A HEAVYWEIGHT of political journalism has been named as the man to open the Bedford Park Festival this year, taking time off from giving politicians a grilling on his award winning radio show.

Born in Cardiff in 1943, and once accused by Jonathan Aitken of poisoning the well of democratic debate'', the writer, broadcaster, and Stamford Brook resident John Humphrys will be getting the fortnight of attractions started at Green Day this year.

John was asked to take part by his BBC colleague, media correspondent Torin Douglas, who has been involved with organising the festival for a number of years.

People know people you know'', Torin explained, last year we had Kevin McNally, and Charlie Brooks from Eastenders. Everyone we've asked has wanted to join in, although not everyone can.''

Humphrys, who has been called a national treasure and the rudest man in Britain, commented on getting involved in the festival: This is one of those really local events that help people feel part of their community, and London could do with more of them. I'm delighted to be doing my bit to help.''

The famously tenacious interviewer left Cardiff High School at the age of fifteen, to work as a reporter for various newspapers and independent television stations.

He joined the BBC in 1966, based in Liverpool, and a year later became Northern Industrial Correspondent. He moved to London in 1970 but spent long periods covering Northern Ireland, and the India-Pakistan War.

Aged 28, he became the BBC's first full-time television correspondent in the United States and the youngest television foreign correspondent. Based in New York and Washington, he covered stories from Alaska to the tip of South America, including the revolution in Chile, Watergate and the resignation of President Nixon.

After a period in South Africa, he then returned to London in 1980 to take up the post of BBC Diplomatic Correspondent, joining the Nine O'clock News team in 1981 as its main presenter before moving to the Today programme in 1987.

He'll be opening the festival at 11am on Saturday June 7th on Acton Green, opposite Turnham Green tube station and St Michael & All Angels Church. The two-day Green Days event is the opener for the two week festival, and offers attractions for all the family with a children's fancy dress parade, dodgems, fairground rides, stalls, food, live entertainment, and competitions like the 'Win-a-Meal Contest', with prizes of a free meal for two at dozens of local restaurants, and the children's 5-a-side football tournament, now extended to two days. Many of the events are sponsored by local businesses, such as Sainsburys, Waterstones, Fletcher Estates and Bushells.

May 30, 2003 11:30