---
title: "Ariane Sherine’s “Thought for the Afternoon”, 2009"
date: "2012-05-04T19:07:38+01:00"
modified: "2012-05-04T19:07:38+01:00"
url: "https://humanists.uk/humanism/humanism-today/humanists-thinking/ariane-sherines-thought-for-the-afternoon-2009/"
post_id: 211
---

# Ariane Sherine’s “Thought for the Afternoon”, 2009

As a consequence of the [Atheist Bus Campaign](/bus-campaign), comedy writer and now-Patron of Humanism, [Ariane Sherine](/about/our-people/patrons/Ariane-Sherine), was asked to give a “Thought for the Afternoon” on BBC Radio 4’s *iPM*programme on the 10th January 2009.

This one-off concession to campaigners like Humanists UK calling for the *Today* programme’s *Thought for the Day* slot to be opened up to non-religious “thoughts” reached the national media (see *Guardian*: [BBC Radio 4 to broadcast its first atheist ‘Thought for the Afternoon’](http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/09/bbc-radio)). Andrew Copson,Humanists UKdirector of Education and Public Affairs, was quoted as saying:

> Reflective thoughts on the events of the day do not come only from people with ‘a faith’ so it is wrong for the BBC – which has obligations to its many humanist listeners just as to its religious ones – to exclude non-religious contributors from *Thought for the Day*.
> 
> The slot could only be enhanced by the inclusion of perspectives from the rich tradition of humanist thought and reflection.

Ariane Sherine added:

> I’m really pleased and excited to be asked to give the first humanist ‘Thought for the Afternoon’. I hope this is just the first of many from different humanist speakers, and that the Today programme will let humanists on very soon.

**[Download the audio](/wp-content/uploads/2009-01-10ArianeSherine-iPM,TftA.mp3)** of “Thought for the Afternoon” (MP3 format, 2:18, file size < 1MB)