Meet the contributors
All of our bloggers are passionate about their subjects – from technology and communications to online security, entertainment and beyond. Find out more about the team here.
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BT Life Newsdesk
Collective reporting, comment and commentary from the BT Life editorial team.
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Caroline Hodgson
New products writer
Caroline joined BT Shop in 2010 after graduating from the University of Manchester and spending a year studying in the USA. She is passionate about new technology and introducing consumer-friendly gadgets to BT Shop customers. Caroline loves sports and fitness, and her ultimate ambition is to compete on Total Wipeout!
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Charlene Charity
Entertainment editor
Charlene has always got something on her mind, and has a passion for communications and entertainment. She’s also the creator of VintageFriday – a blog dedicated to vintage fashion, and can always be spotted around the office sporting some of her latest finds. Charlene blogs on entertainment and innovation.
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Cheryl Roussel
New products writer
Cheryl joined bt.com in 2012. Before that she studied languages and spent a year in Paris working for the Independent and in PR. Last year she spent five months travelling around South America, learning Spanish, squeezing into tiny buses and eating as much Latin food as possible. Now she spends her free time falling down internet rabbit holes, playing netball or planning her next getaway.
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Claudia Pattison
Soap writer
Claudia is a journalist, professional TV addict and published author. When she's not gasping at the latest saucy shenanigans in Emmerdale or wafting round the house in a Barbara Cartland-style fright wig while she dreams up outrageous storylines for her latest novel, she enjoys going for long country walks. Her routes nearly always take her past a well-stocked tearoom. Funny that...
Most recent post
Why is Tyler Moon so mad with Joey Branning in EastEnders?
Posted on January 22nd 2013 at 9:00
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Dan Willis
Football writer
Dan Willis edits BT's football website, Life's A Pitch. Not only does Dan spend his entire working day dealing with football features, news and videos, it takes up much of his spare time as he tweets about all manner of matches for Life's A Pitch, much to his wife's frustration.
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Dave Barrett
Get online writer
Dave works ensures accessibility is at the heart of everything BT does. He recently worked on the re-launch of the inclusion website Including You.
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Ed Kyte
Online writer
Ed joined BT in 2007 as a graduate working on BT FON. When he’s not working with wi-fi he likes to keep active in the gym or by playing golf. And when not doing that, he can be found in a museum or in the pub (he’s still waiting for the two to be combined).
Most recent post
Going abroad? Take your free wi-fi broadband with you
Posted on September 12th 2011 at 9:40
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Emily Leary
Emily is a tech-addicted, married, 29-year-old mum to four year old boy and tiny baby girl. At work she's a digital marketing bod, speaker and trainer. In her spare time, she blogs as A Mummy Too about work and home life, indulges her passion for photography and baking, and generally spends far too much time on Twitter.
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Emma Munbodh
Entertainment news writer
Emma has recently completed a Masters in journalism at the London College of Communication. She has written for a number of websites, newspapers and magazines including the London Evening Standard, the Wimbledon Guardian and Closer magazine. Aside from news writing, Emma has written in the fields of fashion, beauty and lifestyle. She is also a regular blogger - find her at www.the-weekly-fix.blogspot.co.uk. Emma is currently freelancing for Demur fashion magazine working as a features writer and social editor. In her spare time she can be found reading, catching up with friends, or shopping in Topshop. You can find her @ www.twitter.com/emmma_m
Most recent post
Cue drama, tears and tantrums - Britain's Got Talent is back...
Posted on April 12th 2013 at 15:01
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Gerry Kiernan
Online content editor
Gerry recently joined BT to look after online content. She’s a journalist who has written and edited for the likes of Radio Times and Virgin Media. When she’s not blogging about art and culture at www.poptartlondon.com, she can sometimes be found learning Spanish (slowly) or fencing (enthusiastically).
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Gregor Young
Online writer
Gregor recently joined the BT online team looking after the portal search, advertising and web analytics. He is a self-proclaimed technology geek and confesses to being a music, film and TV snob. He drinks copious amounts of tea, spends a lot of time online and wants to learn to play the banjo.
Most recent post
Why new Scandinavian crime thriller The Bridge is worth watching
Posted on May 9th 2012 at 11:29
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Jacqui Thomas
Social media writer
Jacqui has worked at BT for 5 years now and can be currently found doing her duty for the Social Media team. She has a keen interest in everything to do with online shopping, gaming, tech, in fact just about anything found on the internet. When Jacqui is not glued to her laptop or having her blackberry surgically removed from her hand she enjoys spending some quality time with her husband and 2 children.
