Meet the City Lit Fellows

Featured City Lit Fellow

Russell Tovey

Russell Tovey is an acclaimed British actor known for standout roles in Being Human, The History Boys, Looking, Years and Years, and Feud: Capote Vs The Swans. A passionate advocate for contemporary art, he co-hosts the Talk Art podcast and recently curated Home at the City Lit Gallery, an exhibition celebrating identity, belonging, and Pride. He was awarded a City Lit Fellowship in June 2025 for his contributions to the arts and culture.
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HRH The Princess Royal

In April 2019, HRH The Princess Royal received The City Lit Centenary Fellowship in recognition of her commitment to adult education. Her Royal Highness presented the City Lit Centenary Awards and has been a strong advocate for lifelong learning.

Gillian Anderson OBE

Award-winning actress Gillian Anderson OBE received her City Lit Lifetime Fellowship Award from Dame Moira Gibb in 2018. Known for her roles in "The X-Files" and "The Crown," she has made significant contributions to film, television, and theatre.

Ed Balls

Broadcaster, writer, and economist Ed Balls returned to City Lit in 2023 to present the City Lit Awards. He previously visited the college to discuss his political career and how City Lit's speech therapy classes helped him manage his stammer. A former politician, Ed has also authored several books.

Professor Dame Mary Beard

Professor Dame Mary Beard, a distinguished Classicist at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Newnham College, has written numerous books on the Ancient World and presented acclaimed TV series. In January 2024, she visited City Lit to discuss her book "Emperor of Rome."

Malorie Blackman OBE

Malorie Blackman OBE, a former City Lit student since the late 1980s, has written over fifty books and is recognised as one of today's most successful writers for young readers. She has a long-standing connection with City Lit, and in 2019, the Malorie Blackman OBE "Unheard Voices" Creative Writing Scholarships were announced by City Lit.

Nick Boles

Nick Boles served as Minister for Skills in the Departments for Education and Business, Innovation and Skills from September 2014 until July 2016. He has been an advocate for adult education and was a Conservative MP for Grantham and Stamford.

Gary Bourlet

Co-founder of Learning Disability England, Gary Bourlet is passionate about representing those with learning disabilities. He is a former City Lit student and an outstanding advocate with over 30 years of self-advocacy experience.

Anna Burns

Award-winning author Anna Burns, a former City Lit student, wrote the novels: No Bones, Little Constructions, and Milkman. Milkman won the Man Booker Prize 2018, the 2019 Orwell Prize, and the 2020 International Dublin Literary Award.

The Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable

The Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable, former Leader of the Liberal Democrats and MP for Twickenham, was committed to protecting funding for adult skills as Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills from 2010 to 2015. He has visited City Lit on numerous occasions, including in 2021 to present the City Lit Awards.

Paul Farmer CBE

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Age UK since October 2022, has been a supporter of City Lit and a regular speaker at the Mental Wealth Festival. Previously, he was Chief Executive of Mind from 2006 to 2022, where he significantly contributed to public awareness and attitudes towards mental health.

Tom Fletcher CMG

Tom Fletcher began his role as the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at OCHA in 2024. He was previously Principal of Hertford College, Oxford, and British Ambassador to Lebanon.

Dame Evelyn Glennie

Dame Evelyn Glennie, a double GRAMMY award winner and BAFTA nominee, performs worldwide with leading orchestras and artists. Dame Evelyn has visited the college on numerous occasions, including to present masterclasses and collaborate with students. In 2024, she became the Patron of the City Lit Percussion Orchestra.

Bonnie Greer OBE

Bonnie Greer OBE is an American British playwright, novelist, critic, and broadcaster who has lived in the UK since 1986. She was a guest speaker during last year’s Classics Week at City Lit.

Kerry Godliman

Kerry Godliman, a former City Lit student, is celebrated for her straight-talking charm and quick wit as a stand-up comedian and actor. She is best known for her appearances on Mock The Week, Live At The Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, Taskmaster, and The Jonathan Ross Show.

Will Gompertz

Will Gompertz is the Director of Sir John Soane’s Museum in London, a role he assumed in January 2024. He provides strategic leadership to one of the world’s most exceptional house museums. Previously, he was the Artistic Director of the Barbican Arts Centre and the BBC's first Arts Editor.

Sir Antony Gormley OBE

Sir Antony Gormley OBE is a renowned artist and sculptor who has made significant contributions to the arts in the UK. He is best known for the ‘Angel of the North’, a public sculpture in Gateshead, North England. Antony was also a keynote speaker at the 2021 Mental Wealth Festival at the British Museum.

The Rt. Hon Damian Hinds MP

The Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP has served as Minister for Employment and Secretary of State for Education. Since becoming an MP in 2009, he has championed lifelong learning and advocated for alternative routes to employment beyond university.

Dr Fiona Hill

Dr Fiona Hill is a British-American foreign affairs specialist and author, who has advised the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations. As the daughter of a miner, she champions access to education and is the new Chancellor of the University of Durham. She visited City Lit in 2023 to receive Lifetime Fellowship Award.

Baroness Sheila Hollins

The first fellowship was awarded to Baroness Sheila Hollins who has made an outstanding contribution to education for adults with learning disabilities in the UK and overseas. Sheila is the Beyond Words Founder, Chair of trustees, and Editor of the Books Beyond Words series.

Bettany Hughes OBE

Bettany Hughes, English historian, author and broadcaster has made a huge contribution to the study of ancient and medieval history and culture. Bettany has made the world of classics popular, understandable, and accessible.  Bettany was a keynote speaker at Classics Day in 2022 and 2025 at the British Museum.

