Award-winning TV producer and author, Rob Burley, has been named as an Honorary Fellow in the University of Liverpool’s Department of Politics.
The new Channel 4 political drama Brian and Maggie, which will be first aired today (Wednesday 29 January), is based Rob’s 2023 book Why Is This Lying Bastard lying To Me, about his eclectic career in political TV.
Rob’s book delivers an insider’s story of trying to hold politicians to account in television interviews. One famous long-form political interview in 1989 between Margaret Thatcher and former MP and political journalist Brian Walden is featured in Rob’s book. The interview became a national talking point and helped set in train a series of events that ended with Margaret’s resignation. This interview, became the inspiration for Brian and Maggie, starring Steve Coogan and Harriet Walter.
Rob is the UK’s leading specialist in political interviewing. He has worked closely with high-profile political presenters including Emily Maitlis, Jeremy Paxman, Laura Kuenssberg, Andrew Marr, Andrew Neil and Jonathan Dimbleby. He was worked on ITV, LBC and many of the BBC’S flagship political programmes including Newsnight and Question Time.
Why Is This Lying Bastard lying To Me received widespread acclaim and was named as one of Waterstones’ Political Books of 2023.
Rob is currently collaborating with academic staff from the Department of Politics in researching his forthcoming book on political scandals. As an Honorary Fellow in Politics he will also support a range of events and masterclasses across the Department.
Rob said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed as an Honorary Fellow in Politics at the University of Liverpool. The Department of Politics’ research strengths in British Politics make it an ideal fit for my current book project, on political scandals. Liverpool is also a city I have many personal connections to. I hope to contribute to academic life there in a number of ways in the years ahead.”
Head of Politics, Professor Samantha Ashenden said: “We are thrilled that Rob is joining us as an Honorary Fellow in the Department of Politics. His wealth of experience at the very highest levels of political television opens up many possibilities for collaboration in research, teaching and public engagement.
“Rob’s recent book on political lying and his forthcoming book on political scandal link closely to existing work in the department and we look forward to developing these links further over the coming years.”
Read more about Rob’s involvement in Brian and Maggie here.