Peter Stanford is a writer, journalist and broadcaster. His books include biographies of the Labour Cabinet minister, Lord Longford; the Poet Laureate, C Day-Lewis; Bronwen Astor; and Cardinal Basil Hume. His writings on religion range from The Devil: A Biography, Heaven: A Traveller's Guide, The She-Pope: The Legend of Pope Joan to Catholics and Sex and The Extra Mile, a look at pilgrimage in the 21st century.

His books have been translated into eleven languages. A former editor of the Catholic Herald (1988-1992), he writes for the Daily Telegraph, the Independent and the Observer. Click here for links to his recent journalism. He presents television and radio documentaries including the award-winning Channel 4 series, Catholics and Sex, BBC 1's The She Pope, Channel 5's The Mission and has appeared as a regular panelist on the BBC's The Moral Maze, Vice or Virtue? and FutureWatch. He was one of the BBC commentary team for the recent papal visit to Britain. His biography of Lord Longford was the basis for Channel 4's 2006 multi-award winning drama, Longford. 

Born in 1961 and raised in Birkenhead, he was chairman of the spinal injuries charity, Aspire, for 20 years until September 2011, and is the director of the Longford Trust for penal reform.  He lives in London with his wife, Siobhan Cross, and their two children. 

His new book will take him on a journey round cemeteries, war memorials and anywhere we remember the dead to look at how past societies have regarded death, and how we cope with it now. It will be published in 2012.