Claudette Johnson MBE

A founding member of the Black British Arts Movement, Claudette Johnson MBE is considered one of the most significant figurative artists of her generation. For over 30 years she has created large-scale drawings of Black women and men that are at once intimate and powerful.

The Rt Hon. David Lammy MP

The Rt Hon. David Lammy MP is a strong advocate of adult education and a great supporter of City Lit. He is a leading voice in parliament and beyond, raising awareness of the importance of adult education and the need for a national strategy. David hosted the City Lit Awards in 2017.

Andrea Levy

Andrea Levy, a former City Lit student, was awarded a Lifetime Fellowship in 2016 in recognition of her commitment to adult education in the UK and the inspiration her writing and career provide to City Lit students. 

Lulu

Lulu is a celebrated singer, actress, and television personality, known for her powerful voice and dynamic performances. As Guest of Honour at the 2017 City Lit Awards, Lulu spoke passionately about City Lit and praised the achievements of its students. Her warmth and her rendition of 'Shout' with the City Lit Percussion Orchestra deeply impressed students and staff alike.

Francesca Martinez

Francesca Martinez, a former City Lit student, is best known as a comedian, writer, and campaigner. Despite describing her cerebral palsy as being a ‘bit wobbly,’ she has not let it hold her back and was the first woman to win the coveted Open Mic Award.

Sir Jonathan Miller (1934-2019)

Sir Jonathan Miller was a distinguished theatre and opera director, as well as an author, photographer, sculptor, broadcaster, and qualified doctor. He was an active part of City Lit's family, directing "She Stoops to Conquer" after the refurbishment of the John Lyon's Theatre.

Munira Mirza

Munira Mirza is a former Deputy Mayor of London who has worked for various cultural and charitable organisations, including the Royal Society of Arts, Policy Exchange, and Tate. She has been a strong advocate for the arts and education, and her work aligns with City Lit's mission to promote lifelong learning.

Dame Magdalene Odundo

Dame Magdalene Odundo is a world-renowned ceramic artist who has made significant contributions to the arts in the UK. She has a strong connection to City Lit's School of Visual Arts and, as Chancellor of the University for the Creative Arts, she understands the importance of arts education for individuals, society, and the economy.

Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE

Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE has had a successful corporate career, which he attributes to the kindness of his school headmaster. In 2015, he was appointed Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Greater London and was knighted in the 2018 New Year’s Honours List for services to business and philanthropy. He has visited City Lit on numerous occasions, supporting its initiatives.

Olivette Otele

Olivette Otele is a Distinguished Research Professor at SOAS, University of London, specialising in the Legacies and Memory of Slavery. She holds a Ph.D. in History from Université Paris La Sorbonne and received an honorary doctorate in Law from Concordia University in 2022. Her research and advocacy for education resonate with City Lit's values.

Grayson Perry CBE

Grayson Perry CBE is an award-winning artist known for his ceramic works, as well as his work in embroidery and photography. He has spoken at various City Lit events and was a keynote speaker at the Mental Wealth Festival at the National Gallery, highlighting the importance of mental health and creativity.

David Puttnam CBE

David Puttnam CBE is an award-winning British film producer, educator and environmentalist. As an educator, David has played a pivotal role in ensuring education is accessible, delivering online seminars to engage and inspire students all over the world. On a number of occasions, he has supported the work of City Lit and our students.

Dr Janina Ramirez

Dr Janina Ramirez is a presenter, lecturer, and researcher specializing in historical art. She has presented several BBC4 documentaries and authored books for adults and children. Her latest book, Femina, became a Sunday Times Bestseller and was longlisted for the Cundill History Prize. Janina's work aligns with City Lit's dedication to making education accessible and engaging.

Dame Esther Rantzen

Dame Esther Rantzen is a national hero. She has had a long career as a journalist, broadcaster and relentless campaigner. Dame Esther set-up Childline in the 1980s to provide counselling for children suffering abuse and then, following the death of her husband, she established Silver Line in 2012 to combat loneliness for older people.

Andrew Scott

Andrew J Scott is the Director of Economics at the Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford and Professor of Economics at London Business School. He co-founded The Longevity Forum and is the author of The Longevity Imperative and co-author of The 100 Year Life.

Dame Ruth Silver

Dame Ruth Silver is the founding President of the Further Education Trust for Leadership, an independent think tank focusing on the leadership of thinking in and about the FE and Skills system. She was the Principal of Lewisham College and writes and broadcasts extensively on educational matters and is deeply committed to economic and social inclusiveness.

Nick Stuart CB
(1942-2025)

Nick Stuart was educated at Oxford then worked at the Department for Education and Science. He went on to hold a number of posts as Director General in the Education and Employment Departments between 1987. In 2001 he retired as Director General for Lifelong Learning.

Carole Stott MBE

Carole Stott MBE, is a former Chair of the Board of Governors of City Lit and during her tenure we were recognised with an outstanding Ofsted rating and the Investors in People Gold Award.

Jeremy Swain
(1958-2024)

Jeremy Swain began working with homeless people in 1980, starting as a volunteer. After working in a variety of paid roles including as a street outreach worker he progressed to be Chief Executive of Thames Reach.

Ruby Wax OBE

As an adult learner Ruby Wax is a wonderful role model demonstrating the positive impact adult education can have in not only enhancing mental wellbeing but also supporting a change in direction later in life.