THE NEW Deputy Mayor for Ealing can boast a famous sister and a fascinating career both in and out of local politics.

Dr Rupa Huq, who was appointed to her new position in Ealing last week, is the sister of well-known TV star Konnie Huq, the longest-serving presenter of children's programme Blue Peter.

Her day job involves teaching sociology at Kingston University, where her research specialism has been about pop music and youth culture.

Dr Huq said: "I come from an excellent Ealing pedigree having lived in the borough since birth at Queen Charlottes and having attended local schools as did my more famous Ealing alumnus sister."

She has also written a book, Beyond Subculture: Pop, Youth and Identity in a Post Colonial World, which came out in 2006.

And she is no stranger to politics, having stood as the Labour parliamentary candidate for Chesham and Amersham in the 2005 general election.

Dr Huq also stood for Labour in the North-West in the 2004 European elections.

She said: "Although I’m not the most famous Huq, I’ve dabbled in the media starting with an appearance on the BBC Schools series 'Look and Read' when I was 8.

"Since then I have appeared on Channel S and Bangla TV as well as Channel 4 News and BBC News 24.

"Radio-wise I have been on the Today programme on Radio 4, Radio 5 Live and BBC Asian Network."

Dr Huq has also narrated a couple of music documentaries, written for The Guardian and The Times Higher Education Supplement and is even a DJ.

Regarding music, she says: "My claim to pop fame is that I recorded a jingle in Bengali for the late great John Peel. The main hook was “jow Jonnie jow”.

Last week's mayor-making ceremony was also attended by BBC TV presenter Angellica Bell, the daughter of new council leader Julian Bell.