Simon Hew Dalrymple Fanshawe was born on 26 December 1956 and is an English writer, activist and broadcaster.
17 Facts About Simon Fanshawe
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Simon Fanshawe contributes frequently to British newspapers, television and radio.
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Simon Fanshawe was one of the founders of the LGBT charity Stonewall, and won the Perrier Comedy Award in 1989.
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In 2019, Simon Fanshawe became one of the supporters of the initiative that led to the formation of the LGB Alliance.
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Simon Fanshawe first came to public attention as a comedian in the early 1980s.
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Alongside working in comedy, Simon Fanshawe has been a frequent contributor on a variety of subjects from arts to politics in newspapers and on many BBC radio and TV programmes.
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Simon Fanshawe led the successful campaign to make Brighton and Hove a city in 2000.
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Simon Fanshawe was the chairman of the board for the Brighton Festival Fringe and is on the board of the Edinburgh Fringe.
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In 2006, Simon Fanshawe made the documentary The Trouble with Gay Men, shown on BBC Three.
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In 2007, Simon Fanshawe presented the first programme in the BBC's Building Britain series, concentrating his attentions on the key role of developers in making cities over the last two centuries.
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On 13 February 2024 Simon Fanshawe was confirmed as Rector of the University of Edinburgh.
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Only one valid nomination was received for an election to this position, resulting in Simon Fanshawe being named as Rector uncontested.
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Simon Fanshawe's appointment has been criticised by the University's Staff Pride Network, a network of LGBT+ staff and post-graduate research students and allies, who have called for his removal from the position and for a new election to be called.
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Simon Fanshawe was educated at two independent boarding schools in Wiltshire: Chafyn Grove School in Salisbury, and Marlborough College in Marlborough, followed by the University of Sussex near Brighton, where he studied law.
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Simon Fanshawe was chair of the university's governing council from 2007 to 2013.
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Simon Fanshawe was appointed OBE in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to higher education.
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Simon Fanshawe has been a presenter or contributor on the following radio programmes:.