … Continue reading
John Smith on Hillsong: Money, Sex and Power. Part 2: Body of Influence
In Part 1, I looked at Hillsong Church’s love of money. Here – at a time when the organisation is ‘rocked by scandals’ – I cover Smith’s insider-view of Hillsong’s approach to sex and power (adding a smattering of Delirious?) … Continue reading
Iona – 30 Years of Groundbreaking Music, oh, and Saving the Odd Life
Nominating the best UK Christian band of the last 40 years is clearly a subjective matter. U2 almost qualify, but are mainly Irish, so don’t quite count. Delirious? also had chart success, but largely on the back of keen churchgoing … Continue reading
Posted in Features: Interviews, Interviews: Musicians
Tagged Book of Iona, Dave Bainbridge, Derek Walker, Frank van Essen, Interview, Iona
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Rhidian Brook, pt 1: Living in the Heart of a Pandemic
As we are currently facing a global pandemic and writer Rhidian Brook is celebrating 20 years of contributions to Thought for the Day, this is a good time to revisit the epic adventure that featured in some of his early … Continue reading
Rhidian Brook, part 2: Thoughts for the Nation
Thought for the Day is a tough ask: you have under three minutes in the middle of Today, Britain’s main current events breakfast radio show, to add some insight that might inspire several million listeners. And not just any listeners: … Continue reading
Posted in Interviews: Thinkers and Writers
Tagged AIDS, Derek Walker, Godbothering, Live8, Rhidian Brook, SPck, Thought for the Day
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An Activist the Press can’t Pigeonhole
Today is the first day of Extinction Rebellion’s fortnight of disruption across major cities in Europe. The BBC covered the story from many angles: protesters dressed up as Red Rebels, people chaining and glueing themselves to immovable objects, celebrities moving … Continue reading
Tim Farron Pt. 1: Past, Present and Future
In July 2015, Tim Farron became leader of the Liberal Democrat party, a role he resigned from in July 2017. So July 2019, when a new leader has replaced Vince Cable, seemed a good time to catch up with him … Continue reading
Posted in Interviews: Politicians
Tagged Brexit, Derek Walker, faith, faith and politics, resignation, Tim Farron
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Tim Farron Pt. 2: When is a Liberal Not a Liberal?
In Tim Farron’s almost evangelistic resignation speech from the Liberal Democrats – which ended by quoting Isaac Watts – he said with feeling, “I seem to be a figure of suspicion because of what I believe and who my faith … Continue reading
Posted in Interviews: Politicians
Tagged Derek Walker, faith, Interview, Liberalism eating itself, Religious illiteracy, Tim Farron
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Yancey’s Risky Strategy: Giving Faith the Tabletop Test
In November 2008 terrorists launched a four-day attack in Mumbai that left over 170 people dead. A bomb exploded at Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station, a hospital was hit and a backpacker bar was sprayed with bullets, while gunmen occupied a … Continue reading
Philip Yancey – What Good is God? (Brief version)
When Philip Yancey was promoting his book What Good is God? I caught up with him to ask questions about testing the validity of faith. Before we had a more relaxed interview for the written press, we spent 12 minutes … Continue reading
Keith Getty – The Composer with a Succession Plan
“You must understand,” stresses composer-pianist Keith Getty, “I have never thought of myself as an artist; I think of myself as somebody who wants to change the world by helping build deeper believers through song.” Get that line and you … Continue reading
Where is God in the Suffering?
Eating salad in a local Beefeater with my friend Martin Riddall, all seemed well. Part of our chat was about whether I might visit his church in Bristol, where he was working with students. We had no idea that within … Continue reading
Posted in Features: Interviews, Features: Miscellaneous
Tagged grief, Martin Riddall, Rachel Riddall, Sam Riddall, Suffering
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DJ Andy Hunter, Part 1: Dance Music Pioneer
While it feels like churches have hosted classical concerts forever; secular rock artists are increasingly using them as venues; and Christians have had decades to evolve (somewhat soft) rock music in worship, there is still a great black hole where … Continue reading
Posted in Interviews: Musicians
Tagged Andy Hunter, Midge Ure, New Generation Ministries, Robbie Bronniman
1 Comment
Andy Hunter, Part 2: Presence – the World’s First Arts-based Devotional App?
Some new releases get launched with a huge media blast, while some just seep out slowly. One that surely deserves a blast, but has quietly evolved in stages, is Andy Hunter’s Presence project, its vision to inspire people’s reflections and … Continue reading
Posted in Interviews: Musicians
Tagged App, creative, Devotional, DJ Andy Hunter, Presence Project, Simeon Smith
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Sheeran Perfection
No, Johnny Nash didn’t sing, “I can see clearly now Lorraine has gone.” Neither did Hot Chocolate sing, “I remove umbilicals” or the Police record a song about Sue Lawley. Misheard lyrics can give us a quick laugh, but occasionally, … Continue reading
Posted in Interviews: Musicians
Tagged Ed Sheeran, Lionel Richie, Perfect, Philippa Hanna, walkerwords
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Frank Cottrell-Boyce: Wowed by the Wonder in Blue Planet 2
There is very little television to bring the nation together anymore. We access the news whenever we want, and even the water-cooler culture of reality TV has its separate tribes. But if there is anything to galvanise the nation’s front … Continue reading
Posted in Interviews: Thinkers and Writers
Tagged Blue Planet 2, Bobbit worm, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Interview, Wonder
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Stu Garrard: Behind the Beatitudes
We sometimes envy those with successful careers, but – as public figures from Tony Hancock to Caroline Aherne have shown us – inside their skin, they may be living in a far more fearful world than their public face reveals. … Continue reading
Posted in Interviews: Musicians
Tagged Amy Grant, Beatitudes, Derek Walker, Gospel, Jars of Clay, peacemakers, Stu G, the meek
3 Comments
The Neal Morse Interview, Pt. 1: Musicianary Man
The show was packed with life-long rock fans, and many had seen the best bands around. Some had been queuing for hours to get a good place in the sold-out venue. Word was that some had been to each of … Continue reading
Posted in Interviews: Musicians
Tagged Derek Walker, Eric Burdon, Interview, Jayda, Neal Morse, Similitude
2 Comments
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