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The One with Matt Bishop

The ex-McLaren F1 PR chief and former journalist talks motorsports and his debut novel.

For many people, Formula 1 offers the ultimate glamorous lifestyle.

Fast cars, exotic places, exciting races - what's not to love?!

For many years, Matt Bishop was right at the heart of the sport - first as a journalist reporting on the action, then as the PR chief for the McLaren team - and he was at one point, in his own words, 'the only gay in the F1 village'.

Matt's now the communications director for the innovative W Series, and has just published his first novel (‘The Boy Made The Difference’) set in the time of the HIV/AIDS crisis in London in the late 1980s/early 1990s.

He’s an amazing guest on the podcast this week, and we really enjoyed our conversation. It focuses on all sorts of topics – where Matt’s love of motorsport came from; his time as a journalist in the glamorous world of F1; the inspiration behind ‘The Boy Made The Difference’ and the drive that made Matt write it; and his experiences as an LGBTQ+ person in motorsports in general.

It’s a powerful episode, this one, which we think will make you smile, think and laugh – and we’re really grateful Matt took the time to join us.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR GUEST?
@TheBishF1

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE SHOW?
@jack_murley
jack.murley@bbc.co.uk

Release date:

Available now

32 minutes

Podcast