X Factor-style search for 10 academics from generation think

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jun/28/bbc-new-generation-thinkers-contest

They are, in theory, the brightest of our bright young things: 10 academics chosen in an X Factor-style talent search with specialist subjects that range from the history of fan mail to the significance of the desert in modern culture.

The Guardian can name the winners of a competition to find a new generation of thinkers and communicators, pictured as they gathered on Monday at the BBC.

The talent search was a collaboration between Radio 3 and the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Matthew Dodd, head of speech programming at Radio 3, said they wanted to find academics with a flair for broadcasting earlier in their career.

"We felt that the people in academia we were dealing with were often very established with published books who were on air regularly," he said. "We are looking for people with the most interesting ideas who want to share their knowledge and can make fantastic programmes."