Missed any of the Speakeasy action? Catch up with all the session highlights in our daily diary
Day one: Sex, dating and a live podcast
And we’re off! Newsworks’ Speakeasy at MAD//FEST is back — bigger and better for 2025. The week of entertainment and inspiration to celebrate all that is great about cultural journalism kicked off with a day of no-nonsense talk about life challenges, dating and (whisper it) sex.
While the crowds outside sweltered in record temperatures, those that know what’s good for them relaxed in the air-conditioned comfort of Newsworks’ 93 Feet East lounge to listen to a ‘Life of Bryony’ live podcast with columnist and author Bryony Gordon and Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas.
The former rugby union and league star opened up about the homophobia and toxic masculinity that still exists in sport, saying he was forced by “external forces beyond my control” to come out as gay and HIV positive.
He told Bryony how close he came to suicide and now has a clear message for anyone who finds themselves in a dark place: “I can tell you, whatever you’re in right now, you will get through it, and you will be the best version of yourself.”
Gareth talked about his campaigning to counter the ignorance that still persists around the HIV virus, as well as of his own experience of how powerful it can be to reveal your vulnerability.
The afternoon saw a long, snaking line of delegates form in anticipation of Newsworks’ ‘Sex & Dating’ panel discussion, featuring TV broadcaster and celebrity Rylan Clark, TV presenter Anna Williamson and The Sun’s agony aunt Sally Land. With the lead-in question of ‘best date?’, Rylan wasted no time in mentioning “a quickie at The Langham”, prompting howls of laughter. Yep, the queuing was worth it.
The panel discussed the problems of dating apps. Anna talked about the conveyor belt of opportunities and the lack of consideration; Sally advised taking the conversation offline as soon as possible; and Rylan brought his own level of honesty to the topic: “I’ve been using the tool kit the wrong way. I’ve spent too long looking around the toolbox when I should have just gone and played with the spanner”.
And then it was on to sex. Prudish Brits? Discussed. Multiple partners? Discussed. Tantric sex resulting in a verbally induced anal orgasm? Discussed. Rylan’s response? “I hate to burst your bubble, but if someone spoke to my…” OK, we’ll leave it there. No, actually, we’ll give the final word to the eager delegate at the start of Q&A: “I’ve been coming to MAD//Fest since the start and this has been the most fun session.”
Day two: Wings, Wine and Westminster
Day two at the Newsworks’ Speakeasy began with people still talking about the brilliance of Rylan the day before. How could you possibly top this? With mouth-watering eats and tantalising vino, of course. Newsworks’ much loved food and drink session returned this year with a trick up its sleeve — food for everyone in the form of spicy chicken wings, washed down with no less than three different types of wines. You could just hear the whoops of delight as the trays went round the lounge.
But let’s set this in context. The ‘Wings and Wine’ session was hosted by Tasty UK’s director of content Homam Ayaso and featured Metro’s drinks editor Rob Buckhaven, author and journalist Jimi Famurewa and author and cook Crystelle Pereira. As delegates licked their lips (and fingers), the panel of experts talked about their food heaven (well, comfort) and hell. Rob went for spicy wings (of course) with pies being his ick. Jimi’s love is all things sweet and his hate is all things healthy. Crystelle’s go-to is Goan fish curry but she showed the devil sign to afternoon teas (seems harsh). After a sniffing and slurping wine tasting session from Rob, the panel talked about how the rising cost of living is making takeaways more expensive and putting pressure on restaurants.
The afternoon session saw the return of another MAD//Fest favourite in the Speakeasy lounge – the politics panel (reworked for 2025 as a game show). On a day when Westminster was buzzing about Rachel Reeves’ tearful appearance in the Commons, the esteemed panel of journalists – the Mirror’s Kevin Maguire, The Telegraph’s Camilla Tominey, HuffPost’s Kevin Schofield and The Independent’s Steph Cockroft – had much to talk about.
Tominey was outspoken (as ever). On Keir Starmer: “He is unparalleled in how bad he is as a politician”. On Rachel Reeves: “Who would be a politician when the world can see you in the House of Commons in tears as things at work have got so bad”. Kevin (M) was similarly candid: “Is Starmer acting as a secret agent for Reform?”. And on Trump: “He’s 79 and morbidly obese, so there’s always hope!” (Camilla visibly gasps at this). Steph was more measured on Starmer: “I don’t know that he’s lost control, but Rayner is coming through the wings. Labour are a massively divided party”.
But maybe the final mention of the day should go to Levi, a delegate in the front row who made the questionable decision of getting up during the game show to take a call outside. On returning to his seat, comedian and panel chair Catherine Bohart stopped proceedings to ask him about his very visible departure from the room. She then returned to him on a couple of occasions to get his views on the political debate. Levi, we salute you for being such a good sport.
Day three: Wellness and wardrobes
Newsworks’ final day at MAD//Fest added more than just a touch of glamour to proceedings with our ‘Feelgood fashion’ session. Our fashion-forward crowd packed into the Speakeasy lounge to get the inside track on what’s hot and what’s not from our panel of experts.
Strutting her stuff as panel chair was Sinead McIntyre, editor-in-chief of The Sun’s Fabulous magazine, and was joined by Joe Bromley, fashion editor The Standard; celebrity stylist Ayishat Akanbi; and Frankie Bridge, singer, TV personality and creator of #FrankiesFaves.
After the pleasantries of how each panellist discovered a love of fashion (all were united by starting young and experimenting with different styles) it was quickly down to the serious stuff of admitting your biggest fashion mistake. Frankie went for a black PVC number, with bubble hem and bow when she was in The Saturdays; Ayishat opted for wildly coloured ‘nu rave’ glasses, while Joe stepped out in huge orange boots and a mass of black eyeliner while at Central Saint Martins.
With those complete disasters out of the way, it was then on to what ‘feelgood fashion’ really looks like. Frankie said it’s “finding what’s right for you, not necessarily following fashion”; Ayishat walked a similar line with “clothing that makes you feel uplifted and confident”; but Joe was a little more strident: “It’s when you find something, that’s nice and new, and you feel that everybody is looking at you (but of course they’re not).”
Then we were onto fashion icons and brands that are killing. Joe’s icons are Yves Saint Laurent, Patti Boyd and Marlon Brando and his fave brands are Conner Ives, Martine Rose and Barbour. Ayishat chose US singer Leon Bridges and brands Bode and Nicholas Daley. Frankie’s fashion icon is Shay Mitchell, and her ‘one to watch’ brand is Odd Muse.
And after all that outrageous name-dropping it was time for Newsworks’ much-anticipated fashion show, with the winners of the ‘best dressed exec in media agency land’ competition.
First to hit the runway was Timea Koppandi from EssenceMediacom in own-designed jewellery, custom-printed Uniqlo t-shirt and pink footwear. Next up was Starcom’s Dominic Fanning sporting an all-white linen shirt and trousers, finished off with understated belt and watch combo. Finally, it was the turn of Michaela Gleeson from the7stars in short black dress and white boots (most definitely made for walking). The public vote (and another fashion spree on us!) narrowly went to Dominic, just showing that it’s the men who are on fire this season.
See you back at MAD//Fest next year!
