Unique Scarborough BBC broadcaster event at Big Ideas Festival

St Mary’s Church sees the return of two eminent BBC broadcasting journalists to their hometown of Scarborough in amongst a busy itinerary of contrasting events at the 2026 Big Ideas By The Sea arts festival on Saturday May 23.

Headlining the festival is the renowned television documentary presenter Peter Taylor CBE and the BBC Media and Arts Correspondent David Sillito who will be in conversation at 1.30pm.

The eminent broadcaster Peter Taylor CBE (Photo courtesy of BBC Northern Ireland Press Office) and the BBC Media & Arts Correspondent David Sillito (Photo by Paul Anthony Wilson)

placeholder image — The eminent broadcaster Peter Taylor CBE (Photo courtesy of BBC Northern Ireland Press Office) and the BBC Media & Arts Correspondent David Sillito (Photo by Paul Anthony Wilson)

Mr Taylor, a former pupil of Scarborough Boys High School, is an internationally acknowledged authority on ‘The Troubles’ - the armed conflict in Northern Ireland, one of the most violent and politically contentious eras of recent Anglo-Irish history.

He received his CBE for Services to Journalism and Public Service Broadcasting last year.

Mr. Sillito, a former pupil of Scalby School, is a highly prominent figure in television journalism and well known for his wide-ranging coverage of arts-related topics.

Saturday’s schedule begins with another BBC duo with David Sillito also interviewing Radio York presenter Elly Fiorentini about her 40-year career in broadcasting at 12 noon.

Following Peter Taylor is Dr Harry Spillane with his ecclesiastical talk ‘When God Spoke English: William Tyndale’s Struggle for the First English Bible’ that will outline Tyndale’s exile, escapes from the authorities, smuggling of

New Testaments and eventual death and martyrdom at 2.45pm.

In the evening, commencing at 7.30pm, Scarborough’s Cultural Connections presents an eclectic open-mic based event comprising a mix of international music and poetry, with free admission.

The Big Day Out at Scarborough Castle is the following day (Sunday, May 24) from 10am-3pm.

The day features numerous activities and the presence of the Legio VI Victrix Eboracum (VI Roman Legion from York) re-enactment group.

This community event offers free admission to all residents in the YO11, YO12 and YO13 postcode areas.

Elly Fiorentini, David Sillito, Peter Taylor CBE, Dr. Harry Spillane and Cultural Connections at St Mary’s Church, Castle Road, Scarborough on Saturday May 23 commencing at 12 noon.

Big Ideas By The Sea festival runs from May 15 to 30 at various venues and locations across the town.

For tickets and more details go to bigideasbythesea.com