Ariane Sherine
Encyclopedia
Ariane Sherine is a British comedy writer and journalist. She created the UK version of the Atheist Bus Campaign
, which ran in January 2009. She lives in London.
' s Comment & Debate section, and has also written for The Sunday Times and The Independent
. She started in journalism
aged 21, reviewing albums for NME
, before coming runner-up in the BBC Talent New Sitcom Writers' Award 2002. She then wrote comedy for mainstream
British TV shows including the BBC sitcoms My Family and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps
, and links for the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown
after appearing on the show in 2003. In addition, Sherine wrote episodes of several CBBC
and CITV
shows, including The Story of Tracy Beaker
, The New Worst Witch
and Space Pirates
, before returning to journalism in early 2008.
in response to an evangelical Christian bus advertisement
which gave the URL of a website "telling non-Christians they would spend 'all eternity in torment in hell', burning in 'a lake of fire'". She was brought up Christian; although her father is currently a Unitarian Universalist, while her mother's side of the family are Parsi
Zoroastrians
(though both parents are non-practising). In 2009, Sherine was nominated for Secularist of the Year
2009 (The Irwin Prize), a title awarded by the National Secular Society
.
In January 2009, Sherine gave a non-religious equivalent of Thought for the Day
on Radio 4
's iPM programme. She spoke about accepting the beliefs of others as long as they are expressed peacefully, and how the freedom to hold them is more important than the beliefs themselves. Sherine's broadcast follows a similar one made by Richard Dawkins
in 2002. Thought for the Day continues to be reserved for religious speakers in its usual slot on Radio 4's Today Programme, on weekday mornings.
In October 2009 the first atheist charity book, The Atheist's Guide to Christmas
was released, which Sherine had been editing for six months prior. The full advance and royalties from the book were donated to the UK HIV charity, Terrence Higgins Trust
.
In late 2009, Sherine announced that she was ceasing atheist campaigning and returning to journalism and writing a novel. She remains a distinguished supporter of the British Humanist Association
. Her website says she is "no longer involved in any atheist stuff".
Atheist Bus Campaign
The Atheist Bus Campaign aims to place "peaceful and upbeat" messages about atheism on transport media in Britain, in response to evangelical Christian advertising....
, which ran in January 2009. She lives in London.
Career
Sherine writes regularly for The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
. She started in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
aged 21, reviewing albums for NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
, before coming runner-up in the BBC Talent New Sitcom Writers' Award 2002. She then wrote comedy for mainstream
Mainstream
Mainstream is, generally, the common current thought of the majority. However, the mainstream is far from cohesive; rather the concept is often considered a cultural construct....
British TV shows including the BBC sitcoms My Family and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps
Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps
Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps was a BBC sitcom created and written by Susan Nickson. It is set in the town of Runcorn in Cheshire, England, and initially revolves around the lives of five twenty-somethings, played by Ralf Little , Sheridan Smith , Will Mellor , Natalie Casey and...
, and links for the Channel 4 quiz show Countdown
Countdown (game show)
Countdown is a British game show involving word and number puzzles. It is produced by ITV Studios and broadcast on Channel 4. It is presented by Jeff Stelling, assisted by Rachel Riley, with regular lexicographer Susie Dent. It was the first programme to be aired on Channel 4, and over sixty-five...
after appearing on the show in 2003. In addition, Sherine wrote episodes of several CBBC
CBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
and CITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
shows, including The Story of Tracy Beaker
The Story of Tracy Beaker
The Story of Tracy Beaker is a British children's book first published in 1991, written by Jacqueline Wilson and illustrated by Nick Sharratt.-Background:...
, The New Worst Witch
The New Worst Witch
The New Worst Witch is a British CITV television series about a group of young witches at a Witch Academy. It ran for 2 series from 2005-2006. The series was a spinoff from The Worst Witch which ran from 1998 to 2001....
and Space Pirates
Space Pirates (series)
Space Pirates is a British children's television series originally shown on CBeebies. It is a mixture of live action and animation, set aboard a space ship which orbits Earth. It stars Luke Toulson as Captain DJ, and features the voice of Radio 1 newsreader Dominic Byrne as an alien...
