Alan Rusbridger, 63
Principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Editor of the Left-leaning Guardian for 20 years, during which time the newspaper lost up to £200 million. Awarded prestigious Visiting Fellowships to celebrities including Harry Potter star Emma Watson, Sherlock actor Benedict Cumberbatch and Pet Shop Boys singer Neil Tennant.
Helena Kennedy, 67
Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford
Human rights barrister who acted in prominent cases including the Brighton Bombing. Member of the Media Standards Trust, a network of the liberal establishment which spawned the Press-hating lobby group Hacked Off. Led efforts to build new human rights centre in college grounds.
Alan Rusbridger (left), former editor of The Guardian, is now Principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Human rights barrister Helena Kennedy is Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford
Mark Damazer, 62
Master of St Peter’s College, Oxford
Former BBC bigwig whose roles included head of current affairs and controller of Radio 4. Had to apologise for the Beeb’s ‘inane’ Diamond Jubilee coverage (including singer Paloma Faith discussing a Jubilee-themed sick bag) — saying the BBC ‘tried too hard’ to make the coverage ‘inclusive’.
Roger Mosey, 59
Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge
Spent most of his career at the BBC, lastly as editorial director. Was editor of Radio 4’s Today programme and has written in the Left-wing New Statesman to rebuke the current incumbent. In his memoirs, he admitted the BBC did not reflect its audience’s views on immigration and asylum.
Former BBC bigwig Mark Damazer (left) serves as Master of St Peter’s College, Oxford. Fellow BBC alumni Roger Mosey (right) is Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge
Jackie Ashley, 63
President of Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge
Her many media jobs included Guardian columnist and political editor of the New Statesman. Daughter of a Labour peer. Has said that a Cambridge college is the best place from which to campaign for equality, as ‘graduates from Oxbridge still dominate in the professions and in government’.
Chris Smith, 66
Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge
The first openly gay male MP, he was Culture Secretary in the Blair government. Ennobled in 2005. As Environment Agency chairman, he was blamed for catastrophic flooding in Somerset in 2014. Has also been chairman of the Advertising Standards Authority and of the Booker Prize judges.
Former Guardian columnist Jackie Ashley (left) is President of Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge. Chris Smith, the first openly gay MP, serves as Master of Pembroke College, Camb
Dame Helen Ghosh, 61
Master of Balliol College, Oxford, from next April
Took over running of the National Trust five years ago after 30 years in the public sector. Infuriated Trust members by encouraging the organisation to be more politically correct. The NT was recently criticised for ordering volunteers to wear special lanyards supporting gay rights.
Tim Gardam, 61
Principal of St Anne’s College, Oxford, until 2016
Former TV mogul (director of programmes at C4 and previously Jeremy Paxman’s boss as editor of BBC2’s Newsnight). Led the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, which has worked closely with the Media Standards Trust. A friend of Oxford University chancellor Lord (Chris) Patten.
Dame Helen Ghosh (left) will be Master of Balliol College, Oxford, from next April. Former TV mogul Tim Gardam (right) was Principal of St Anne’s College, Oxford, until 2016
Rowan Williams, 67
Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge
Former Archbishop of Canterbury who said Sharia law in Britain was ‘unavoidable’ and called climate change ‘a life or death question’. Nicknamed ‘Beardie’ because he once described himself as a ‘hairy Lefty’. Accused the Tories of spreading ‘fear’ by planning spending cuts.
Bridget Kendall, 61
Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge
Joined the BBC in 1983 as a trainee and stayed for 30 years. Covered the collapse of the Soviet Union. Became the first female master of Peterhouse, once seen as a Right-leaning Cambridge institution. Partner is Amanda Farnsworth, head of the BBC’s Visual and Data Journalism Unit.
Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams (left) is Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge. Bridget Kendall (right) is Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge
John Eatwell, 72
President of Queens College, Cambridge
An economic adviser to Neil Kinnock before entering the Lords. An advocate of Britain joining the euro at the time of the Maastricht Treaty, he had two stints on Labour’s front bench as party spokesman on Treasury affairs. Helped found a think-tank dedicated to ‘progressive politics’.
Anthony Grabiner QC, 72
Master of Clare College, Cambridge
Lawyer with numerous business interests and a Labour peer until he resigned the whip in 2015 in protest at Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. As chairman of governors of LSE, he unveiled a bust of former student Cherie Blair. Ex-chairman of disgraced retail tycoon Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group.
Former Labour man John Eatwell (left) is President of Queens College, Cambridge. Former Labour Peer Anthony Grabiner (right) is Master of Clare College, Cambridge
Fiona Reynolds, 59
Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Former director of the Women’s Unit in the Cabinet Office and director of the Council for the Protection of Rural England. As director-general of the National Trust, she said she made it more family friendly, more open and more engaging, but was accused of dumbing down.
Will Hutton, 67
Principal of Hertford College, Oxford
Economist, former editor of the achingly liberal Observer newspaper and a prominent Blairite whose friends include Ed Miliband. Author of Them And Us, he has railed against Britons’ obsession with owning property — although he himself inherited a 13th century manor house.
Fiona Reynolds (left) serves as Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Former Observer editor Will Hutton (right) is Principal of Hertford College, Oxford