Bettany

 Bettany Mary Hughes OBE, FSA (born May 27, 1967) is an English historian, author and broadcaster, specialising in classical studies. Her published books focus on mythology and classical antiquity as well as the history of Istanbul. She is actively involved in promoting the teaching of classics in UK state schools. Hughes was appointed OBE in 2019.In 2010 she gave the Hellenic Institute's Tenth Annual lecture "Ta Erotika The Things of Love", and in 2011, she delivered the Royal Television Society's Huw Wheldon Memorial Lecture. In it, she claimed that the history of television is thriving and enjoying a new golden age. Hughes was chair of the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2011, the UK's only annual award for stories written entirely by women. Hughes is patron of The Iris Project, a charity that promotes the teaching of Latin and Greek in UK public schools. Hughes is also an honorary patron for Classics For All, a national campaign to get classical languages and the study of ancient civilisations back in state schools. She acts as advisor to the Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation that aims to encourage large-scale collaborations between East and West.