A CRAVEN school played host to an iconic BBC broadcast, which was heard by listeners worldwide.

First broadcast in 1948, BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions? has been touring the country for over sixty years at the invitation of local organisations, and it was Giggleswick School’s turn to host the well-known political programme in its Richard Whiteley theatre on March 10.

The panel was made up of Debbie Abrahams MP; Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Tim Farron MP, Stephanie Flanders; Former BBC Economics Editor and now Chief Market Strategist for JP Morgan, and Lord Forsyth, Director of J&J Denholm and Secure Trust Bank, who has previously served as Secretary of State for Scotland. 

The programme was hosted by Jonathan Dimbleby, who has chaired the programme for over 30 years.

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The four panelists hear them for the first time live on air, watched on this occasion by a local audience at Giggleswick School, while being broadcast to over 1.6 million radio listeners worldwide.

Broadcast two days after the Chancellor’s Spring Budget, topics ranged from funding for schools, to Brexit.

There were a number of compliments made about the school and the surrounding area during the broadcast with the school’s setting on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park inspiring a question about which was the best national park in the country.

Tim Farron said he couldn’t choose between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales as he represents both, and Debbie Abrahams said she wished she had visited the area in daylight.

Tickets to be in the audience sold out in less than 15 minutes, a record for the Richard Whiteley Theatre.

Mark Turnbull, Headmaster at Giggleswick School, said: "It’s more important than ever for everyone of all ages to engage in politics and the evening was very insightful. We were very proud to host such an important event for the local and regional community and it was fantastic to welcome so many local people to the school and our theatre."