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The Trojan Horse Balloon Debate

Tuesday 7th July 2026, 6pm-7:30pm

Senate House, Senate House, London WC1B

Free

Collage of six people on a blue sky background with a hot air balloon and floating items like a clock and laptop.

Tuesday 7th July 2026, 6pm-7:30pm

Senate House, Senate House, London WC1B

Free

Climb aboard our imaginary hot-air balloon and join a panel of award-winning authors, historians, scientists and broadcasters for a high-stakes, high-altitude debate!

Each speaker will bring a single object - a 'Trojan Horse' that contains surprising worlds hidden inside it. These objects may look simple, but each one carries stories of history, science, politics, memory, and imagination.

One by one, you will decide which objects are thrown overboard and which deserve to stay. Each speaker must convince you that their object matters most. Round by round, the stakes rise until only one object survives.

The debate will be chaired by TV writer, author and presenter of BBC Radio 4's Free Thinking, Matthew Sweet. The panel includes Time Team presenter Carenza Lewis, historians Suzannah Lipscomb and Hallie Rubenhold, science broadcaster Adam Rutherford and radio presenter Ritula Shah.

Free to attend but booking essential!

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