BBC News political correspondent John Sergeant will be the guest of honour for the 20th anniversary dinner of the Junior Chamber of Commerce later this summer.

The JCC is expecting a sell-out for the occasion - on July 8th - which will be a black tie dinner at Mount Murray Hotel & Country Club, sponsored by Barclays Wealth.

John Sergeant has become one of the most popular after-dinner speakers in the country following his quite remarkable rise to national celebrity status in recent years.

He started his career in journalism at the Liverpool Echo, joining the BBC as a radio reporter in 1970. He has travelled the world during his career, most notably covering wars and conflicts in the Middle East, Vietnam and Northern Ireland.

He was the BBC’s chief political correspondent from 1992 to 2000 but then moved to ITN as political editor, retiring in 2002.

Since his retirement, however, John Sergeant’s profile has, surprisingly, actually increased. He is a regular guest on ‘Have I Got News for You’ and still appears in numerous other satirical TV shows and hosts a regular quiz show on satellite TV.

However, his celebrity status rocketed during his appearances on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ as a rather awkward contestant who was consistently voted bottom of the list by judges, but was saved week after week by the television audience. His dancing career lasted an amazing ten weeks until he was finally voted off.

Tickets for the July 8th dinner can be booked via email through JCC.

The organisation’s next social event - on June 23rd - is a trip aboard the mv Karina out of Douglas harbour. HSBC is sponsoring the cruise which includes wine, beer and food being served.

JCC chairman Alex Duffy said, “Members are asked to please book early as we are having to limit spaces given the capacity of the Karina.”

Admission for members is £5 and for non members £10.

email: events@jcc.im