The Upper Room Presents an Evening with Hugh Pym

BBC health correspondent in conversation with Torin Douglas

Hugh Pym

March 31, 2026

An Evening with Hugh Pym is set to bring one of the BBC’s most respected journalists to Chiswick for a wide-ranging conversation about health, politics and the pressures facing the NHS.

The event, hosted by The Upper Room, takes place on Thursday 16 April at St Michael & All Angels Church and offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from a broadcaster who has guided the public through some of the most complex and unsettling national stories of recent years. It is the second in a series which began with an appearance by local restaurateur Sam Harrison

Hugh Pym has become a familiar and trusted figure during moments of national uncertainty. His reporting has spanned the 2008 financial crash, the Covid-19 pandemic, shifting government health policy and the continuing strain on the NHS. In recent months alone he has covered issues such as hospital bed shortages, overstretched emergency departments, the latest findings of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, debates on assisted dying, new treatments for prostate cancer and weight-loss, a meningitis outbreak in Kent and the most recent round of industrial action by doctors. His calm, clear and evidence-based approach has made him a key source of clarity at a time when misinformation and confusion often dominate public debate.

The evening will see Pym in conversation with former BBC Media Correspondent Torin Douglas, exploring the major stories he has covered and the lessons that have emerged from them. The discussion is expected to look at how health journalism has evolved, what it has been like to report from the frontline of national crises, and what challenges lie ahead for the NHS and public health communication. Audience members will also have the chance to ask questions, making the event an opportunity for genuine dialogue rather than a formal lecture.

Doors open at 6.30pm, with the conversation running from 7pm to around 8.45pm. Tickets are free, with donations invited to support The Upper Room’s work with people experiencing homelessness, food insecurity and social isolation.

The third event in the series will welcome actor Graham Seed and producer-director Denise Silvey. Graham is familiar to generations of listeners as the voice of Nigel Pargetter in The Archers, alongside a wide range of television and film roles. Denise is an acclaimed actress, director and producer, currently serving as Artistic Director of The Mousetrap. She also produced A Thing of Beauty, starring Imogen Stubbs as Leni Riefenstahl, which was staged recently at the Tabard Theatre.

All proceeds from these events will support the work of The Upper Room, helping the charity continue its vital services for vulnerable people across West London.