, before returning to journalism in early 2008.
Atheism
Sherine started the Atheist Bus CampaignAtheist Bus Campaign
The Atheist Bus Campaign aims to place "peaceful and upbeat" messages about atheism on transport media in Britain, in response to evangelical Christian advertising....
in response to an evangelical Christian bus advertisement
Bus advertising
In bus advertising, buses and their related infrastructure is a medium commonly used by advertisers to reach the public with their message. Usually, this takes the form of promoting commercial brands, but can also be used for public campaign messages...
which gave the URL of a website "telling non-Christians they would spend 'all eternity in torment in hell', burning in 'a lake of fire'". She was brought up Christian; although her father is currently a Unitarian Universalist, while her mother's side of the family are Parsi
Parsi
Parsi or Parsee refers to a member of the larger of the two Zoroastrian communities in South Asia, the other being the Irani community....
Zoroastrians
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
(though both parents are non-practising). In 2009, Sherine was nominated for Secularist of the Year
Secularist of the Year
The Secularist of the Year award is presented annually to the individual considered to have made the greatest contribution to secularism in the previous year by the UK's National Secular Society. The prize is a cheque for £5000; it was first awarded in 2005, and is sponsored by Dr...
2009 (The Irwin Prize), a title awarded by the National Secular Society
National Secular Society
The National Secular Society is a British campaigning organisation that promotes secularism and the separation of church and state. It holds that no-one should gain advantage or disadvantage because of their religion or lack of religion. It was founded by Charles Bradlaugh in 1866...
.
In January 2009, Sherine gave a non-religious equivalent of Thought for the Day
Thought for the Day
Thought for the Day is a daily scripted slot on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 offering "reflections from a faith perspective on issues and people in the news", broadcast at around 7.45 each Monday to Saturday morning...
on Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's iPM programme. She spoke about accepting the beliefs of others as long as they are expressed peacefully, and how the freedom to hold them is more important than the beliefs themselves. Sherine's broadcast follows a similar one made by Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins
Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL , known as Richard Dawkins, is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author...
in 2002. Thought for the Day continues to be reserved for religious speakers in its usual slot on Radio 4's Today Programme, on weekday mornings.
In October 2009 the first atheist charity book, The Atheist's Guide to Christmas
The Atheist's Guide to Christmas
The Atheist's Guide to Christmas is a 2009 book written by forty-two atheist celebrities, comedians, scientists and writers who give their funny and serious tips for enjoying the Christmas season...
was released, which Sherine had been editing for six months prior. The full advance and royalties from the book were donated to the UK HIV charity, Terrence Higgins Trust
Terrence Higgins Trust
Terrence Higgins Trust is a British charity that campaigns on various issues related to AIDS and HIV. In particular, the charity aims to reduce the spread of HIV and promote good sexual health ; to provide services on a national and local level to people with, affected by, or at risk of...
.
In late 2009, Sherine announced that she was ceasing atheist campaigning and returning to journalism and writing a novel. She remains a distinguished supporter of the British Humanist Association
British Humanist Association
The British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism and represents "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs." The BHA is committed to secularism, human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and mutual respect...
. Her website says she is "no longer involved in any atheist stuff".
Personal life
Sherine gave birth to her daughter Lily Sherine Topham by caesarean section on 25 April 2011. In June 2011, Sherine stated that she has "decided to be totally hands-off re Lily's beliefs".External links
- Ariane Sherine's official website
- Ariane Sherine's Guardian profile
- atheistcampaign.org, the Atheist Bus CampaignAtheist Bus CampaignThe Atheist Bus Campaign aims to place "peaceful and upbeat" messages about atheism on transport media in Britain, in response to evangelical Christian advertising....
- http://arianesherine.blogspot.comAriane Sherine's BlogBlogA blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
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