Journalist, broadcaster, and commanding figure in the arts, John Tusa has had a career fighting for – and winning victories – for the UK’s cultural and critical output. From the battle to create Newsnight in 1979, to standing up publicly for the independence of the BBC, to spearheading the recovery of the Barbican Centre. This is a fascinating romp through 60 years of making friends and, sometimes, enemies at the heart of British arts and media.

John Tusa is co-chairman of the European Union Youth Orchestra, patron of Highbury Opera Theatre and a Trustee of the Turquoise Mountain Foundation. Until recently, he was chairman of the British Architecture Trust Board, RIBA. He chaired the University of the Arts, London from 2007-13, was chair of the Clore Leadership Programme from 2008-14 and has served on the Boards of the National Portrait Gallery, the British Museum, English National Opera, the Design Museum and Wigmore Hall. He’s written extensively on the arts and their importance to society. Previous books include Pain in the Arts, Engaged with the Arts: Writings from the Frontline (2007) and Art Matters.

Joshua Rozenberg QC is Britain’s best-known commentator on the law. He is the only full-time journalist to have been appointed as Queen’s Counsel honoris causa. He presents Radio 4’s Law in Action, writes twice a month for the Law Society Gazette and, from 2010 to 2016, wrote a weekly commentary for the Guardian website.