Primrose Hill Lecture Series

For almost 20 years, The Primrose Hill Lecture Series has been exploring, and debating, some of the most important issues we face as a modern society. We are now recognised as one of London’s leading spaces for bold, lively and informative talks.

Our home, St Mary’s church at the foot of Primrose Hill, has hosted a huge range of truly world class thinkers and writers: Jonathan Miller, Andrew Marr, Paddy Ashdown, Alan Bennett, Mary Beard and Claudia Roden are just a few of the keynote speakers we have welcomed. Our talks are followed by lively Q&As and the chance to enjoy a glass of wine (or our own St Mary’s craft beer!) And purchase signed copies of speaker’s books from our sponsor Primrose Hill Books.

In the spirit of open doors and open minds, we welcome all sorts of voices and consider no topic off bounds. We are very proud of our growing success and the quality of our line-ups over the years. You can listen to recordings of previous lectures in our Archives Please follow us on social media (look for 'Primrose Hill Lecture Series; on Instagram, Facebook, Eventbrite and Twitter)

Check out our Lecture Archives to see some of the amazing past speakers.

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**7pm, Thursday 2nd October**
**Mary Portas in conversation with Viv Groskop.** *I shop Therefore I am: the psychology of retail*
**Mary Portas** OBE is one of the UK’s most innovative and high-profile business women and sustainability activists. As a journalist and broadcaster she is perhaps most familiar to us from our TV screens as *Mary, Queen of Shops* – a passionate champion of local high streets and communities.
Her new book *I Shop, Therefore I Am* tells the remarkable story of her pivotal role in revitalising the fortunes of the Knightsbridge department store Harvey Nichols in the 1990s. Still in her 20s, she created groundbreaking window displays that drew tourists and fashionistas from far and wide. Harvey Nicks became the favoured destination of the late Princess Diana, not to mention style icons Patsy and Edina from the sitcom *Absolutely Fabulous*. Told with her trademark wit and candour, it’s a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the high end of retail where she honed the skills which shaped her career.
Mary went on to form her own company, Portas, with an impressive range of global clients from Mercedes to Sainsbury’s. She has advised the government on the future of retail, developed a fashion label and created twenty-six Mary’s Living and Giving shops. The shops have raised more than £30 million for the charity Save the Children.
**Viv Groskop** is an award-winning comedian, writer and broadcaster. She is the author of seven books including the international best-seller *How to Own the Room*. Her latest book is *One Ukrainian Summer* which has raised over £25,000 for PEN International’s Writers at Risk programme.

**7pm, Wednesday 12th November**
**Helen Fielding in conversation with Helen Atkinson Wood.** *Bridget Jones: creating an icon*
**Helen Fielding.** If you’re a woman, you’ll have experienced multiple ‘Bridget Jones moments’. If you’re a man, you’ll have gained insights into women through reading the best-selling Bridget Jones books. Helen Fielding created Bridget Jones as the spoof heroine of a weekly column for *The Independent* newspaper. The character became so popular that Fielding published *Bridget Jones’ Diary*, and three further sequels. There have been four blockbuster films.
So what does Bridget Jones teach us about women, men and sexual attraction? Are there serious lessons to be learnt from the choices Bridget makes (caddish Hugh Grant versus upstanding Colin Firth)? Were feminist Millennials right to be infuriated by Bridget Jones’ calorie-counting, flirtatious girliness? Were cautious Gen Zers legitimately shocked by an older woman taking a hot young lover?
Join us to hear Helen Fielding discuss life, love and loss. Can her literary creation help us to navigate the ups and downs of modern life?
**Helen Atkinson Wood** is an actress, presenter, travel writer and artist. She played Mrs Miggins in *Blackadder* alongside her university friends Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry. She’s been in *The Archers, Dr Who and The Young Ones*. She was given a record high QI score for knowing about exploding custard. Helen has been twice nominated Best Female Comedy Performer by The British Comedy Awards. She’s a patron of the Red Rose Chain Theatre Company and INK Festival.

Single ticket (in-person attendance): £15/£10 concessions (OAPs, students)

Live-Streaming ticket (Watch online) ticket: £10 single lecture*

*You will be emailed a link ahead of the event, to watch the talk live-streamed via YouTube or after the eventLectures begin at 7pm. Doors will be open from 6.30pm.

BOOKS will be provided by www.primrosehillbooks.com and available to buy and have signed by the speaker after the event.

St. Mary the Virgin Primrose Hill is an Anglican church in the liberal catholic tradition. Founded in 1872 it is now celebrating its 150th anniversary. St. Mary’s has a long and proud history of supporting some of the most vulnerable in society. Part of this is running the winter homeless shelter partnered with Camden Camden Community Cold Weather Shelter (C4WS), and is proud to provide a home to the Mary’s youthwork charity which provides practical care and help to local young people at risk.

The proceeds will help St. Mary’s continue its social outreach work.