Special guest at this year’s Chamber’s annual awards and dinner on 23 April is politician, broadcaster and author Gyles Brandreth.
Brandreth’s career has ranged from being a Whip and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in John Major’s government (whilst MP for Chester) to starring in his own award-winning musical revue in London’s West End.
As a broadcaster, he has appeared in programmes ranging from ‘Just a Minute’ and ‘Wordaholics’ to ‘QI’ and ‘Have I Got News for You’.
As an author and biographer, he has published two volumes of diaries: ‘Breaking the Code: Westminster Diaries’ and ‘Something Sensational to Read in the Train: The Diary of a Lifetime’, and also two royal biographies, ‘Philip & Elizabeth: Portrait of a Marriage’ and ‘Charles & Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair’, as well as a series of Victorian detective stories, ‘The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries’.
His appearances on stage are numerous, and include Malvolio and the Sea Captain in Twelfth Night: The Musical at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and Lady Bracknell in a new musical version of The Importance of Being Earnest.
Whilst Gyles Brandreth will be the less serious side of the awards and dinner, a more formal message will be delivered by another key speaker, Andy Street, who is chairman of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.
The event will be hosted by former ITV weather presenter, Emma Jesson, and will take place at the ICC.
Henrik Court, Chamber director of events said: “This is a who’s who of the region. It is the largest cross sector business dinner in the region and celebrates the best of business and enterprise. It is a ‘do not miss’ event for companies looking to do business in the Midlands.”
About 1,000 guests are expected to attend the black tie event.
