Robert Kilroy-Silk spent 17 years of debating with the public on his morning chat show but you could argue that Robert Kilroy-Silk never really left politics. His election as an MEP in the East Midlands took Robert back to the career he had left, to become a household name.

Born in Birmingham, Robery Kilroy-Silk was educated at Saltley Grammar School and the London School of Economics where he carried out research for a PhD. From 1974 - 1986 he was the labour MP for Ormskirk and then Knowsley North.

He was, amongst other things, shadow home office minister, chairman of the parliamentary all-party penal affairs group and civil liberties Man of the Year for several years for his campaign on human rights and penal reform.

From 1986 - 2003 Robert presented the hugely successful Kilroy programme on BBC1 every weekday.

He is the author of three books Socialism since Marx Hard Labour The Political Diary of Robert Kilroy-Silk and a novel, The Ceremony of Innocence.

He wrote a political column in The Times for 5 years, for The Daily Express for another 5 years and The Sunday Express as well as columns for Time Out, Chat, The Sunday Mirror and the Today Newspaper.

Robert Kilroy-Silk is currently the MEP for the East Midlands Constituency and travels frequently between his home in England and the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Robert is married with two children and enjoys gardening and the theatre.