I did art history and English literature at Newcastle.

My master's degree was in English literature.

Because subjects like literature and art history have no obvious material pay-off, they tend to attract those who look askance at capitalist notions of utility. The idea of doing something purely for the delight of it has always rattled the grey-bearded guardians of the state. Sheer pointlessness has always been a deeply subversive affair.

You can't understand European history at all other than through religion, or English literature either if you can't recognise biblical allusions.

As a former English major, I have always been fascinated by the connections between literature and history.

I studied English literature in university, and then I went straight into radio.