BBC1's The Big Questions
15 Apr 2008
The Big Questions, broadcast 30th March 2008Upon arriving at The Grace Academy, the nine 6th Form students: Adam Carver, Lauren Haines, Lauren Clark-Hughes, Richard Crampton, James Benge, Adam Khimji, Georgina Aldridge, Chris Hall and Cameron Stocks were preparing themselves to be broadcast, live, on the politically and religiously charged BBC1 programme, The Big Questions. The presenter, Nicky Campbell, introduced the panellists: Fareena Alam, editor of Q magazine; James O'Brien, the LBC talk-show host; Alex Goldberg, the youngest-ever member of the British Board of Deputies; Kulveer Ranger, Vice-Chairman for Cities for the Conservative Party, and the special guest speaker: singer and presenter of the BBC series What Not To Wear, Mica Paris.
The first debate: “Does the right to life start from conception?” was, sadly, exclusive to the panellists, as the audience seemed too shy to intervene in the heated battle between the passionate speakers in the front row. However, the second debate: “Should faith be banned from schools?” was more inclusive, as we saw two Solihull School representatives participating. Lauren Clark-Hughes turned the debate around and addressed the real issue of the quality of education, thus saving the debate from going off course. Georgina also began an exceptional point, but was suddenly cut off by an over excited panellist. More of Solihull’s students spoke in the third and final debate: “Has the time come to lower the voting age to 16?” Adam Carver delivered a powerful comment in favour of lowering the voting age, as did Richard Crampton who gave a similarly convicted statement in the last moments of the programme. All in all, everyone involved thoroughly enjoyed their moment of fame.
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