Most recent post
Interested in tech, games, phones, broadband or TV? Become a BT Community Leader
Posted on August 31st 2011 at 10:00
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James Peel
Tech innovation writer
James is part of the Global Scouting team in BT, based in Silicon Valley. His team is responsible for sourcing external innovation and identifying new technology trends in the United States, Asia and Europe. James joined BT in November 1999, after roles including major customer account management, business development and executive business management functions. James blogs on new technology and innovations in online communications.
Most recent post
Tech innovations to monitor your weight... and pets
Posted on February 16th 2012 at 11:53
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John Petter
BT Retail consumer managing director
John is responsible for broadband, phones, BT Vision TV and other BT products and services in customers’ homes.
Most recent post
BT's John Petter on the future of technology & exploring the past
Posted on April 11th 2012 at 10:13
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Karen Hardy
Strictly Come Dancing writer
Karen has represented her country as a dancer for many years travelling worldwide and bringing titles home including World Masters, United Kingdom, International and British National champion of Latin American dance. Karen has participated as a professional dancer in several series of Strictly Come Dancing. She is professional champion of series 4 of Strictly. As well as teaching, adjudicating, charity work, providing the BBC's Red Button commentary for Strictly, making appearances on sister show It Takes Two, she also runs a luxury dance studio (http://www.karenhardystudios.com/) in Chelsea, London.
Most recent post
Strictly semis: Four fab finalists go through
Posted on December 17th 2012 at 19:32
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Laura Bates
Online writer
Laura Bates is a writer with a passion for world cinema, physical theatre, children’s novels and happy endings. She has written for a range of online publications on topics as diverse as education, parenting, shoestring shopping and women’s rights. Most recently she has covered rising tuition fees and higher education policy changes for education blog www.oxbridgeessays.com/blog. When she isn’t scribbling, she can usually be found in her tiny garden, growing vegetables with more enthusiasm than skill and wondering why the spring bulbs she may have planted upside down haven’t come up yet!
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Lee Thompson
Head Of Music, BT Vision
Lee has been BT Vision’s Head of Music since launch, but in a previous life used to do the same role at music video channels The Box, Kiss TV, Q, Magic TV, Smash Hits and Kerrang TV back in the early 00s. Prior to that, he spent over a decade working in commercial radio around the UK, including a brief stint as XFM London’s first ever weekday breakfast show presenter in 1992, when allegedly-sane people genuinely still thought bands like Carter The Stoppable Sex Machine were the future of music. He comes from Newcastle but knows next to nothing about Sport.
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Lohit Kalburgi
TV and online writer
Lohit is passionate about business and enjoys reading about different companies. He reached the interview stage of The Apprentice in 2006 - a show he still follows avidly. Outside work, he loves travelling, gadgets and playing with his two little dachshund puppies – Jeffrey and Andrew.
Most recent post
The Apprentice buying task claims two victims - but did the right people go?
Posted on May 24th 2012 at 10:19
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Lyndsay Parry
Online finance writer
Lyndsay joined the BT Graduate Scheme in 2009, after graduating from The University of Nottingham School of English. She works for Financial Services team at BT. She is passionate about social media and blogging, and in her free time enjoys baking and running (necessary due to the baking!).
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Mark Woods
Comic Relief writer
Mark sends daily dispatches from the BT Comic Relief: Hell and High Water Challenge - if he can make it to dry land!
Most recent post
Oarsome effort! The celebs complete their Hell & High Water Challenge
Posted on February 1st 2013 at 15:48
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Mike Galvin
Research and technology writer
Mike has been responsible for BT’s contribution to the Internet Watch Foundation, and the development of policies for dealing with internet abuses. Mike is a director for sustainability and is also BT’s lead on child protection on the internet.
Most recent post
More top tips to help your children stay safe online
Posted on May 16th 2012 at 10:28
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Nick Wong
Do more online editor
Nick Wong is the new Director of Online for BT Consumer, having managed the Consumer Broadband portfolio for the past two years. Nick joined BT in 2006 after spending five years as a consultant for Accenture, working with communications clients such as Vodafone and BT. In his spare time, he likes to play football and read books of all genres. He also serves as a trustee of The London Library.
