UK Edition
Carey Mulligan focuses on dementia sufferers for Radio 4's Today programme
There will be an intensely personal theme to Radio 4’s Today programme when the actress Carey Mulligan takes the helm as guest editor next month.
Mulligan’s grandmother Margaret suffers from Alzheimer’s and the condition is one of the topics the actress will be tackling on the show.
The star of The Great Gatsby will be focusing part of her programme on helping both sufferers and relatives cope with the fear of a dementia diagnosis.
Mulligan points out that Dementia is one of the biggest health crisis facing society today, with more than 850,000 people in the UK living with the condition.
The actress, who is an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society and War Child, with whom she visited the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2014, has also commissioned an item exploring the impact of war on Iraqi children living under the so-called Islamic State.
Mulligan, who also starred in An Education, Suffragette and Far From the Madding Crowd, said: “I am so excited and honoured to be guest editing the Today Programme.
“It's a privilege to work with the excellent team of journalists and producers at the BBC and together we will be talking about several issues close to my heart and meeting some fascinating people.”
This is the thirteenth year that editorial control of the Today programme is being handed over to public figures during the week between Christmas and New Year.
Other guest editors this year include Dame Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer for England, and Helena Morrissey, former CEO of Newton Investment Management and campaigner for gender diversity in the boardrooms.
Morrissey was one of the few City voices to speak out in favour of Brexit ahead of the referendum.