Open University graduate and falsely accused ex-prisoner, Andrew Malkinson, who was released from prison in July 2023 after serving 17 years for a rape he did not commit, will appear as a guest editor on Radio 4’s Today Programme.
Together with the Today team, Andrew has created a programme on 29 December that will look at the psychological impacts of wrongful detention, the barriers to education in prison and how his passion for science and astronomy brought him strength and resilience whilst incarcerated.
It was with the Open University that he studied and passed a maths and science Open degree while serving his wrongful sentence.
Reunion with tutor
During the broadcast we will hear his reunion interview with his OU tutor, Dr David Giddings, and he also meets Monica Grady, Professor of Planetary Science at the OU, who has become known as a leading British space scientist.
They meet at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire which, for 75 years, has been at the forefront of ground-breaking discoveries and world-leading research.
It’s not Andrew’s first interview with the Today Programme. He went to their studios the day after he became a free man in July when, after arriving late, said he didn’t like to let people down but admitted it was because he slept in on his first morning of freedom.
Interviewer Justin Webb said at the time “we at least owe him that”. Andrew added that he felt “joy at finally telling the world the truth” but also anger “that I was even tried for this”.
For those interested in hearing his story, tune in to Radio 4’s Today Programme at 6am on 29 December 2023.
Anyone interested in learning more about available OU courses can visit www.open.ac.uk. The final enrolment date for courses starting in February 2024 is 11 January.
Picture credit: The Today Programme, BBC
