29 April 2004

Question Time, the BBC's premier political programme chaired by David Dimbleby, was in London on 29 April. David was joined for the interactive debate by Baroness Amos, Lord Tebbit, Simon Thomas MP, comedian Rhona Cameron and American Islamic cleric Sheikh Hamza Yusuf.

BARONESS AMOS

Title: Leader of the House of Lords

In October 2003, International Development Secretary Baroness Amos became the third ever woman to lead the House of Lords.

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Born in Guyana, she also became the first black woman to sit in the cabinet when she replaced Clare Short who resigned following the war in Iraq. Previously she had been a minister in the foreign office.

Lady Amos, who canvassed African leaders for support in the run-up to war in Iraq, became a life peer in 1997, taking the title Baroness Amos of Brondesbury in the London Borough of Brent.

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LORD TEBBIT

Title: Former Conservative Chairman

Lord Tebbit held the posts of secretary of state for employment and trade and industry in Margaret Thatcher's Tory government.

She favoured his tough approach and appointed him employment secretary to curb the trade unions. He controversially told the unemployed to follow his father's example and get on their bikes to look for work.

Lord Tebbit retired from frontline politics to care for his wife Margaret who was left paralysed by the IRA's bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton during the 1984 Conservative Party Conference.

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SIMON THOMAS MP

Title: Plaid Cymru Director of Policy

Simon Thomas became the first MP elected in the new millennium when he won the Ceredigion by-election in 2000.

He initially attracted attention for being the first male MP in living memory to wear an earring in the Commons but has since become known for his high profile parliamentary presence.

Mr Thomas, who advocates the rights and needs of Wales, opposed the bombing of Afghanistan, the war in Iraq and the government's controversial bill to introduce university top-up fees.

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RHONA CAMERON

Title: Comedian

Stand-up comedian Rhona Cameron became well known for her fights with fellow contestants on ITV1's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

Her comedic talents were recognised by Channel 4 in 1992 when she won their So You Think You're Funny award. For BBC Two, she hosted Gaytime TV and in 2000 starred in the eponymous sitcom, Rhona.

Earlier this year she published her first book - 1979 - a frank account of her teenage years which included finding out that she was adopted.

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SHEIKH HAMZA YUSUF

Title: Islamic cleric

Hamza Yusuf was one of the first Islamic figures President Bush turned to following the attacks on September 11.

Dubbed the rock star of the new Muslim generation by the Wall Street Journal, Sheikh Hamza is currently touring the UK and called for unity between Muslims and non-Muslims during an address in Glasgow.

The son of two US academics, Mark Hanson converted to Islam following a car crash when he was 17-years-old.

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BBC One's Question Time is broadcast on Thursdays at 2235 GMT.