...as the union celebrates its 60th anniversary

Sandi Toksvig has been made president of the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain. 

The QI host has previously backed the union’s Equality Writes campaign to try to address the gender imbalance in the TV and film industry – a topic close to her heart as co-founder of the Women’s Equality Party,

She said she was ‘honoured’ to take the role as the union celebrates its 60th anniversary and paid tribute to her predecessor, saying: ‘I pick up the baton from Olivia Hetreed who worked tirelessly to stamp out the bullying and harassment and gender inequality that blights the screen and other industries in which we writers work. 

‘I also join the Writers’ Guild as it celebrates its diamond anniversary and I look forward to playing my own part in helping to write the next chapter of its important history.’

Hetreed said: ‘I could not be more delighted to welcome the next President, Sandi Toksvig, herself a brilliant campaigner and a seriously funny woman, to carry the fight forward.’

Toksvig’s writing credits span theatre, TV, radio, and she has written more than 20 fiction and non-fiction books for children and adults.  Later this year, her adaptation of Mamma Mia: The Party will open at London’s O2. 

Published: 24 Jun 2019