Matt Cain is a renowned writer, broadcaster, and LGBTQ+ advocate who, in 2025, received an MBE for his services to the community. He is best known for his novels such as ‘The Madonna of Bolton’, ‘The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle’, and ‘Becoming Ted’ which have earnt international acclaim as well as celebrity endorsements. Throughout his illustrious career Matt has held many influential roles in the media, resulting in him becoming highly sought after for a variety of speaking engagements.
After graduating from Cambridge University, Matt spent a considerable amount of time producing art and entertainment documentaries. As the producer and director for ITV, his credits include media such as Freddie Mercury: A Kind of Magic and many episodes of The South Bank Show. Matt went on to become Channel 4’s first Culture Editor, where he earnt recognition for broadcasting live from the Mercury Music Prize, the Turner Prize, and the Women’s Prize for Fiction. He also wrote and presented art series, What Makes a Masterpiece. In the later years, Matt began to publish his first couple of novels, ‘Shot Through the Heart’ and ‘Nothing but Trouble’, where his career as a writer really took off.
A hugely notable achievement for Matt in his career was his work as Editor-in-Chief of Attitude magazine. Within this role, he negotiated world-exclusive covers with big names like Sam Smith and Ricky Martin. He also launched and hosted the #AttitudeHeroes podcast, ran many sponsored events, and oversaw award-winning editorial campaigns. Matt later published several more books including ‘The Madonna of Bolton’ which was crowdfunded in record-breaking time after being rejected over 30 times due to its gay protagonist and theme. Following his incredible career and wealth of achievements, he has been recognised with honours such as an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton as well as the Elli’s Rainbow Award.
An inspiring yet relatable individual, Matt’s talks are nothing short of amazing. Having taken part in high profile public addresses, such as his Cambridge Union talk, he is a true professional in his field. Combining experience as a journalist, award-winning novels, and influential roles in the media, Matt brings a depth of knowledge and a unique perspective to all his engagements. So, if you are looking for a leading cultural figure to deliver a keynote at your event, look no further than Matt Cain!
Social Media
Books
One Love
Game On
Becoming Ted
The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle
The Madonna of Bolton
Nothing But Trouble
Shot Through The Heart
Matt's official speaker topics are listed below:
- Being Gay is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
Feedback from In-Person Events:
"Matt Cain gave a talk at Odgers Berndtson, one of the world’s leading Executive Search and Leadership Advisory firms, at their DE&I Festival last year. Giving a very personal account of his experiences as a gay man, Matt’s talk was the highlight among many excellent ones. His was a hugely engaging, cerebral and inspirational session, encouraging much discussion. I would highly recommend Matt as a speaker." - Chris, Chief Operating Officer, Odgers Berndtson
"We had the pleasure of booking Matt Cain to present the Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (enei) Annual Inclusivity Excellence Awards. Our event provides a platform for organisations of all sizes across the UK to showcase their achievements in promoting and progressing workplace diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI). During the planning stages, it became clear that we needed a strong presenter who could navigate the complexities of a live corporate event while also grasping the nuances of DEI. Matt was the perfect choice for this role. His professional, charismatic, and personable approach put everyone at ease, making the event a true celebration. He kept the audience engaged, and we received lots of positive feedback about his contribution. Matt is an outstanding presenter/speaker, and I look forward to working with him again!" - Annette, Former Marketing, PR & Communications Lead, Employers' Network for Equality and Inclusion
"Having hosted several publishing events at which Matt Cain has spoken I can honestly say that he is one of the most engaging, knowledgeable and authoritative speakers I have seen. He engages his audience with humour, empathy and wit. His knowledge and passion for LGBTQ+ issues and history shines through and it is a joy to watch such an ambassador in action. If you are looking for a speaker to make your audience think, laugh and learn then I cannot recommend Matt highly enough – he will fit the bill perfectly and you’ll be inviting him back on the spot!" - Claire, Founder, The Authors' Lounge
- 2025 – MBE for LGBTQ+ culture
- 2024 – Published 'One Love' and 'Game On'
- 2023 – Presented Matt & Harry for Virgin Radio Pride, addressed Cambridge Union
- 2022 – Elli’s Rainbow Award
- 2021 – Published 'The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle', honorary doctorate
- 2018 – Published 'The Madonna of Bolton'
- 2017 – Journalist of the Year, launched #AttitudeHeroes podcast
- 2016 – Editor-in-Chief of Attitude magazine
- 2014 – Published 'Shot Through the Heart'
- 2015 – Published 'Nothing But Trouble'
- 2010 – Channel 4’s first Culture Editor
- 2000 – Directed ITV documentaries
How to hire Matt Cain
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Matt Cain for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
