Charlotte Church to give Radio 6 John Peel lecture on role of women in music industry

£8m: Charlotte Church's musical hiatus hasn't stopped her making the list (Getty Images)

Former chart star Charlotte Church has been chosen to deliver an annual lecture to the radio industry in honour of late broadcaster John Peel.

Church, 27, will speak about the representation of women in music when she gives the 2013 Peel Lecture and will draw on her experiences after first finding fame in her early teens as a classical crossover singer before moving into pop.

She follows The Who's Pete Townshend and musician Billy Bragg in giving the keynote speech which takes place at the annual Radio Festival in Salford next month. Her speech on October 14 will be broadcast later that night on BBC Radio 6 Music.

The station's head of programmes James Stirling said: “For Charlotte to question and debate the roles held by women within the music economy encapsulates the opinionated spirit of 6 Music.”

The Welsh singer, whose top 10 hits included Crazy Chick and Call My Name, last made the singles chart in 2006.

She will also be interviewed by 6 Music presenter Lauren Laverne for a special edition of Radio 4's Weekend Woman's Hour on October 12 ahead of her lecture.

Church said she was “honoured” to have been asked.

She said: “I've had some interesting times during the past 15 years, facing the same problems that many other women face when trying to forge their way in the music and entertainment worlds.”

“I'm looking forward to encouraging a healthy debate around this important topic.”

PA