Luke Walton is a freelance reporter and broadcaster based in Newcastle specialising in social affairs and political journalism. He spent six years as a north of England correspondent for BBC Radio Four and remains a regular contributor to BBC radio news and feature programmes.
He was previously the regional political editor for BBC North East & Cumbria, after spells as a tv producer, local radio reporter and correspondent for the Yorkshire Evening Press newspaper.
Luke has interviewed the last four Prime Ministers, broadcast from the United States and France and reported on everything from natural disasters to IRA murders.
More details about Luke's career and experience >
All Hands to the Pumps
Nearly forty pubs a week are closing across the UK according to the latest figures. Publicans blame cheap supermarket beer and the smoking ban for their problems. But an increasing number of communities are saving their local pub by taking it over themselves. I went to two villages where they'd done just that, starting off in the recently re-opened Grey Bull in Stanhope, County Durham, for Radio Four You and Yours (February 09):
Last Stand Against Demolition
The Government's housing market renewal programme was designed to regenerate run-down parts of the north of England and the Midlands. It has led to the demolition of thousands of terraced houses and prompted protests from local people. I met residents in Gateshead who said the scheme was ruining their community in this report for Radio Four PM Programme (January 09):
Anti-terror tactics
The police are undermining the fight against terrorism by using heavy-handed tactics against muslims. That is the conclusion of a report from academics at Birmingham University. I was allowed exclusive access to the findings in this story for Radio Four's Sunday programme (November 2008):
Dakota farewell
The Dakota DC3 has been described as the plane that won the Second World War. It also pioneered a new era of mass air travel. But thanks to European safety rules it can no longer be used to carry passengers. I took a ride on one of the Dakota's farewell flights and met the people who mourn its passing for Radio Four You and Yours programme (July 08).
Late drinking
They were designed to make us drink and behave in a more civilized way. But have the new flexible rules on licensing hours really delivered the continental cafe culture that was promised? Many residents living close to pubs claim the result has actually been more noise and trouble. I investigated their claims in this report for Radio Four's World Tonight programme (October 2006):
Young voters
Young people are the age group least likely to vote at election time. During the General Election of 2005, I spoke to teenagers in North Yorkshire to find out why. And asked if anything can be done to re-connect them to politics in this story for Radio Four PM programme:
Muslims post-7/7
In the days after the July 7 terrorist attacks in London in 2005 - the spotlight switched to Leeds where a number of the bombers had been based. This is my report for Radio Four's The World This Weekend on how local muslims were reacting to the events:
Flies on stage
Lord of the Flies is one of our best known works of literature. But why has the story of schoolboys stranded on a desert island got such a hold on our imagination? I went to a revival of the stage adaptation of Lord of the Flies in York to find out in this report for Radio Four Today programme (September 08):
Concorde spoof
In October 2003, the last flight of Concorde was the hot ticket for celebrities and journalists alike. By way of comic contrast, Radio Four's Broadcasting House sent me on a rather less glamorous journey:
Lake refuge
Where is Britain's most beautiful youth hostel? I went to the Lake District to meet mountaineer Chris Bonington to find out, in this report for Radio Four Today programme (November 2006)
