Global Underwater Hub, which organises the annual Subsea Expo Awards Dinner, has confirmed that the guest speaker at next February’s event will be the multi-talented Gyles Brandreth.

The actor, writer, broadcaster and former MP will entertain guests at the black-tie dinner on Wednesday, February 19 at P&J Live in Aberdeen. An annual celebration of the achievements of companies and individuals working in the subsea sector and wider underwater industry, the Subsea Expo Awards Dinner will see eight accolades presented on the night in front of over 550 guests.

Famed for his colourful jerseys and sharp wit, Gyles Brandreth has been a regular on British television screens since the 1980s. He can currently be seen reporting for The One Show on BBC One, contributing to This Morning on ITV and sharing his views on Channel 4’s Celebrity Gogglebox.

A prolific author, Gyles has written fiction and non-fiction books for both adults and children that cover a range of topics, such as the English language, grammar, the royal family and British history. He has also written scripts for television programmes and created a stage show that had a run in London’s West End.

Elected to the UK Parliament in 1992, Gyles served as an MP for five years and was Lord Commissioner of the Treasury in John Major’s government.

Organisers hope that Gyles will take inspiration from the BBC Radio 4 comedy panel show Just a Minute on which he is regular panellist and deliver a speech without hesitation, repetition or deviation. Otherwise, it may lead to him attempting to equal his own world record for the longest after-dinner speech, which lasted twelve-and-a-half hours.

Bookings for the black-tie event which celebrates the achievements of companies and individuals working in the subsea sector and wider underwater industry are already on sale, with an early bird booking discount available until Sunday, 10 November. The 2025 Subsea Expo Awards Dinner is sponsored by C-Kore System and J+S Subsea, with further sponsorship opportunities still available.

Neil Gordon, Global Underwater Hub chief executive, said: “With such a varied career, there is no denying that Gyles Brandreth will keep guests at the 2025 Subsea Expo Awards Dinner entertained with a wealth of amusing stories and comedic anecdotes. His enthusiastic delivery and famed quick wit will keep the audience on their toes and laughing all night.

“Although he has been a fixture on our television screens for four decades, he has remained current and is known by people of all ages, which is a real testament of his skills and abilities. As the awards dinner forms part of a busy three-day programme at Subsea Expo, we will ensure Gyles keeps to time on the night and does not try to break his after-dinner speech record.

“The Subsea Expo Awards Dinner is a real highlight for those working in the subsea sector and wider underwater industry, bringing everyone together to celebrate the achievements of their peers, reconnect with colleagues and build new connections. The standard of entries for the awards themselves has again been high and we look forward to marking the achievements of all the nominees on the night.”

Gyles Brandreth is the latest in a stellar line-up of famous faces to have spoken at the annual awards dinner. Earlier this year, impressionist, comedian and broadcaster Rory Bremner entertained guests, following in the footsteps of sportsmen Kriss Akabusi MBE and Matt Dawson MBE, businessman and politician Lord Digby Jones, and writer and broadcaster John Sergeant, who have all previously spoken at the event.

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