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Paula Vance
Technology and online writer
Paula joined BT 14 years ago and has worked in areas including social media & digital care. Mum to a very energetic little toddler and owner of popular UK dance music site pumpedaudio.com, she spends much of her spare time writing about music, learning to code and drinking way too much coffee. A self confessed lady-geek, Paula is passionate about music, technology, social media, digital marketing and all things web. She is also fanatical about shoes, emotional about sport and feels uncomfortable when she isn’t immeasurably busy!
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Pawel Glodowski
Film writer
Pawel studied Film and English at Sheffield Hallam University and now manages the Film and Adult services on BT Vision. His personal top 5 films are (in no particular order) Lost Highway, The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, Toy Story, Joint Security Area and Die Hard.
Most recent post
Reese Witherspoon and Owen Wilson wonder how they know...
Posted on July 19th 2011 at 9:45
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Ravi Jhavery
Music writer
Busy Ravi studied Music, Entertainment & Arts Management at Buckinghamshire University and abroad at University of Miami. He now manages the Music On Demand service on BT Vision, is studying for a CIM Marketing Certificate part time and manages a stable of artists and producers in his spare time.
Most recent post
The Wanted get struck by Lightning & Cher Lloyd returns With UR Love
Posted on September 28th 2011 at 9:20
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Rob Holtom
Online writer
Rob recently joined BT looking after content and the BT Yahoo! portal, making sure we meet the needs of BT customers online. He’s interested in how technology is used by all members of the family - and loves reading, playing the piano and skiing (not all at the same time).
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Russell Grant
Strictly Come Dancing writer
While everyone remembers Russell Grant from his Breakfast TV appearances in the early 1980s (BBC Breakfast Time and Good Morning Britain), most people don’t realise that Russell was the first astrologer in over 300 years to present a Horoscope Forecast to a member of the Royal Family (HRH Queen Mother). The press later dubbed Russell as the “Royal Astrologer” Russell continues to write his unique and upbeat Horoscope features for over 650+ print titles including Soul & Spirit Magazine, Fate and Fortune Magazine, Women’s Weekly, Trinity Mirror Group, Manchester Evening News Group, IPC Media, Bauer Media and Asda Magazine. Russell also provides Horoscopes for leading online websites including AOL, MSN, Yahoo, ITV Daybreak, Bauer, IPC and has an average audience of 6M visits per month, of which 2.5M watch his Daily Video Horoscopes for their Daily snapshot from Russell.
Most recent post
He’s gone! Russell Grant’s final blast off from Strictly
Posted on November 21st 2011 at 12:30
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Sam Calvert
Online trends writer
Sam Calvert has been working for BT since 2006 and currently works in Sales. Originally from New Zealand, he is a rugby fan and travels a lot - for work and pleasure. Sam can often be found hunched over an iPad in an airport or on a train typing emails and blog posts furiously.
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Sophie Dainty
Entertainment writer
Sophie is an English Literature graduate who has just finished a Masters in Journalism at the London College of Communication. She has written for a number of online publications, writing about anything from TV, music and film, to fashion, fitness or education. When she isn’t busy writing, or updating her blog (http://sophieeedainty.blogspot.co.uk/), she can usually be found keeping active in the gym, reading, or generally spending too much time on Facebook.
Most recent post
Dancing on Ice: Beth Tweddle is crowned the winner!
Posted on March 11th 2013 at 9:22
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Sue Davis
Technology writer
Sue is a technophile, an environmentalist and a budding futurologist. She loves to share her passion for all things digital. In the rare moments of free time when her toddler is asleep, she can be found reading science fiction, fantasy or business books - that, or catching up with sleep herself.
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Tim Guest
Editor
Tim is editor of BT Life. He has worked as an editor and copywriter for a wide range of businesses over the years, writing about everything from TV, music and film to corporate finance, antique fireplaces and gas (a personal low point).
Most recent post
Whisks at the ready! Who will win The Great British Bake Off final?
Posted on October 16th 2012 at 8:00
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Warren Buckley
Online safety editor
As Managing Director, Customer Service, Warren is responsible for the delivery of all aspects of telephone, broadband and TV for BT's home customers. Away from work he has two other great passions - his family and his football team - in addition to sailing, golf and an addiction to the latest gadgets.
Most recent post
Staying safe online: protect yourself and your computer
Posted on February 8th 2011 at 10:08