Simon Hew Dalrymple Fanshawe OBE (born 26 December 1956) is an English writer, activist and broadcaster.

Alongside working in comedy, Fanshawe has been a frequent contributor on a variety of subjects from arts to politics in newspapers and on many BBC radio and TV programmes.

[7] In 2007, Fanshawe presented the first programme in the BBC's Building Britain series, concentrating his attentions on the key role of developers in making cities over the last two centuries.

[8] In 2019, he publicly broke with Stonewall due to its "intolerance of disagreement and discussion"[9][10] and helped found the LGB Alliance later that year.

Only one valid nomination was received for an election to this position, resulting in Fanshawe being named as Rector uncontested.

[13] On 21 February the Trans and Non-Binary Liberation Officer at the University’s Student Association, Robyn Woof, resigned from her positions within the Association and on the University's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, citing Fanshawe's appointment as one of several reasons for her resignation.